Toddlers, vegetables and lettuce! Oh yes, and when to encourage them to eat for themselves with cuttlery

[dodi1978]

So... my DS is a year and two weeks. Overall, he has got a good diet, is not majorly fussy.... or is he?

He is having three meals and two snacks (at nursery) a day. At nursery, he generally eats almost everything he is offered unless it is tuna wraps which he engages in a food fight with with the other babies, according to the nursery staff.

He loves his fruit puree pouches and there is no issues with vegetables when they are hidden including peas hidden under a spoonful of mash. However, steamed vegetables are a different matter... they generally land on the floor or on daddy's self-build panelling which daddy frankly is not happy about. He is much better with fruit, although he shows a preference for blueberries and pears before or all other things and despite a summer of trying, I haven't managed to get him onto rasberries and strawberries!

I was just wondering whether this is sort of... normal? I am not making a great deal out of it, I just keep offering again and again.

I was also wondering when and how to try and introduce lettuce. Young man has got seven front teeth and one molar by now but I think lettuce may be a bit tricky. Offer pure or with some sort of salad sauce?

Last question... when did you start encouraging your toddlers to pick up food with cutlery? This morning, I guided his hand to pick up some scrambled egg with a spoon which worked until he threw his load three meters behind him.

Ah, the joys of weaning!

We are vegetarian so it might make a big difference youngest ds 21 months eats a good range of veg and loves dhal. Munches through a whole apple, eats nuts and lettuce. I don't use lettuce dressing but i did introduce a teaspoon of dressing yesterday but on a whole salad to feed 6 just because it was very, very bitter.
We introduced lettuce at 6 months but it was more of an amusing accessory than food, he liked fiddling with a bit of lettuce and has only moved onto eating it.
Loves fruit in general all fruit but hates anything puréed always has.
I gave ds a spoon and fork from around a year old, when he showed I can do it signs. Occasionally offer a knife now and then but he's still a bit little.

I put lettuce into sandwiches/wraps and my DD will eat it that way. She eats most things including veg, imo as long as they try it and you can get some fruit and veg into them then it doesnâ??t matter if they dislike some things. We all have our preferences. I cook veg in microwave steam bags with a small knob of butter which seems to increase the appeal rather than cooking them plain.

Cutlery, I gave a spoon from about 12mo and if she is having something sloppy I give the spoon but donâ??t force her to use it. DD will eat yoghurt/rice pudding with a spoon but she rather use her hands with everything else. Iâ??m not sure if I should be encouraging it more by now, shes 14mo.

I have twins and did BLW they have had spoons from 10 months and forks from 12 months. I did a lot putting stuff on spoons and forks for months but always in front of them and always showing hpthem what I was doing. Gentle encourage to use their cutlery but no drama/comment if dpfingers are favored. They are now pretty reliable with spoons (can eat runny porridge and even thickish soup without horrendous mess) and pretty handy with forks (they shout "tab tab!" With glee).

They have zero interest in lettuce at 18 min (with 16 teeth each)! I figure there is plenty of time for that. I do sometimes do a plain lettuce salad in vinegriette and oil and eat it I front of them. If they want a bit I offer (on the basis than forbidden fruit is the tastiest) but not much joy yet!

Veg - I persist in offering plain steamed/boiled veg, covered in plenty of butter. Some goes in but I reckon it's a long game so don't stress to much. Hidden veg and lots of soup too but at least every other day, plain veg on the plate.

Hi,

thanks for the answers. Will try lettuce on a sandwich on the weekend (hadn't even thought of that). Might also try steamed vegetables with butter ... I've never done this!

We had pizza today and I helped him load a piece on a fork and then put it to his mouth, which worked. He then even tried to load up a piece himself, but failed. But we'll keep trying.

Thanks again!

Is lettuce a necessity?!

As for the veg you can try offering chopped veg before a meal e.g. while you're prepping. He'll be hungry and might like it. Doesn't matter if he isn't starving for his meal - count it as the starter.

Don't worry about whether or not he'll eat lettuce! Things like broccoli and other dark green leafy veg would be better nutritionally to offer. Try in a cheesy sauce, like broccoli & cauli cheese.

I would start giving a spoon and fork with every meal and let him try and use them with a portion of the food in front of him. Don't try and force it or do it for him, just let him try. Praise like crazy if/when he does try and use the cutlery. Don't tell him off for using his hands instead. He will gradually get better at wielding them. You can continue to spoon fed whilst he's trying to use his cutlery.

My son (21 months) will actively eat baby corn, peas, cucumber and fine green beans. He gets lots of other veggies in the meals that I make him. Not tried him on lettuce though!

I think lots of variety is key and you can also give a liquid multi vitamin if you are worried about your child missing out on anything.

My daughter is now 3 and is willing to try 'leaves' (her comprehension of lettuce) but on most attempts, decides she isn't keen on it. She also actively disliked cucumber and strawberries for ages (until the beginning of this year) but really loves both now. Strawberries are pretty acidic and may be experienced as such for quite some time.

When you think about it, lettuce and other 'leaves' must seem pretty enormous and unapproachable to little ones. I would cut it into strips or in sandwiches in v small quantities and serve it plain every so often.

Re cutlery, my approach has been that if they are enjoying what they are eating, I am not especially worried about how it gets eaten. At the early stage they will like a spoon, but my 3yo now gets on much better with a small fork (with normal prongs) and she likes a cocktail stick if picking up fruit etc with it, for novelty value. She isn't silly with these - it is just more practical in terms of dealing with the food than blunted items.

Oh metal cutlery is much better than plastic. Again, my twins have used metal (toddler) stuff from 12 months. The bots own brand stuff is great. Dirt cheap, nice size (head not too big) and eat for them to use. Teaspoons are fine for emergency yoghurt but the chunky handles on toddler cutlery do help

My son is 13 months and eats mostly by picking things off his tray or taking loaded spoons. He has been trying to copy me recently by replicating the 'scooping' action when I hand him the spoon. This can be a bit messy, but he managed quite well with a bowl of thick fromage frais. We have a little plastic fork that works well for meat and veg as it at least sticks better so even if he tops the fork it sticks.

Well - update from OP! Have offered lettuce a few times, but not keen. At the moment, tomato sauce seems to be out (he still loved it a few weeks ago and will have lasagna as well, but on pasta ... no no!). At nursery, he still eats everything though! And to be honest, at home, he isn't too bad either. Will persist with tomato sauce... must also re-introduce cucumbers and stuff... I just always forget! And yesterday, he suddenly decided to like grapes (I had lovely sweet small ones).

Plus, my husband and I recently figured something out. When we hide the pasta or potatoes / potatoe wedges (starch!) away from him and give him vegetables or meat first, he will have them. This means us having a bowl of pasta or potatoes at the chair next to us under the table and secretly eating them...

I have started giving him his own spoon, It generally works well for a few scoops, then the spoon slips and he looses patience and will not allow me to help him. Cue throwing porridge around the kitchen.

Unfortunately, he also loves feeding me (I can see his logic - mummy scoops and feeds me, so when I scoop I feed mummy), but I hate porridge!!!

Happy eating, everybody!