Feeding 1 Year Old - Picky Eater

he's just not getting it yet. be patient with him while he learns that this is what his food will look like/feel like/taste like now. be positive and keep at it. it's not really something you just flip a switch for - keep doing like you have and just GRADUALLY start introducing new foods. how would you feel if someone quit giving you anything you're used to eating and started giving you, say, astronaut food EVERY time you sat down to eat? you'd be kind of upset and confused.

He's too young to "hate" food, he just isn't familiar with the textures yet. I wouldn't try to go straight from baby food to table food without offering him some transition opportunities for a month or two. It may take a while and lots of exposures to new foods for your son to start eating "your food".

Start by putting some of the Gerber "puffs" on his tray and letting him pick at those. My son LOVED these and it got him to start eating some textural foods. When it seems like he's not averse to those, try adding some well-cooked pasta to the mix. Add new foods slowly- let him get used to the new tastes and textures before adding another.

His resistance is probably a sign of him being overwhelmed by the quick change. Just be patient and make sure he's taking his vitamins and getting plenty of milk and juice for the nutrients. He'll eat eventually... don't stress yourself over it too much.

I am so with you on that! dinner time is a nightmare with us as my son and daughter can be picky eaters....but don't stress.

Some good tips is for lunch for go the formally of sitting down at the table and calling everyone to it. Also keep it simple....you make a bowl/plate for yourself and a little extra on it. If they see you eating they will want to try it and you can then share with them.

yogurt, grapes and some egg salad type sandwiches will a great way to eat those nutrients and develop the taste buds for texture and flavor.

Dinner ideas just make sure you give them very tiny pieces of meat and veggies. Cucumbers, are great for those little fingers. If they don't like the texture of cooked peas.

Also don't forget about this time their little bodies will start using us the babyfat so they just won't be as hungry. They tummies are the size of their fist so they don't need much in one sit down.

Good luck and I hope that helps.

I think much of what you're going through is normal. Young toddlers learn from a young age what they can control. Food is one of those things. I have 4 kids myself. My youngest is 13 mos. old. too. So, I'm right with you.

I start by NOT offering too many choices. Little ones can't process when we do that. Simply put before your little boy the food that you are going to prepare. For example, if you are going to have some fruit. Cut it up in small pieces and put it before him. Just a thought, he may not like "mushy" textures.

I try to be careful not to over-cater to my kids in the area of food. By that, I don't mean give them stuff you know they hate. But, I do mean that I won't make a second meal for my kids because they don't like this or that. If you're not careful, you may create a picky eater by giving in to his every whim. I don't say that to sound discouraging either :) I say that, because I went through this with my girls, and it took several years of undoing the behavior.

When my son (the 1 year old now) turned 11 mos. he stopped eating baby food. He just hated it. We went straight to table food. But I took it in steps (so as to watch for allergies). Bananas, cut up fruit, Ritz crackers (he has a lot of teeth), cheese (cut up)...I guess the list could go on and on. These are food I started with.

One other point, and I'll just leave it at this, is to not allow eating time to become a battle. What I mean is, simply, that eating time shouldn't be war. It should be an enjoyable time for all parties involved. It should be a time of pleasure. You can sit down with your little guy, talk to him about what you're going to feed him, or give him a baby spoon with some food item...and let the learning flow.

Oh, I almost forgot. The screaming. This is tough. My son was doing that as well during feeding times. It was making me feel upset as well. Part of it may be that he's frustrated. He doesn't have the verbal skills yet to tell you what he wants, right? A book that I read suggested teaching BASIC sign language for that period of time while their brains are geared up to learn language.

