What Does Your 12 Month Old like to Eat?

I think 32 oz is too much, my doctor told me approx 24 oz. Maybe if he has less milk he take more food.

Good luck.

I can surely relate!! My first son ate and still eats EVERYTHING just about (he's 3 now). My second son, now 22 months, is EXTREMELY picky. Took him a LONG time before eating pasta but finally does...usually. VERY picky about what he eats, as well as he does not like anything touching each other when he eats (figured that out at Old Country Buffet!) ... like casseroles and even cheese between crackers is OUT...will only eat them separate when not touching, though he will eat grilled cheese and pbj and hot dog so long as nothing is touching on the plate. He doesn't eat any kind of dip like ketchup, ranch dressing, barbeque, cheese on top of broccoli or nachos, anything. It's so hard finding healthy food he'll eat. He'll usually eat peas and sometimes green beans and often fruit, but not always. He'll skip meals often before eating a lot at one meal to make up for it because it's like he has to be starving sometimes to eat that healthy food. He too will eat breakfast foods like that...loves the bread group...but we have trouble with the other meals. He has a big time sweet tooth, so "junk food" can not be in site for him. Hopefully they outgrow it, though several people have told me that VERY picky adults started out this way! Hang in there!!! I sure hope it gets easier! :)

32 ounces is too much at this point. Once you reduce this, his appetite will improve. Children eat what is offered - eventually! If you continue to offer fresh vegetables, baked meats, wholesome carbs (pastas, breads), fruits, etc., and do not offer the not so nutritious standbys such as chicken nuggets, he will come around and eat them. Children learn by example and watching so if you and your older child are eating healthy meals with him, he will join in.

My son went through a phase around the time he turned one where all he ate was toast. It lasted about 2 weeks and then he got over it and ate everything again. My point is that kids go through picky phases and they get over it. Here's what my son eats now (15 months) - it hasn't changed much in the last several months.
yogurt
oatmeal, cream of wheat, etc
pancakes, waffles etc
toast, english muffins etc with peanut butter, butter and jam, or cream cheese
cut up fruit (peaches, grapes, berries and melon are favorites)
little star pasta (styline I think it's called?) or couscous with marinara and cheese
peas
chunks of sweet potato
chunks of cheese
crackers
fresh tomato
small bits of green bean
sometimes we make a "casserole" out of mashed potatoes, cut up chicken, and peas (or whatever is handy) - he loves that
leftovers from dinner - especially pasta and rice dishes

32 oz of milk sounds like a ton to me. If he's recently started solids it may just take him a while to get into them. But once he increases the amount of food he is eating he can cut back on the milk.

When my daughter was about a year old I would boil chicken breast's for her and cut them up,into bite size. Sounds gross I know but she loved it. What about pasta, and mix in veggies, and some type of meat,(ex. chicken,pork) but do not add any red sauce or any sauce at all for that matter. My nephew is 7 now and he has never ate meat, at all.

Sounds like you are eating (and offering your baby) a lot of processed foods. Sometimes children this age just simply want the more wholesome, uncanned, unprocessed stuff. Try giving him a lot more fresh options. Maybe cucumbers, carrots steamed, brocolli, colliflower, beets, things like that. I have always had good luck with that. Chicken nuggets are truly garbage. They are laden in sodium and made from processed, unnutritional chicken. I would give him anything but that. boiled, stirfried, cooked chicken or meat, eggs, whole grain toast or bread, cut down on the pastas since most white pasta is garbage. Try whole wheat pasta or multigrain pastas. I would also cut down on the milk, big time. He does not need that much milk. I hope I'm not being harsh. I just hope it gives you what to work with...Good luck!

i would give him no more then 20oz of milk a day he will get hungry and will eat then because of how much milk he is getting he is not that hungry the rest of the time i would give Him water or juice. good luck

I have a feeling that your little one is filling up on milk. If you are doing the dairy thing then they really don't need more than 16 oz a day.

Our little one has been on "real food" since about 8 months. We try to give her what we have for dinner-mostly fresh veggies, lentils, beans. Although she loves bean and cheese buritos, and indian food. There are some great books to use as guidance I was a big fan of Super Baby Food. We really stay away from processed foods, but I understand that sometimes dinner can be a pinch so here is a list of what works for us for quick dinners: chilled or grilled tofu, veggie burgers orginal veggie burger, any frozen veggies( try adding spices such as garlic, cumin, peppers), roast a large sweet potato and cube it up. Sliced turkey breast (whole foods roasted turkey breast has no preservitives or nitrates) avocado. Remember it takes lots of time to introduce new foods. Sometimes you need to get it infront of them 7 or more times before they will try it. A trick we have learned is Siena will eat almost anything if we give her a fork to feed herself. Messy and Slow but who can't use 45 minutes of there little one in a highchair?

Good luck, if you have any question feel free to email me (my degree is in nutrition and dietetics)

M.

My 21 month old has been picky since he started solids. I was concerned, like you, but his doctor reminded me that as long as a diet is balanced, a variety doesn't matter. If he'll eat chicken nuggets (protein), cheerios (grains), milk or cheese for calcium and some fruit and vegetable, I think he'll be just fine. It's frustrating and seems boring, for sure, but I have to believe they'll come around sometime!

When my son started whole milk I gave him 24 oz. a day plus water or watered-down juice. Maybe he doesn't want to eat sometimes because he's filled up on milk? Just a thought.

E.,
I have an 11 month old and basically he eats what we eat. What about mixing the cut up chicken with the jar of green beans. Sometimes its a texture thing.

Also, my kids don't drink dairy, but I think 32oz is too much. I seem to remember when we switched my first son over to dairy when he was one (turns out he's allergic), but I want to say that it was less than 20oz that he was supposed to get. The nutrition should come from food. He might be getting too full on milk and then just doesn't want to eat the food.

This is also a really picky stage. I remember that one day he just stopped eating. He will come back around. Don't be a short order cook and fix him something completely different to satisfy him. If you want him to eat what you eat, then offer that. Eventually he will get it that there isn't *something else* coming.

My older guy is almost 4, so I feel your pain with the 2 at these ages!!
B.

My 14 month old was very picky and now has come around to a point. First my pediatrician had told me when he turned a year to give him 12-24 ounces of whole milk a day. He said if he gets calcium other ways then not to worry aobut the milk intake but try to get at least 12 oz in. As for foods, it seems a bit repetititous but he loves any breakfast foods. Had lots of trouble starting off with fruits but i continue to offer them and he now has begun to take them. Loves veggies. Other suggestions are wheat bread, cheeses, deli turkey and ham. He is not into pasta either which i don't beleive it but i try and try but i will keep trying. It's true, they go in stages which is why i just keep offering them to him. As long as he is eating something, he will be fine. But i would cut down on the milk. Whold milk is very filling. Good luck!