Mom Seeking Table Food Advice

I have a 2.5 year old and an 11 month old. The 11 month old wants to eat everything the 2.5 year old eats. So, I make sure that it is small enough for him to eat. When I was feeding my 2.5 at 1 year-- he was 'feeding' himself, but I would have a spoon in my habd a feed him too. He got his bowl and I got mine. As soon at he showed frustration in eating, and didn't want to be in his high chair, I took him out, cleaned him off and gave him a bottle of milk. He doesn't have a problem eating his food. When he's hungry, he let's me know. I give him 3 meals a day and 2 or 3 snacks. If he's not hungry-- I don't worry about it. There are days when all it seems like he does is eat! And it's all perfectly normal. I hope this helps.

I'm not the best person to give advice since my son is 6.5 yrs old and still refuses to eat, but I do know that I gave him too much milk as a baby. Too much meaning, he was getting full from the milk and he knew if he didn't eat mom would give him milk. Plus I was being lazy. I too was a first time mom with him and wasn't patient enough or firm when it came to the schedule. Eat at the same time everyday and don't be more than 30 mins. late. Put away the toys, turn off the TV and focus on the meal. I DO NOT recommend yogurt. It's too sweet. Your baby doesn't want to eat plain food when mom gives her sweet food. Same goes for apple sauce, etc. I read somewhere that a baby needs to try the same food 15 times before they decide they like the way it taste. This could be why it took her so long to eat baby food. The texture is new to her. Give it time. But keep trying. If you give up now, it will only get harder. I struggle everyday with my 6 yrs old because we are now forcing him to eat things he didn't want to eat as a baby.
Keep with it.

Hey D.-
I have a 17 month old son who is pretty picky about what he eats too-but he really loves fruit-I don't know if you have introduced fruit to your little one? Really ripe bananas, strawberries watermelon-fruit she can easily gum or not choke on if she doesn't completely chew it.
Also, my son gets fidgety in his highchair-some other ways I feed him is outside in his swing-it has a built in tray on the front for food. He also has a little table outside that I sit him at to feed. Lately I have been giving him a little bowl of yogurt and a spoon and letting him try to feed himself. It's so messy (that is why I prefer to do it outside)but it is something different and it makes him excited to eat. And I have also resorted to slipping food into his mouth just while he is running around playing-a few bites of applesauce, pieces of fruit, bread, etc.-however I can get food into him!!!
Believe me, I know it can be frustrating-especially when it seems like they are eating nothing! But give your little one time-she will come around-with some foods it took 9 or 10 tries before my guy would finally eat them. Good luck!

xx x x xxx x x xxx x x x x
x x x x xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx

I sort of agree...although too much cow’s milk and not enough protein can lead to hypoglycemia…so if you are feeding cows milk mostly, then the table food/milk ratio does need to be balanced out more…that is probably where the pediatrician is coming from in her recommendation.

My oldest also had issues with chewing food and choking on simple foods…I would even buy the Gerber turkey sticks in the jar and peel them for her. That is one of my recommendations…also canned veggies. The canned carrots are really soft and you can cut the circles into smaller pieces too. We also started with boiled chicken breast. If she handles that well but does not seem very interested in it, then try the precooked rotisserie chickens from Safeway or COSTCO. They have great flavor and when not over cooked they are soft enough for a few teeth. Pear is a great first fruit…very soft and it has different textures. If she is good with a cup I buy the yogurt drinks now for my 17 mo old. She loves them and I don’t have to feed it to her. One more…cottage cheese…You have to feed it to her, but it is a good textured food to get her wormed up to solids.

That is all I can think of right now...Good luck!

Hi D.,

Keep on trying. :) I didn't give up and my little girl will try any thing now. She's three. :)

What helped alot was the Gerber puffs. My pediatrician recommended them when she was first starting table foods. They are great because they melt in their mouths so they can't choke on them. Also try Cheerios. Gerber fruit snacks. Summer sausage and cheese slices. Bananas. Oh dippy eggs and toast, still a favorite. Toddlers love every thing that can be dipped. Grapes cut in half. Pasta.

Plus be really patient. They do take longer to eat when they are doing it themselves, but it is so wonderful to watch them find a new favorite and become better coordinated. Give her things that can be mashed and don't worry about the mess she makes. I bought these plastic floor mats and put them under my daughters chair for easy clean up.

I also didn't feed Becca anything I wouldn't eat myself. Yes, I tried those Gerber puffs and only gave her the ones I liked. *giggles* I also tried to always sit with her.

Good luck!

Hi,
I had the same thing happen with my son. I figured that the babyfood and milk weren't enough and he wouldn't really eat too much table food. I was worried and talked to our pediatrician. He told us that as long as he's getting all the milk he needs not to worry. Milk has a ton of vitamins and minerals. I thought "so he can't possibly survive on milk alone" He was eating food here and there,and babyfood of course, just not as much as I would have liked for him to eat. He told us that they go through growth spurts, and periods when they seem like they aren't getting enough to eat, but as long as we're giving him whole milk regularly, he should be fine. I hope this helps a little. Maybe you can try talking to your pediatrician.
Good Luck :)