All I do is the signing for eat, drink and mommy. Learning just the basics can save you and him a lot of frustration. I can tell you that after two weeks, my son has calmed down at eating time. He doesn't sign yet, but he giggles when I make the gestures and I have noticed a difference in the frustration during feeding time. Also, when he screams or starts hitting the high chair. I say "No" firmly (but not in anger), and I put his hands down on the tray or next to him. I say "No, we don't hit." If you do it consistently, they start to make connections. It is okay to not allow everything at this age. Be firm and loving...above all, be consistent. Babies pick up on our frustration, our chaotic mood. Hope this helps. Good luck!

it's the texture's he's not used to, just feed him what everyone else eats, if he dont' eat, he dont' get a snack until he eats good. my daughter used to be just like that until i started taking her snacks away...he'll eat when he's hungry..have you tried mashed taters?

I have a 14 month old who is/was similar. I think it's just a time of transition, and they don't eat nearly as much as they used to, even a few weeks ago!

My guy was little at his 1 year appt (20 lbs and in the 10-15th% for his age/length), so the ped suggested adding butter to things where we could -- on toaster waffles, to steamed veggies, on bread, etc. An extra pat of butter is ~ 100 calories, and one time a day equates to a pound in a month's time.

My son eats foods one day, and refuses them the next, so I feel your pain. He is also moving away from jarred food completely, so I'm struggling to find a variety of finger foods that will work for him (esp. since he only has 2 teeth currently!). So far, cheese, cut up grapes, waffles, bread & butter, chicken pieces, blueberries and bananas work (most of the time).

Just keep trying things, and don't sweat it -- he will eventually eat, but the big thing is not to make it a battle. That just increases the stress around it over all, for everyone!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and your family!

Try cooked mashed sweet potatoes with melted cheese in it - my twins loved this first food and now at age 9 still ask for it!!
Also flaked cooked fish in a condensed soup sauce with peas and sweetcorn was always a hit...
They are both good transition foods as their texture is softish like jarred baby food but you can make it chunkier as time goes by

How about trying;

cheese
luncheon meat
pasta
grilled chicken
freshly steamed veggies(over steam them to make them extra soft)
cut up banana
goldfish
puffs
yogurt

Try and steer clear of over processed foods. He will get the hang of it, just keep giving him healthy options.

Please, do not fill him up on juice. Kids do not need juice. Give them fruit.

Try buying some canned veggies to try? Carrots are good. Just open the can and cut some up. They don't need to be cooked or warmed. Room temp is perfect. Pears are good this way as well. Offer the softer ones from the can if possible. Bananas cut up (softer ones as well).

Lightly toasted toast..maybe with just some butter..or add some healthier jelly/jam versions in a very light layer. If you want to try some waffles? Lightly toast them. They don't need syrup! Flavored ones can be fun once they get the hang of it, just watch over all sugar contents?

FYI~tip....I need to cut multiples of everything with 7 daycare kids under age 3...so I have several pizza cutters to use thru the day. GREAT for getting things into nice small bites for little ones, quickly!

Pasta, breads, Puffs are great!, Pancakes, French toast..when I did feel the need to add topping I just smeared a layer of applesauce on them..... just keep trying things...keep an open mind when at the grocery store and try it all. Give him bits of what you have...at some point something will intrigue him and he will try it and love it. Sometimes shaking things up and putting the whole thing on the plate (like a silver dollar size pancake you made)..just to see what they do with it? I do that with bananas often. I give them a half a banana or a good size piece, just to see their reaction, then watch them very closely to make sure they can manage it. Messy and must be closely watched...but generally just mushes up and distracts them...as I said, shakes up the routine somewhat.

Good luck! In a few weeks he will likely be eating everything!

I have done home childcare for 13 years now and every child is so very different! You just have to keep trying things.

I would go slower and transition him from baby foods. I liked "first foods", a babyfood cookbook that gave suggestions to increase the chunkiness as they get older, so you aren't just suddenly switching.

Be very careful about some of the foods you mentioned, even cut up hot dog can be a real choking hazards, and some experts don't recommend peanut butter until much older. My son has a peanut allergy so I definitely agree with waiting. Also ppeanut butter on bread can also be a choking hazard.

Good luck!