It seems I've created a fussy eater....what now?

[Olive]

maybe try something different and offer veggies or meat or both on skewers etc... i know when DD1 wouldnt eat meat a kabab was devoured because it was different and fun, otherwise put toothpick into food etc..

[sneakysparkle]

I would try giving him "dinner" at lunch, and even boosting his breakfast - so that at dinner time he can have a banana for dinner and its ok!
At this age I think its just a stage, and that he will grow out of it.
Rivlas made a good point - food off mums plate is always better!
hang in there, youre going a good job hun!

[AliBaby]

I have jsut been reading a chapter on this in The Mighty Toddler.

It says something about trying not to always substitute with milk as thats what they want and he will just learn that if he doesnt eat dinner he will get a nice big bottle of his favourite drink. Dont know how true that is but it kind of makes sense.

It also says that toddlers will eat if they are hungry and it is common for them to have one big meal every one or two days and then basically just snacks at other times. It is a passing phase and as long as you are offering a variety of nutritional things as well then that is good.

HTH. Just what I was reading at that very moment. Havent got to that stage myself yet though

[mako]

We have a similar issue here too and I've resorted to having fruit on his plate as well as his veg and meat or whatever we are having that night. That way DS gets his fruit and he'll eat some of the other food too instead of waiting for me to cave in and just give him some fruit if he hasn't eaten anything else.
A health nurse told me once to put 2 or 3 peas/corn vegies on his plate and very small amounts of whatever else we were eating plus a quater of a sandwich and if he ate the sandwich 1st then all he needed to have was the couple of vegies and that would be ok.She also told me that sometimes smaller amounts is more appealing to little tummies instead of larger amounts kwim?

[~Kim~]

Jess...you didn't make him fussy....he's nearly two, that's why he's fussy.
SOme of what works for us....not everything all the time, but different stuff most of the time;

I agree with SS in that a bigger brekkie and lunch often work here as by dinner they are tired and eating is hard work. My DD occasionally goes to bed hungry. I give her the option of eating or going to bed, and sometimes she'll just ask to go to bed.
Give smaller meals, much smaller. Sounds dumb but if it doesn't look like so much to conquer it's easier to start. My ILs had a heart attack when I would give DD this tincy plate of food (but then they are know as the Klumps by my DH). She'd eat that and then ask for some of mine.
Sitting them instead of in the highchair but at a small table and chairs. I know it's not eating together (but I have spent many a meal on my bottom next to the kids table so that it is), but for some kids this really helps. My DS chucks food from the highchair but not from 'his' table.
Mixing up mealtimes a bit, like Olive suggested, different food types than they are used to, or picnics....even if it's just somewhere weird like on a blanket up the hall.
Getting them involved in dinner making.

[amberj]

Thank you all so much.

I've been thinking about the "dinner at lunch" thing, but he's usually pretty beat at lunchtime because its right before his nap. We like to feed him before his nap because he seems to sleep better. Maybe we should try a snack before nap and then proper lunch after, and then just something easy for him at dinner.

I like the idea of giving him a little plate with some sandwich (always a favourite) and some of what we are eating. The idea is eventually he will get curious and eat the other stuff too, right....?

He refuses to sit in his high-chair any more. He has to be at the table in a grown up chair with mum & dad. He won't even consent to my propping up his cushion with phone-books!