My One Year Old Is a Picky Eater

When my kids were that age they were the same way. What worked for me may work for you. I bought those gerber fruit and vegie wheels. They loved them because they had no idea what they were eating. As far as they were concerned they were cereal. Try them and hopefully it will work!
Good luck!

Hi, My name is A. I have a four year old who was the SAME way! All I can say is good luck because to this day he will NOT eat different foods at all!! If I give him anything saucy like mac and cheese or spaghettios it is a fight. I have literally tried to hold his mouth open to see if he would just taste stuff. If I get something in his mouth that is new or different-he cries and wipes his tongue off with a napkin!!?? I even tried to make him eat what we eat for dinner or nothing and he would rather starve! I did it for 4 nights in a row and he wouldn't budge and I gave up cause I felt like I was starving him! So all I can really do is give him what he will eat even though it's almost the same thing everyday! Yogurt, carrots,chicken nuggets, finger foods, etc. Don't get me wrong, when I started feeding him regular food, I let him try all sorts of things but he just wouldn't eat. So it forced me to just feed him what he would....if you ever figure out how to break him let me know!!! I really don't understand what to do either!!

try pediasure....it works for my little one.

Little ones go thru phases when it comes to eating. Don't worry too much. Just keep trying to introduce meat and veggies to him. One day he will surprise you and eat them. Then after he starts eating them (and you get all excited) he will probably stop again and then start again. :) That is what has happened with my son and many other friends. My son is now three and his food taste is expanding (yet still limited), but I went thru the same thing your going thru now. One of the snacks (and some times a meal) he liked at that age was a mini wheat bagel and cream cheeze. He didn't like meat or dairy products either. He is just now learning to like milk. I know it's hard, but it will pass. Good luck!

I agree with Rosemary, don't worry too much, things will develop. My son is is 22 months, but has always been a pretty good eater. He goes through phases with everything! He loves yogurt, then he won't touch it for 2 months. I've found that the best thing to do is stop offering it for a few weeks and then try again. After a month of not even having yogurt in the house, I will buy it and have it in the frig where he can get to it. He will see it and grab it when he is ready. For one year old, the ONLY meat he would eat was the gerber turkey sticks and perdue chicken nuggets. They are not frozen, in near the rest of the chicken at the store. They are wonderful because they taste great and they are really soft and easy to eat. It can get frustrating, but just keep experimenting. My number one trick is to sit him down with something he likes and then sit with him with something you would like for him to eat (veggies, cheese, meat whatever). Don't offer it to him, just act like it is all for you. At some point, he is going to start wanting to try stuff off of you plate and the chances of him liking it are greater because he doesn't think you care if he eats it. At that age, if my son knew I wanted him to eat something and even tried forcing him to, the more he wouldn't even try it! I do frozen veggies and have found what he likes and doesn't like through experimenting. For instance, he loves the green giant baby sweet peas with no sauce. He won't eat any other peas, honest! A lot of kids like sauce, ranch or cheese, but mine does not. He wants everything to be plain! Just be patient and don't worry too much. His taste will develop, you can't force him to eat anything, so don't bother! Give him what he wants for now and slowly expand. My son doesn't touch milk and I have learned that he is fine without it. Who ever knew eating and sleeping could be so stressful??
Good luck!

I have a picky 3yo eater. I can't get him to eat any fruit and sometimes won't eat his vegetables. On those days, I give him the new V8 fusion strawberry banana is his favorite. It has an entire days allowance of fruit and vegetable in one serving. It tastes good, too. And I give him a childrens multivitamin, polyvisol w/iron everyday. These things help me not worry so much that he isn't eating well. Hope this helps.

I thought that my 18 month old was becoming a picky eater too. Turns out he wants to feed himself. I purchase half-sized cans of veggies at the grocery store just for him. You can get two or three baby servings from one can. Just drain the juice out and then rinse the veggies REALLY WELL in cold water before pouring fresh water in a pot or bowl to heat them up a bit (but if you want them to REALLY taste good, heat them up in chicken or veggie broth instead of water-YUMMY!!!). Drain them again and serve on a "Baby Plate." My son now eats any veggie I put in front of him!

He won't eat meat though...the only way I can get meat into him is through chicken and rice or mashed potatoes with roast beef & gravy mixed together. But a new find (for me) is Gerger Graduates Pasta Pickups. They are in the Baby Aisle anywhere. They have all these ravioli flavors...chicken & carrots, beef & tomato, chicken & cheese, and spinach & cheese. My Baby Boy loves them all! He feeds himself (by hand or w/ his fork) and doesn't even know he's eating meat!

I hope these ideas work for you!

Sometimes they outgrow it, and sometimes they don't! I have two boys who are now 14 and 12. Both were picky eaters when they were very young, and my 12-year-old still is! We have to count ketchup as a vegetable; otherwise, he wouldn't be eating any! :-) I'm not very worried, though, since I was a very picky eater until I became an adult. I was forced to eat things I hated when I was young to the point where I would throw up the foods I was forced to eat. I truly believe that's why I was so picky for so long. As long as he's getting SOME protein, SOME dairy, SOME fruits and veggies, and SOME grains, then you're probably ok. My 12-year-old is very healthy despite his pickiness. We've just learned to work around it.

Best of luck!

Vicky K.
St. Simons Island, GA

MY SON IS 1 I WOULDN'T WORRY JUST GIVE HIM WHAT HE WILL EAT AND SNEAK IN SOME VITIAMINS (sp?)

So is my 14 month old daughter. She just started eating table food about a month ago. I have found that sometimes putting things on her tray and not really trying to give it to her, she will usually try it. That doesn't mean she always likes it, but at least she will try it. She does like grilled veggies with some no salt Mrs. Dash and beans.
I have just stopped worrying and just give her new things. Sometimes if I try things after a week or two she likes them, go figure. My doctor has told me not to worry toddlers are picky and she will get what she needs.
I hope this helps. At least we both know we are not the only ones with this problem.

Sasrah

Hi A.. Well lets just say that your little Caleb is as normal as can be. They say at around a year they start using their little minds and NO is a powerful way to show you that he is his own person. Sometimes it also takes around 15 tries or so to introduce a new food. Just keep with it. Also if you are worried that he isn't getting what he needs, they make a formula that goes to 24 mths. My son was on it until around two. Good Luck.