10 Month Old Picky Eater

My daughter was picky from 6 months to 2 years... until we found out she was allergic to dairy and eggs. Wonder of wonder, we eliminated that stuff from her diet, and now she eats like a pig. It was giving her little belly aches, and she couldn't tell us. However, she always went for avocado mashed up with some coconut milk: very fattening with lots of omega-3's!!!

My 10 month old quit baby food pretty early too. I have been just giving him what we eat. He loves cheerios and applesauce-mixed together sometimes. He loves mac n' cheese, any type of noodle, chicken noodle soup, rice, rasins, soybeans, peas, little bits of chicken-really I let him have whatever we eat-just in smaller amounts. Sometimes he likes stuff, and sometimes it ends up on the floor for the dog. Good luck! Mother of three from Hillsboro

I have a good friend who started a organic baby food company about a year ago. She is a great resource for this kind of thing. Her company is Gaia Baby Food and the web is www.gaiababyfood.com. I cannot tell you how many times she has helped me. Also, I do know she has experienced some of this with her son. Good luck!

We started making my 10 month old "pizza". We use whole grain bread, top it with pureed veggies that I make (saute eggplant, zucchini, and spinach and a TEENY bit of tomato sauce, then puree) and top it with cheese. Pop it in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts. She eats it every time. Between the toast and the cheese, she is a happy camper and I get my veggies into her. It's also nice and filling before bedtime.

My daughter is very picky as well. I have found the baby yougurt 'yo-baby', and the applesauce that comes in the plastic containers with the plastic on top. they also make diced peaches that way. Graham crackers, saltines, nutrigrain bars, cubes of cheese (Maybe I'm wierd, but I think 10 months is old enough to start dairy and my daughter eats more cheese than anything.) These are all great for snack time, but what I found most is that what it is, is that she wants to eat whatever I am eating. So I got a little hand food grinder from the bosch store and it works great for most foods and its a lot cheaper.

Hi J.-
I found the Sears and Sears Baby Book has a lot of great suggestions for first and important foods. They were also very helpful in understanding what is important for baby nutrition. Keep trying new things and be sure to revisit things they reject initially. I would suggest staying away from processed foods like instant oatmeal and microwave dinners...they have less nutrition and can get them started on a track of not appreciating real food. Good luck. A.

Just because he is a picky eater now, does not mean he will stay that way. His eating habits will be greatly influenced by how you handle his demands now. You need to offer him at every meal both foods he likes and ones he doesn't so that he can expand his palate. He may throw them, or just look at them, or just play with them, but sooner or later, he will taste them. It takes many many times of trying a little bit of it to become accustomed to the taste and texture.

Try cottage cheese, applesauce, pasta with creamy or tomato based sauces, sour cream to dip, etc. Try giving him foods he can play with instead of mashing and blending and then spoon feeding. You will probably notice him eat a lot more variety when he has more control. For example, cut up carrots in pieces and cook them, but do not mash them. Give him boiled pieces of potato with a dip, but don't mash them. Last but not least, seasoning food will most likely get them thrown right back at you. A baby's tongue is WAY more sensitive to seasonings and flavors than an adults, so they may be way too overpowering. This is also the reason why many young kids don't like many veggies... the bitter taste is so much stronger in their mouths. Go for sweet ones like cooked tomatoes, carrots, and cream corn.

Hi J.,

I have two boys, 2 1/2 and 6 months. When my older son was a beginning eater, he rejected baby food and we essentially went straight to finger foods. Have you tried to feed him "people" food, just cooked soft or cut small? My son wanted to do it all himself. Hopefully that helps!

S.

Both my girls were picky eaters in one way or another. My second was also not very interested in baby food which was just fine with me - I'm not too crazy about that stuff anyway. My friend recommended the book "Super Baby Food" and I had good luck with that. But my favorite cookbook for kids is "First Meals." My whole family loves everything I cook from there. Try any of the pasta dishes. Most picky eaters wil eat at least some kind of pasta.
Good luck!
C. B.

Hi J.-

Here are some suggestions that my son liked- he is 18 months now. Since bananas were a hit, try some cut up melon chunks-like cantalope or honeydew. If you don't have any dairy issues, try plain yogurt and you can stir in some of the pureed fruits. Oh, since he loves pears, try apples too.
What about cubes of sliced cucumber...

I hope at least one of my suggestions works, then you can add it to his YES list.
Good Luck!
D.

