Picky Eater - Minneapolis, MN

Keep offering a variety, and try giving one at a time (don't let him see what else you have for him to eat next). Kids will eventually eat whatever you give them, assuming they get hungry enough. Usually we moms worry more about them eating something and give in, rather than waiting them out. My 17 mo. old is going through a time like this too, and I can't let him see any of his favorites on the table or he will hold out until he gets what he wants. It's a matter of managing their wills and bending them in the right direction. Exhausting but worth it!

SAHM of seven, five who will eat whatever they are given, two "in process" :)

Hi C.,

My 13 month old is pretty picky too. In fact, it is just in the last week or so that I can actually see him eating any measurable volume at meal times! He still nurses, so I have not worried too much about it, but it is VERY frustrating at meal times. Here are a few things I have recently done that have helped our situation a lot!

1. Put him in a booster at the table instead of in a high chair.
2. Get him his own little silverware so he can help feed himself. I bought take and toss stuff at BabiesRUs.
3. Give LOTS of healthy snacks. I bought whole grain no-trans fat crackers and cheese, banana, strawberries.

I have also found that my son fits into the "offer it 15 times" kind of description for getting him to eat new foods. That alone is frustrating!

Good luck, and know that he will eat when he is hungry!

J.

not to make light of your frustrations, but at least he isn't asking for ice cream first thing in the morning. (yet) (like my 5 yr old did to me this morning) ;)

This is not a picky eater, this is a phase. You should continue to offer foods as usual, and he will eat as he desires. He will not eat as much now as he used to, but if you only cater to him and make what he'll eat, you will surely breed a picky eater. I believe picky eaters are made, not born, so if you cater to his every whim right now, you will quickly become a short order cook.

My boys eat everything from veggies to meats to weird stuff that I question, because they've never had an option to be picky. I make it, they eat it. If they don't want it, they can eat what they want off thier plate and go on their way.

He won't starve, but you need to continue to offer healthy foods like fruits and veggies, and meats, and offer him a plate with 2 things he likes, and 2 things he is unsure of. Having new foods on the plate with foods he likes will help him to try everything.

And remember this is just a stage, he is exerting his independence, but don't cater to him or you will have a picky eater on your hands.

My 14 month old son is doing the same thing for the last 3 months. I've talked with our nurse and our dr whom both said it's not a big deal, but to just keep offering them to him. They said that it's a faze that most kids go thru and that it will pass. My husband and I actually resorted back to stage 3 and toddler vegies. We were really concerned he wasn't getting enough, and he eats them willingly? Who knows...maybe it will work for you, good luck

Here's a great website that you can visit to look for information on homemade baby foods, when to introduce certain foods, etc. that might be helpful: www.freshbaby.com

I've worked in chilcare and have seen so many parents be obsessed with their children's meals that eating a meal becomes a game and a bad time of the day something the child doens't look forward too. I've seen parents no no take 3 more bites of your veggies. You can't leave til your plates clean. It drives me nuts watching it.

I have always let my daughter be in 100% total charge of what she eats. If she's hungry she eats if she's not I'll save it in the fridge for when she is. I have always offered her a wide variety of healthy choices and if she goes two weeks without touching a veggie it's not the end of the world type of attitude. I strongly feel because I went into this so relaxed my daughter has NEVER had issues with eating or being picky. She is the best little eater I have ever seen. She's 6 years old and will eat just about anything! She has never played the I'm full game at dinner and then begged for a treat 10min. later or anything I have absolutely no food issues with her at all. She has loves all fruit and likes most veggies. Anyways my point is try to relax and not let your kids know it bothers you when they are being picky like that and just keep offering it over and over. I know I've been offering eggs to my daughter for 6 years now and she'll eat a few bites now. I just never gave up or pushed it.

It is probably just a phase he's going through. My 23 month old has been doing the same thing for a few months. I give him what we're all eating and he either eats it or he doesn't. I don't play restaurant with him. I know he loves fruits and veggies so he'll eat that part and he's good. Make sure to give a vitamin - not Flintstones though because they have aspertame in them of all things!
Good luck, it will get better,
J.
Mom of 4 going on 5

Try V8 Fusion juice. The other veggie/fruit combo we tried (Healthy something) tasted too much like carrot juice. V8 Fusion is nummy!

My 2 year old went through that. He's still pretty picky but eats more now than he did at 1. My 11 month old is starting to make more decisions as to what to eat at mealtimes, too. He is learning how to be independent. We started giving my 2 year old a daily vitamin when he was 1 year old. Enfamil makes a vitamin drop called Polyvisol.