Help.. feeding my 1 year old..

[Honeyjo87]

Hi,

My 1 year old refuse to eat anything other than rice mixed with ghee or biscuits n cakes..even that too she eats just a couple of spoons.. I don’t know what to do.. sometimes if she feels like, then she eats lentils, steamed veggies... I started giving her finger foods since she’s 8 months.., she was a good eater at first.. but now she just spit everything out., she either don’t take anything in her mouth, or she chew n spit.. there’s no swallowing.. she doesn’t eat any meat.. I’m just so worried that this will affect her development.. this has been happening since last 2-3 months.. I spoke to health visitor n Gp all adviced she’s fit n well, n she’s doing everything she should be doing in her age.. how can you get her to eat more? She loves her milk..

I have the same with mine, coming up to 1. I used to get so stressed out. She has always been an extremely difficult eater. No teeth yet so until recently been feeding easy foods. Now, I'll give her the food on her tray if it's not a puree or soup and if she actually eats then great, if not I'll encourage and help her. Normally after about 5 swallowed bites she will refuse any more (and that's great for her!). What I did was, after meal time was over the food would go. Less stressful than keeping her there and trying crazily to get her to eat. She understands that if she doesn't eat at meal times then the food goes away. But of course I don't leave her without anything, she may indicate when she is ready to eat or I will pick it up, and I would be over the moon to give her what she needs. Often though it's just the five bites and there's not much I can do. She is healthy and I have taken advice. If she refuses to eat, she refuses...
I do give grains in the am, fruit based meal for lunch (still purees at the mo) and veg with protein for supper.
You really just need to follow your instincts and don't drive yourself mad, baby will totally catch on to that.
Recently finding that she will often eat if she sees us sitting and having the same meal as I will focus on meal and she will go along with it, although in such a case she eats great if it's from my plate

Omg. It’s same here... only thing is she hates it wen I feed her.. so I’m finding it difficult to feed her grains, purée etc..

Glad I'm not the only one!!

My two were good eaters until about 18 months then became VERY fussy. Over the years they've gradually increased the types of food they eat but are still fussy compared to other kids know. They are both very tall, full of energy and doing well at school so I'm not too worried. Doctor told me they only worry when children don't grow well or lack energy.