I would say try and give him what he likes to eat as long as it is a ballanced meal ie meat grain vegitables and fruit. My daughter didnt like babyfood ether so I started giving her what we were eating cut up in very small bites. I also supplimented with Pediasure so that she was getting the nutrients and fats that they require at that age. I would experiment also and just tried a little bit of something if she didnt like it I wasnt really wasting food. I found things that she did like and offered them to her instead of fighting with her. My 12 year old is still very picky and every meal time is a struggle. Good luck and hugs!

My son is 10 months and we just switched to "table food" he now eats exactly what everyone else eats just smaller bites, just give him what his brothers eat!

Good Luck
Katie

I'm in the same boat. My son is almost 10 months (same teeth as yours too!) & has recently started to dislike being spoon fed. I've been scrambling trying to get a healthy variety of finger foods for him to eat at each meal. The funny thing is that in daycare, he still gets spoon-fed with no problem. At home, I discovered he loves vegetarian chicken nuggets & meatballs. I peel the breaded part off & chop it up for him. I think he loves the texture. I figure its a good source of protein. Veggies on the other hand have been difficult for us! I've tried cooked & cubed sweet potatoes, canned carrot slices, beets, etc. with not much success. I guess I can't offer much advice, but I can sympathize with you! Let me know if you find something that works! My son does love pears & mashed potatoes.

My daughter never ate "baby" food, or even "blended" food. She always wanted finger foods (or what we were eating).. As long as the food is somewhat soft and is in small bites, they can eat almost anything. Good luck.

Hi, have you tried pasta wheels (or other bite-sized pasta) in tomato sauce? Yes, the red sauce is messy, but my son (13 mos.) loves foods with tomato sauce and this dish is also a favorite food of my friend's niece, who is just turned 1. I don't remember when the experts recommend adding tomatoes to a baby's diet, but if your son has already had them or you are willing to try, I would give it a shot! Could also try a white sauce. Good luck!

Just keep trying stuff. What about sandwiches? with just a smear of butter or peanutbutter (if not allergic etc) or something? my children love sandwiches. The healthier the bread the drier it is and less likely to clump and get choaked on. With those teeth I would think you could branch out a bit with the foods. Maybe hotdogs (cut into bites) macaroni, and other toddler favorites. Sliced apples are great for teethers. Offering is important. Often it takes being exposed to a new food 10+ times for a child to try or accept it. This is totally natural!
My brother is VERY picky and has lived the last 5 years on crackers, pears, peaches and pancakes (not all at once but rotating through what he would eat). He gets instant breakfast drink and vitamins to supliment and is growing perfectly.

maybe try finger foods.

Hi J.,
I would try putting a bit of the food that the rest of the family is eating in the food processor. I have several friends whose children wouldn't eat baby food and this worked for them. Also, my doctor recommended trying to feed my infant a diet as close to our family diet as possible so that she doesn't become a picky eater addicted to flavorless foods.
Good luck,
T.

My son was a picky eater. It's been a long time since I've had babies in the house, but I remember that first of all, baby is nasty. I have 4 kids, and none of them would eat it. I used to mash up bananas, or, as they grew older and I knew that they didn't have food allergies, I'd just use the food processor and give them whatever we were eating. Never had a problem with them being picky as babies again.

Look at it this way.....the things your baby won't eat, would you? :) (my mom made that point to me when I was a young mother lol)

Good luck!!

Hi J.,

I had one of those! :-) I can share with you what my doctor told me. He said 'let HIM control how much he eats, but YOU control WHAT he eats. If he doesn't eat what you give him, put it in a container and serve it for the next meal. If he doesn't eat it then, do the same thing. Eventually he'll be hungry enough to eat it.'

It worked! Even still does, with veggies...

Sounds like you have a sweet tooth on your hands. He doesn't need any sugar at all! I don't mean natural sugar in fruit and carbs that are necessary. He should be eating unsweetened rice cereal, either for babies or you can make your own, unsweetened oatmeal, etc.., fresh or baby food veggies and fruit. Tofu is a good source of protein, just don't over do it, because it has hormonal properties. Baked yams are naturally sweet and very healthy, don't add any sweetener. Avoid prepared microwave meals for you and your whole family. They are full of junk you don't need. Train your family to eat fresh whole food and you will all be healthier and happier. If your baby won't eat the healthy foods you offer, wait until he is hungry enough, he will eat. Good luck with that.
Blessings,
J.

My 11 month old is the same way. I just keep experimenting. I just found out last night that he will eat the frozen carrots and peas that have been steamed and he loves fried potaotes. Just keep on trying. Don't forget the rule of thumb that you have to try several times with foods for the child to get use to the flavors and textures.

jem-mom to seven

I had success using a food processor to moosh up stews, cassaroles, enchiladas, etc. Also, v-8 is very nutritious and can be added to foods.