Child Won't Eat Veggies

First off it's a little late. She should have been introduced to veggies and eating them well long before she was given fruit. But I found that if you take and mix some veggies in the fruit it works well. At first mix it half and half, then put a little less fruit in each time until you are feeding straight veggies.

First, don't stop nursing. The World Health Organization recommends nursing to at least 2 years old. The person who said you should stop is uninformed. You are doing fantastic things for your daughter's health and brain (plus emotional bonding) by continuing to nurse.

However, I would be a little worried about the failure to eat. I know that sometimes it is caused by sensory issues. Does she have other sensory issues, such as hating socks on her feet or tags on her back (from clothes), etc? I would make an appointment with my pediatrician to see about a possible referral. They can help toddlers get over these issues now before they become too set in stone. Hopefully your pediatrician is supportive of extended nursing. Don't listen to them if they tell you to stop nursing. That will just make it more difficult on your daughter. Just my opinion.

I use the Enfamil liquid multi-vitamin. I put it in my son's apple juice and he drinks it no problem. The cook book is a good idea and always keep offering. I find that putting things on his plate and not saying anything and not acting like I care sometimes works. If he knows I really want him to eat it, he won't. It has to be his idea! Also, she is really young and her taste will change. There are things my son LOVED to eat at that age that he won't touch now. Just keep at it!

I agree! Deceptively Delicous is a great cook book and super easy. Plus, it gives you a lot of ideas and eventually you learn how to encorporate veggies/fruit into your own recipes as well. The Tortilla cigars, Turkey Meatloaf, mozzarella sticks and mac n cheese are a HUGE hit in my house. The whole family eats these recipes.

You should check out the book Deceptively Delicious the recipes are easy to make, taste good and have hidden vegetables in them. My kids love the sloppy joes and the first mac and cheese recipe. There is another book that is similar but I can't remember the name of it. The one I am referring to is by Jessica Seinfeld (Jerry's wife) you can check it out at the library before buying to make sure it is for you!
GL

Try intoducing a sippy cup. She is old enough to start trying to wean her enough that she eats 3 meals. As long as she is nursing I would not worry to much about nutrition.

Well, I would definately stop nursing, not so sound like one of those judgemental moms's but geeze already!!! A little old...My son who is almost three won't eat veggies either which is common, not to worry...Most kids don't eat them. I give him Schiff Vegatarian Liquid Vitamins in his OJ every morning. You can find it at Publix...That'll do the trick. She may be upset like ya said if ya stop nursing but enough is enough, she will get over it in some time...

Hi S.!

I was saved by Deceptively Delicious by Jerry Seinfield's wife, a fantastic cookbook, basically you are putting veggie purees into your baking, & all of your other basic cooking (ie. pancakes etc)...it really works! I have a 2 & 1/2 y.o. & 1 y.o. & they eventually started eating regular veggies, keep presenting them to your 19 month old, she will eventually eat them. Good Luck.

S. Anne

Hi there. I, too, am nursing a toddler (20 months old), so it's so nice to hear from another mom like me! Good for you and for your daughter!

First of all, don't let anyone tell you to wean. There are lots of good reasons to keep nursing your daughter, as shown here:
http://breastfeeding.suite101.com/article.cfm/extended_nu...

http://breastfeeding.suite101.com/article.cfm/nutritional...

Anyone who tells you otherwise is uninformed and is only giving you their personal opinion, so no need to let that negativity influence you. :)

If she's nursing a lot like you say, she's definitely getting plenty of nutrition even if her solids diet isn't all that varied. Still, you're right to try to get her eating well for the day when she's no longer nursing.

My younget is hit or miss on eating, but here are some of our strategies:
1. hide pureed fruits and veggies in food. I never make a pancake that doesn't have pureed blueberries, sweet potatoes, or fruit in it. It's amazing how much good stuff you can hide in a pancake.
2. hide pureed veggies in meatloaf, salisbury steak, spaghetti sauce
3. offer, offer, offer. Once my older daughter hit 3, I was surprised how much more she was willing to eat.
4. incent, bribe, reward. Whatever you want to call it. Your daughter is old enough to respond to this. Lately at our house the kids will eat if we ask them a trivia question about bugs after each bite (don't ask where this came from...) Anyway, whatever your daughter is interested in-- you can make a funny face, do a dance, sing part of a song, read a page of a book, almost anything. A pain for you, but it gets the job done at our house on a bad night. Also, treat or cookie if she eats a certain amount might start to work at this age.
5. The old stand-by-- make the food a train, plane, car. Lately at our house it's the roller coaster that gets the best results, complete with high hill to start and screaming riders.

Of course none of this stuff works if the baby absoutely does not like the food. But I find once you prime the pump and they get a couple of bites in, they often start eating on their own.

BTW, don't get sucked in by marketing for that Enfamil toddler supplement stuff. It's really just a way for formula companies to expand their market-- selling formula to toddlers by preying on moms' fears that their little ones don't eat enough or well enough. The fact that you're breastfeeding takes care of her nutritional requirements.

Good luck! I think if you keep offering and try some creative strategies, you'll get her to eat more, especially once her nursing starts to taper off. (until then, she might not be eating because she's just not that hungry!).

There's a book about hiding fruit and veggie purees in regular food by Jessica Seinfeld-- Deceptively Delicious. I got a lot of recipe ideas from there.

Don't sweat it. Kids know what their body's need. Breastmilk is so sweet and yummy. This is why kids gravitate towards sweeter foods. Bananas and egg yolks are the first foods I introduce. My 13 mo boy who eats just about everything now, still is shy with vegetables. As kids grow and they get their own individuality with their tastebuds, they will mimic you and eat healthier. I usually sneak pureed veggies into spaghetti sauces and roasted squashes/carrots in muffins. You shouldn't need to supplement. Your breastmilk is just fine.

Hi S.! She may grow out of that so keep trying, but in the meantime vitamins are the key. My kids do love veggies but have not always been that way! I know that the vitamins that my kids take are wonderful and are guaranteed to be the best bio-level absorption where most ALL other vitamins have less then 10% and once they reach our lower intestines they actually turn into free radicals...! Yikes! I find it very important to let people know this and especially with your little one not liking veggies these vitamins will get her the nutrients she needs! If you are interested if finding out more info please just let me know. I would love to help you out and get you that information for yourself, but especially your little one.

I would try frozen. My little daughter loved frozen veggies (cut corn from a bag is a BIG hit and so is frozen broccoli and lima beans... I hate lima beans, but she loves them...)