Mum's of fussy eaters - Please, I need your help!!
Hi there! My almost 2 year old DS, is the world's fussiest eater. He refuses to eat fruit and vegies (even though 8 months ago he LOVED them). He won't eat red meat at all. He won't even TRY anything new. he won't put it in his mouth to taste at all.
I used to worry, as he was at the 10th percentile for weight for quite some time, so I made things he ate (multigrain hommus sandwhiches for example). Now, I know he is over the 50th percentile, I am happy to try the whole fruit and vege nazi on him.
So starting today, he eats what he is served. His lunch today was a fruit salad of freshly cut fruit. He didn't touch it. I have cut out all snacks. so he's clearly going to be hungry.
I served dinner tonight (rissoles with mashed potato, carrot and parsnip mash and peas). He played with it, bringing the spoon to his mouth, but he wouldn't put any of it in his mouth. He pretends, and then says "yummy". I tried to sit with him (he sits at his own table and chairs) to show him that I was eating the exact same thing. He wouldn't even try any of mine. So looks like he's going to bed with no food (which makes me feel absolutely horrid!!).
Does anyone have any tips that has been through anything like this?
Do I cut out all the food I know he will eat and just try to keep serving new things in the hope he will eventually become so hungry he will attempt it? I asked my MCHN a few days ago if there was any length of time that I would worry about him not eating, and she said no. Should I cut out milk for the time being (as I don't want him to just live on milk as a replacement for food)? Do I give him toast for breakfast like normal or do I give him something like porridge or cereal to try?
Should I not go about like this?
Has anyone had success with their extremely fussy eater?
I would love to talk to anyone who has gone or is going through this. I need the strength to not give in.
I understand where you are coming from I have spent the last 15mths I suppose wondering what will Jack eat today, he still eats very little red meat may have the occasional mouthful but is few and afr between he also took a disliking to vegies, he has only just now decided to try fresh fruit prior to the last 6 weeks he would only eat dry fruit apricots sultanas and the occasional bit of tinned fruit
Jack lives on pasta he would eat pasta everyday of the week if I let him, and at one stage I did as he just refused everything
he took a liking to eggs so I let him eat them he would only eat the white so I was like whatever he is eating
personally the thought of withholding food altogether unless he eats what you want him to is a bit harsh :hugs: please dont take offence
when you said at one stage you let him eat whatever he wanted and mentioned hommus on wholegrain bread I was liek well whats worng with that unless he is eating a diet of fried chips and fried food all day long then there isn't a problem
anyway in our case the last 3 mths have been amazing difference in what jack will eat, he no longer has milk so maybe thats the difference but he weaned himself of bottles, etc... he now trys fruit will eat apples,watermelon etc, not everyday but at least once a week he also will eat certain vegies, mainly if they come off dads plate
my opinion if what he is eating is ehalthy such as the sandwiches I dont beelive it will do any harm
Jack has only now started havign porridge or cereal he was always a toast boy and then he didn't want anything but a scrpe of butter he still doesn't liek spreads on his bread just a scrape of butter
I know nothing I have said is probably going to help but no others have been there too
Thanks. I was given the advice of the whole no eating by my MCHN and it's really going to take alot for me to follow through with it. The hommus sandwhiches are the only healthy thing he eats. He won't touch eggs, he won't touch pasta, no cereals at all, just bread and dairy. It's doig my head in and I just don't think he is getting everything he needs to I doubt he gets much iron at all in his diet.
My CHN made a big deal of jack not eating red meat told me to cut out all milk at 13mths becuase he wasn't having meat I was like whatever and didn't go back
ok so maybe cut back on the milk as such... have you tried maybe dipping platters, use pita bread or something make beetroot dips, hommus, yoghurt (greek) etc and see if he will try that... maybe ground some lentils into a spread and try that on bread ... I personally would go for the try this tonight and then after a little bit if he isn't interested at all then offer him what he prefers it take persistant and toddlers are designed to drive us nuts
seriously...dont do this to yourself.....dont make this whole eating experience something you and he dread. Its sooo not worth it. I have a bad eater - my first. She is now 5. Like your son, she used to eat her vegies and fruit - up until around 17-18mths....now she eats chicken nuggets, pasta, corn and rice. Thats it for dinner. But you know....i stopped pushing it. I stopped forcing her to eat what i wanted her to eat.
Ive found, as she has become older, gone to preschool, now big school, she sees other children eat bananas, mandarins, youghurts...and over time she has developed a INTEREST in these foods. And really , thats all i want...i want her to try these foods, and be a little bit interested in a plate of watermelon, or some steamed vegies. We're getting there....it takes a lot of time...but we're getting there.
ETA; i know this doesnt make you your situation any better...but take heart in knowing there are a AWFUL lot of fussy eaters out there....i speak to the ladies at school and almost all or at least 1 of their children will only eat a selection of certain foods...and they are in primary school.....i guess what im saying is...baby steps....take small steps in introducing this wonderful thing we call food.....good luck!!!
If you're offering food and he doesn't want to eat it, there's no reason for you to feel horrid! He's choosing to be fussy, you can't force it down his throat!
Many little ones just don't like to eat, particularly at that age, and the more you get stressed about it, the more fun it is for them to wind you up, the little blighters They may not eat a great diet at that age and you may find yourself resorting to some terrible foods or vitamin supplements, but trust me, they really *won't* starve themselves. All my kids have gone through fussy stages at one time or another with a "mono diet" happening at some point. Only one of them has been sick from it and she had issues with food right from being a tiny baby and has underlying medical issues.
I second the idea of having him up at the table with all the family eating together. It normalises eating and has all sorts of social benefits too.
Mum's of fussy eaters - Please, I need your help!!
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I doubt he gets much iron at all in his diet.
They may not eat a great diet at that age and you may find yourself resorting to some terrible foods or vitamin supplements, but trust me, they really *won't* starve themselves. All my kids have gone through fussy stages at one time or another with a "mono diet" happening at some point. Only one of them has been sick from it and she had issues with food right from being a tiny baby and has underlying medical issues.
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