Hi everyone! My son is 15 months old and has 5 teeth and can eat a lot of different foods. My problem is that he is so picky and wont try hardly anything and if I get something different in his mouth, like mashed potatoes or something, he will just spit it out. All he wants to eat is pureed fruit or sweet potatoes, crackers and sometimes poptarts and some cereals. He also likes cookies, but I hardly let him have them since I can't get him to eat other food. He also doesn't seem to like anything unless its cold, even if it is something normally served warm. Just wondering what you moms who went through this did because I dont know what else to try. Its getting so frustrating! Thanks for all of your advice!
A site that has helped us out a lot (including just helping me not worry so much!) is from Dr. Sears' website:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T030800.asp
Tons of great ideas from a father of 8!
My kids wanted anything I ate, especially if I didn't offer it to them, or fix very much - even broccoli.
If they want to try something I'd let them and if not then they didn't get special requests like cookies. I wouldn't worry too much as long as they are getting the things that they really need from something they are eating/drinking.
You might like the book "My Child Won't Eat!" It's published by La Leche League and came out only about two years ago, so it's very current. It has a lot of good ideas and they are all based on La Leche League's philosophy of gentle discipline, so nothing is harsh or disrespectful. I got a lot out of this book.
ALso, I've read that children sometimes need to "meet" a food as many as 10 times before it is familiar enough for them to try it and learn to like it. So, don't give up with offering different foods.
My kids (even my toddler who is just a month older than yours) have really enjoyed having a "nibble tray," where I put a couple bites of several different foods in a muffin tin and let that be their meal. My toddler has a three-compartment dish and he likes to see what is in each compartment and has started tasting all the options.
Hang in there--this is a frustrating phase but it's not forever! :)
My boy is 16 months old and gets picky sometimes--things he liked the day before he won't like again!! I do cut up cheese and crackers and slices of lunch meat for him which he seems to like. I also do pb&j, tortillas with stuff put on them, and soup mixed with bread (to make it thick). I also give him the vegetables out of vegetable soup since they are really soft and squishy. He does not like vegetables too much so I usually have to puree them and put it into a sauce. What has worked a lot (and I know it sounds wrong!) is to trick him--we will give him a crayon or little toy to look at and play with and he will open his mouth and eat--kind of like he forgets he "doesn't like it." I think for our boy it is mostly that he wants the control, so I have to get it back from him. Good luck!
Go get this internet page
as it has nice tips for picky eaters.
and also know that, this too shall pass. Stick to a schedule and don't force. He might not be hungry.
Hi K.,
We haven't been in your shoes exactly because we made sure our kids ate only what was being served. I never made exceptions so it was a matter of eat now or don't eat till the next meal neither one of our kids are picky eaters because of it. Sometimes they don't care for what is fixed but will eat a bit of it because they know that's all there is till the next meal. They don't get any snacks between meals either if they don't eat the meal. Don't cater to your son now as you'll continue to have problems down the road. You set the rule of the house and stick to it, you'll find he might not eat much till he figures out he's starting to get real hungry. Stay steady and don't give in to his wishes. Blessings, L.
isn't that frustrating? my kids have all gone through a similar stage. i usually put 2-3 items on their plate. at least one that they seem to have liked recently, plus one that may be new or that they haven't had for a while. at 15 months i'm just happy if they eat something non-snacky and at the table. so even if they reject 2 of the foods, that's ok. they can have more of the one they enjoyed. as my kids get older, i insist that they eat specific things on their plates, like the veggies, but 15 months is still an experimental time with food. taste buds grow as we age, so it's not unusual for kid's tastes to change often. he will eventually want to eat something different if you keep giving him the opportunity to try. one of my sons went through a stage of eating only hotdogs and canned fruit, with the occasional mac and cheese. it lasted several months and then he moved on to other foods again.
