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Weaning

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14 mth old - screams at every meal!

5 replies

luluhollybolly · 05/04/2009 21:51

I am going a little insane.

My DD has always been a really good eater, eating pretty much anything put infront of her and lots of it, until now.

In the last few weeks she has started screaming and crying and soon as you put food close to her lips. She is fine at a distance but as soon as you approach her with her meal she gets really distraught.

I have tried distracting her, giving her a spoon to try and feed herself with whilst I try and shovel it in, and it sometimes works but it takes some real coaxing and this weekend she has hardly eaten.

It's not just some meals either, it's every meal.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
flockwallpaper · 05/04/2009 22:26

My DS went through a phase like this not so long ago. We never truly got to the bottom of it but it has passed more or less (touches wood)! I wonder if it happens when they want to be independent and feed themselves but they don't quite have the skill or patience yet? I think there was an element of boredom being stuck in his highchair with our DS as well.

If she doesn't eat much at one meal, just try again at the next. We give DS breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and supper, so we know that if he won't eat lunch for example, in a short while there will be another opportunity for him to eat.

I know how frustrating it can be though, good luck with it.

kidowner · 05/04/2009 22:41

Check he doesn't have an abscess from teething etc first. If nothing physical is wrong, then you need to take a completely different approach.

Some children simply aren't that hungry when you want them to be, so put back mealtimes a bit. Take the cue from him. Don't force food into him.

He is only 14 mths old! Meals don't have to be prepared specially, in fact if you put too much into the preparation each time, you're going to overreact if he rejects it.

At his age he does not need any 'snack' type food like junk, crisps etc, as it distorts the taste buds.

Keep it simple, nutritious and healthy. My babies liked feeding themselves so I would give them a platter of different things to try, eg slithers of cheese, raisins, peas, sausage, bread roll, orange segment, breakfast cereal flakes, sweetcorn, things that they could grasp, suck, play with etc.

As soon as they are bored, take the cue and take the food away.

(of course don't leave them just in case of choking), but it is a great way for them to enjoy the tastes, textures, feel of food. Mine did not like being fed with a spoon so this was a great alternative.

Let him chew on a peeled but uncut banana, give him a whole peeled apple to play with, lick etc, give him the spoon and some warm cottage pie and let him feed himself. Same with a pot or dollop of yogurt.

In short, keep it fun, varied, eat with him too, make funny faces, say yum! He'll copy you and the whole experience will be turned around.

Make sure he is hungry first and don't ruin his appetite with sweets/junk between meals as they can get surprisingly full.

Good luck!

kidowner · 05/04/2009 22:42

Sorry, I meant she/her!

TortillaDeMaiz · 06/04/2009 09:44

and if all what kidowner says fails, sit her in your lap and let her eat off your plate.

kidowner · 06/04/2009 11:16

Yes!

My ds1 wouldn't eat off his own plate but ate everything off dh's plate!

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