I have an almost 16 month old who hardly eats. She weighs 19 pounds and from her 12 month to 15 month well child visit she only gained about 6 ounces. The pediatrician told me to give her a can of Pediasure every day. I always offer food first and she may or may not eat a couple of bites and then all she wants to do is drink. She may have 2 good meals a week. She will eat something from all of the food groups but only like a bite or two. Her main things she eats are grilled cheese, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, peas, pears, dried cherries/raisins, drinkable yogurt, and a little lunch meat. I can never made casseroles because she won't even try them. I am so tired and frustrated with all of this! Any suggestions would be so appreciated.
Keep offering healthy food. I'd make the casseroles - my son just picks out of them what he will eat and sorts the other stuff. My son, I think, has OCD. :)
S.
Have you tried Carnation Instant Breakfast in her milk?That adds some calories and makes the milk taste good,too.Also, if you can add extra calories to ANything that you make with butter or whipping cream,it can help.Try pudding and add whipping cream in it.Does she have normal stool patterns,etc.?Does she have any signs of reflux?(did she have reflux as an infant?)
Ok... I've been there with my 14th month old. I have finally given up. Just like you, I was consumed with her eating. If her skin, hair and eyes are healthy, she's fine. It seems like she is eating a good range of things. I do add a smoothie (baby yogurt, frozen fruits, milk, and a little apple juice) to Elizabeth's diet if I don't feel she ate enough at a particular meal.
Elizabeth eats the same things your daughter eats with the addition of Kraft mac & cheese w/hamburger and a casserole of potatoes augratin w/ hamburger and chedar cheese.
As for dinnertime, someone else suggested I give her a spoon of her own other than the one I'm feeding her with. For some reason, this has increased her food intake.
It sounds like you are doing a great job! Relax and enjoy your baby girl.
I used to teach this age in the preschool/daycare setting.
Sometimes it helps if you cut foods into tiny bites for the child. I know it is a lot of work, but if you can get her to EAT it will be worth it.
Good luck! :o)
Blessings,
P. <><
Been there, still doing that with my three kids on some nights. I know how frustrating it can be. I found out that soup is something they love. Try chicken noodle with the different shapes or tomato is good in a cup or topped with some cheese, etc.
I always offer a well rounded meal and if she eats it great if she doesn't she wasnt hungry. I think my oldest started using her own fork and spoon around 16 months. They are child sizes oneida ones. You might try that .
I too have noticed like others that if I ignore her and let her sit at the table and eat and I am doing dishes that she tends to eat better than when there are other distractions at the table.
HTH
My daughter still is a very picky eater. She was probably about the same weight as your is when she was 16 months. If she gets one good meal a day, be happy. Just refrain from offering her a lot of sweets if she hasn't eaten anything else.
We eventually just gave up and put food in front of her. If she didn't eat, then she missed that meal. She liked cereal bars so, we'd offer her one just before she went to bed if she didn't eat well for dinner. We found out that if we ignored her, sometimes she'd try the food that she wouldn't otherwise get near. She may still not eat it, but we thank her for at least trying it. We also taught her to lick it (she was fearful of getting the yucky taste completely in her mouth).
Other foods that she liked that you might want to try:
Cereal bars (we get the Nutrigrain kind)
Apple wheels (Gerber makes these, it's basically a rice puff type of food)
Oatmeal
Waffles (initially without syrup, but now she likes the syrup)
Cheese cubes (kraft has a marbled kind that isn't very cheesy)
Bananas
Good luck, and try not to worry. It's kind of frustrating, but I had the same issues and am realizing that it's apparently very common.
SHe is a little young for what I do but for future reference....brocolli is TREES, new potatoes are ROCKS, green beans are SNAKES, noodles are WORMS, ect. You get the idea. My daughter loves it! GOod luck!!
