Creating a Fussy Eater???

[BellyBelly]

Introducing solids for the first time is all about tasting and learning - its not about replacing meals or milk. So you don't need to offer a massive variety and frequently, at 6 months of age his primary food source is still breastmilk and it should be offered before solids. So I wouldnt stress too much on offering him a smorgasboard of foods. They do say it takes at least 10 time to try to eat something new!

[Olive]

was goint to say the smae as kelly about it taking many times before they accept food, DD still screws her nose up at some vegies,(not many) but i still offer it and if she leaves it then so be it!!
its all about tasting and texture! such a learning experience!

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

Put your hard hat on and bunker down! You have years of this ahead of you - I would choose now to gracefully clean up the mess, accepting that this is part of babyhood and not let yourself be stressed about it.
Throughout their whole life, when you dish up the thing that was their *favourite* last week - they will leave it untouched declaring that they never liked it, then steal the thing you *knew* they didn't eat off your plate - declaring that it is their favourite now.

Good luck
Barb

[MantaRay]

Ezz, I agree with all the advice you have been given. But I would say that sometimes it is more like 100 times than 10!! But one day, they do eat that food they have refused at least 99 times before.

I can only say that from my experience, stressing over it makes it worse, as they pick up on that. Just go with the flow. As Barb said, you have years of this ahead so don't let it get to you already! Big hugs hun, I do know how frustrating it can be.

[Liz]

LOL Barb. Completely agree.

My DS isn't a fussy eater by any means.. but i can never tell what he's going to scoff down and what he's going to leave on his plate. And why the brocolli off my plate is better than the brocolli on his plate.. I'll never know! hehe. It changes all the time. I've never forced him to eat it if he doesn't want it.. but he doesn't get anything else either (altho I will let him eat as much fruit as he wants later on).

I've read that toddlers/children are actually very good at regulating what they're eating, and will feed themselves a very balanced diet over a timeframe (not necessarily each day, but say within a week) provided they are offered healthy foods and not filled up on unhealthy alternatives. And I think it's true, from observing DS.

This first year is definitely about introducing different textures and tastes, and not so much about nutrition - that comes from milk.

Screwing up the zuccini in his hand - that's all part of learning about the food. It's a good thing! Try not to worry about it. He's exploring and learning

[Olive]

sophie still gets great delight out of squesing the life put of vegies!! mind you she is an excellent fruit and veg eater!! they love to explore everything through all their senses!!

[Ezz]

Ok, so if I give him a vegie for breakfast & he won't eat it, should I...
a) chuck it out & consider the meal over?
b) chuck out the uneaten veg & give him some fruit that I know he will eat?
c) mix the veg through the fruit & give it to him?

[Liz]

Personally, I consider the meal over. And then perhaps next meal make it something that might appeal a bit more by adding fruit or something.

Perhaps it's my laziness LOL.. but I don't want to get into the habit of re-preparing meals just coz they won't eat it. They'll eat if they're hungry hehe. (maybe I'm just mean!)

ETA: re creating a fussy eater.. I think catering to them each meal if they don't eat what they're given can create fussiness, coz they'll keep refusing until they get what they want. Not that I force that meal, they just don't get anything else if they don't want it. I guess that applies more to a toddler than a 6 mth old, but it's a habit I certainly don't want heh.