Food Frustration

[iWitch]

Over recent weeks my little boy has become extremely fussy over what he eats. At first I put it down to illness & happily allowed him to eat what tickled his taste buds (within reason) . Now I'm convinced he's playing us and is refusing to eat proper meals!

He'd eat fruit all day long especially grapes and other bits & pieces but when he's at home or my mums he won't have a meal but at school he does. He tantrums as soon as I offer him a meal. He doesn't do this at nursery and he eats a wide variety of things!

We don't usually sit in the kitchen and eat but today we did. It was slightly better but only because we didn't have a tantrum but he's still not eaten so much as a mouthful.

Anyone had anything similar? What did you do?

I just take the bowl away & leave him to calm down without making a fuss. I can't leave the bowl with him as he'd throw it.

 

[juliekim0908]

I went through this when my boy was between around 9 months till 12 and half months. Hes 13 months tomorrow lol!

How old is he? I don't really know how I got through it, I tried everything! distraction was a handy one, and I tested him on a jar of baby food, this seemed to be the only thing.. every now and again.. he'd have maybe half a jar of. Until he realised 'hang on a minute, I 'm being good' lol.

I just offered him everything as usual, finger foods, spoon feeding our food and then baby food. My gosh did it go to waste, but we've gor through it. just about. He still has his moments.

 

[juliekim0908]

Oh. a good one I found, was snacking, I just fed him bits little and often through the day to make sure he was atleast getting something.

and bringing his food into the living room, where his toys are and tv, he came to me when he wanted a spoon then off again.

 

[MrsT2011]

I used to stick with the 30 min rule - if he threw a tantrum and didn't want it then I would take it away without fuss. If after 30 mins he hadn't asked for it back then I would give him a yoghurt and that was it. It only failed once he always calmed down and got his dinner.
My friend always says with toddlers look at the week not the day as it varies so much. I know he gets good meals at nursery and I try and do his favourites as much as possible then 1 night a week try something different. If he doesn't eat it at least I know he's eaten well the rest of the week.

 

[iWitch]

He's 17 months.

We've always eaten in the living room anyway. I've tried the snacking throughout the day but again it's limited as to what he will eat (fruit, biscuits, yogurts, crisps...I mainly give him the organic crap free biscuits etc too)

MrsT2011 I think this has caused the issue in the first place. He knows if he tantrums and refuses to eat then he will get something else.

I should add he eats breakfast fine.

 

[littlemonkey]

I think you just have to go cold turkey let him have his tantrum but don't give him any thing else. He will get it eventually that he's not getting any thing else.

I know it's going to sound strange, but if he likes snack type things, maybe don't offer his meal to him in one hit. My eldest went through a stage of refusing food from a plate or bowl but would eat it off the high chair tray. I think he was over whelmed by the amount of food if that makes sense? I'd give him some off his plate then if he ate that I'd give him a bit more. We eventually got back to crockery and cutlery being used again!

 

[glowing]

My HV said look at the food over the week as they will hardly eat one day and another day eat loads. She said with portions look at your childs hand if it was a fist and that is how much to give. She also said toddlers like choice and almost deconstruct the food (likea sandwich for example). I have a plate with sections and put food in the different ones and she loves that. I try not to make an issue of food if she doesn't eat, but my OH hates her wasting food. It does cause a bit of a debate particularly about pudding which she loves but I like her having a yogurt for example for the calcium.

 

[iWitch]

Thanks little monkey & glowing! I'll try sectioning his food off & using a plate like that.

I'm not concerned about waste just about what he's eating...if he at least had a few spoonfuls of be happy

 

[Ella1979]

I section food for my daughter (my son's not so bothered - he has everything together in one big heap!). She's never liked things mixed up. I serve veg separate from meat, sometimes will serve pasta and sauce together but fish/meat separate by the side. Recently one of her favourite meals that she has all served in separate sections I've managed to get her to mix together and she loved actually mixing! She's a lot older (3.5 years old) but has been fussy since she was very little, so definitely worth a try.

 

[JD.Deedee]

Has he got his molars or his corner teeth coming through, my son used to stop eating completely when having tooth pains..

 

[iWitch]

Thanks Ella & possibly JD. He's only got the back 4 left to cut now

 

[Smileygirl]

When my lo is fussy about his dinner, I put it in a blender and spread it on toast - works nearly every time.

 

[Sharmon]

I have 18month old girl, according to nursery she always eats almost everything, but can sometimes be v fussy with meals at home. If she decides she does not like/want something she will throw it in the floor. One day she will eat loads no problem, if I give her same thing another day she will often throw it on floor! Again she would eat fruit all day long & another favourite is pasta (she always eats pasta), but I do worry about the amount of veg she eats. I'm trying not to give her an alternative dinner every time she has tantrum & throws food on floor, as this is what I used to do, I do not want to end up with a toddler who dictated dinner lol

 

[iWitch]

Glowing & Ella - the divided plate seemed to work! Tried it this eve & hes eaten a reasonable amount and nearly all the veg. Fx it's not just a fluke.

Sharmon I know what you mean! I'm torn with the not offering alternatives. I don't want him to have not had anything at all but I know that it makes sense to now

 

[Rooster30]

Mine is 2.8 and continues to be horrific. I'm actually at a loss. Tried being calm, tried being angry, tried bribery, tried threatening to take things away. I've sectioned food, put it in a bowl, put it on a plate with knife and fork like us, NOTHING has worked. Child doesn't care. If he doesn't want to eat he won't.

We're going back to acting calm again tomorrow and just sitting him back from table as he kicks himself away from the table... oh and he sends himself to naughty corner or bed as he thinks that's better than eating tea.

I'm talking to the HV about it tomorrow.

Sorry no help there! Just sympathies.

 

[iWitch]

Mine is 2.8 and continues to be horrific. I'm actually at a loss. Tried being calm, tried being angry, tried bribery, tried threatening to take things away. I've sectioned food, put it in a bowl, put it on a plate with knife and fork like us, NOTHING has worked. Child doesn't care. If he doesn't want to eat he won't.

We're going back to acting calm again tomorrow and just sitting him back from table as he kicks himself away from the table... oh and he sends himself to naughty corner or bed as he thinks that's better than eating tea.

I'm talking to the HV about it tomorrow.

Sorry no help there! Just sympathies.

Oh that must be terribly frustrating for you :/ update with what the hv says & good luck with keeping calm!

 

[Rooster30]

I've been told to make a food diary and then the HV will advise from there. A couple of suggestions on the spot was re-weaning and have his evening meals earlier when he's not so tired.

 

[iWitch]

He eats at 4pm ish so can't really do it any earlier & it's in line with what nursery does when he eats there.