Fussy toddler

[rmckay25]

Hi

My wee boy is coming up for 18 months but me and my wife are concerned about his eating. He is weaned off milk and had no problems eating food from the get go. Would eat most things at the start. The last few weeks he has started to get fussy. He wont try new things we make him. Wont eat foods that he has tried before and just tends to eat the same things (not a large variety though).

We have tried just giving him the new foods to try without things he likes and he doesnt try it. Also tried him with new foods with food he likes but he just eats the food he likes and doesn't try the new stuff we give him.

Any ideas that might help will be appreciated.

Many Thanks

Ross

It’s really important to hide your frustrations. He might sometimes refuse food just because it gets an interesting reaction from you! If children refuse to eat a food, it doesn’t necessarily mean they dislike it – after all, they might not have even tasted it yet. They might just be putting on a show of independence to see what you’ll do. Try and ignore it as much as you can.
Set a time limit of about 20 minutes for meals. Anything that goes on too long isn’t fun. If your he hasn’t eaten the food in this time, take it away and don’t offer more food until the next planned meal or snack time.
Give small portions. Toddlers can be overwhelmed by big platefuls and lose their appetite.
Keep offering new foods at different times. He will probably try them and eventually like them – but he might have to see a food on the plate 10-15 times before he even tries a taste.
The best way for him to learn to eat and enjoy new foods is to copy you. Try to eat with him as often as you can, and serve him some of what you’re having.
Try to front-load his food intake to earlier in the day when he is less tired and probably more interested in eating.

I'd agree with the pp.
Toddlers won't starve themselves and food/eating should be a relaxed/fun experience. When weaning all my dc more or less had what we (me and exh) were having.
I'd agree with the small portions also. I have to do this sometimes with my youngest when he's going through a defiant phase (he has autism). When he's refusing to eat a whole meal I put the food in dishes to help ourselves at the table, he tends to eat more when I do this as it's up to him what he chooses to eat and how much. It takes the 'stress' off him thinking he needs to clear his plate and gives him control too.
I wouldn't make a dc try something if they didn't want to, I've one dc fussier than the other two and he has over time started to eat more and try more new things.
Go with the flow and keep it relaxed as possible. When your dc does try something new, even if it's just a nibble or a lick, make a huge fuss (smile, praise etc) and take his lead. He's at an age where he needs little and often so don't overload him with a huge variety of he's not keen rn. Good luck!

Thanks for your help. Very much appreciated.