Picky Eater 15 Month Old Girl

E.,

I don't know if this will help, but I can say that my oldest son was the exact same way. He was such a good eater and liked so many different things. Then all of the sudden he just stopped and refused to eat almost everything.

I continued to offer and put items on his plate in hopes that he would try. As he got a little older we started having him take "no thank you bites". It made him at least taste it, but that was often it. (The good news for us was that he has always eaten fruit so vegetables were the only issue)

Anyway, the phase continued for awhile and finally he started eating vegetables again. This is a recent development so it can last for awhile.

I don't have any good advice except keep trying and I think she will eventually grow out of it.

J.

My son went through the same thing at this age and I did as well. It is a phase and it will pass keep offering her healthy choices.

My boys went through the same thing. Most children do. They will eat just about anything you give them in the beginning and then around 2, they get picky all of a sudden. Just feed her what she likes and don't freak out when she doesn't want what you made. My boys are 4 and 6 now and they still do it to me. They will like something one day and not eat it the next. Try not to become a short order cook because they will take advantage of that. One thing to remember is, she won't starve. Feed her what she wants for now and try to get her to eat as healthy as possible. Children can miss meals or not eat until full and be fine. My kids wouldn't eat much dinner no matter how hard I tried. I just told myself that they like a lot of breakfast foods so I would make them a big breakfast in the morning. Also, try pedisure. I gave that to my oldest when he wouldn't eat much because he was a small child and I didn't want him to get low blood sugar. If she's hungry, she'll eat. Just wait until she hits a growth spurt and eats you under the table. I'm in trouble when my boys grow up and eat my out of my house :) Good luck and don't fret

My daugher (18m) is this way sometimes. She loves to try and feed herself. If I break something up like a waffle into small pieces she won't eat it, but if I hand her the whole waffle, or two halves, she eats it no problem. She likes to eat fruits. I get the ready made jar/bags of already peeled/cut up fruits. She tears through them. However veggies she just squishes. When I try to feed her the stage 2/3 veggies so that she gets something she gets mad until I let her try and use a spoon. She gets some in, and alot not, but she is trying and at least she is willing to try still. My son went cold turkey on fruits and veggies when he started table foods and wouldn't go back to the staged food, so I'm trying really hard to keep her interested in it. Even if that means that she makes a mess. Like last night. She had apple slices with caramel dip, and ended up with caramel in her hair, on her chair and clothes. It took a bit of work, but it all came out and she had fun eatting!
Good luck.
M.

I found this in a NYT article
(Picky Eaters? They Get It From You By KIM SEVERSON Published: October 10, 2007) and it really helped me relax about my picky eaters (I have 2.5 year old twins- and they run the full gamut of pickiness!!!)

Here is the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/dining/10pick.html?_r=1...

And here is the paragraph that really helped me chill out!! :) (Hope it woks for you too!)

"Most children eat a wide variety of foods until they are around 2, when they suddenly stop. The phase can last until the child is 4 or 5. It’s an evolutionary response, researchers believe. Toddlers’ taste buds shut down at about the time they start walking, giving them more control over what they eat. “If we just went running out of the cave as little cave babies and stuck anything in our mouths, that would have been potentially very dangerous,” Dr. Cooke said."

So basically I just keep giving them things I know they do like, and throw in something new just for the heck of it for them to get used to seeing- It took them ages to be ok with peas, but after the 20th time, it was a "normal food" offering and they ate them right up. I have also heard it can take up to 10 tries of a new food for them to decide if they DO like it... -Combine that with the evolutionary response and whew, it's lucky they eat anything at all! ha ha.

Also- just look at what they eat over the course of a week, and don't focus so much on what they eat at each individual meal. I find my two eventually do eat veggies and their proteins- it just happens when THEY want. Imagine someone making you eat a slice of cheese when you weren't interested- It doesn't work! ;)

good luck!
-K.

Hi E.,

I have a 17 months old girl, and she is generally a good eater of healthy foods. She loves pasta which she can eat with her hands or I can stick it on the fork, and she puts the fork in the mouth by herself...now she wants to be independent, so sometimes she doens't want me to feed her.
Sure it is a bit messy, but at least she is eating.
Also sometimes I get one of her little toy animals and I pretend feeding them her food, and say "hum, yammy", and then she hums back, and she eats the food. We just do one little fork/spoon of food to the animal or doll, and one to her.
This helps. But if she absolutely doesn't want to eat, I will let her out of her chair, and try again later when she askes for food....and she will ask if she is hungry.
Good luck!

Hi E.,
We are in the same boat! I also have a 15 month old and a 7 year old daughter(s) and my youngest is now turning her nose-up to foods that she used to enjoy, mainly veggies. I just came from her doc appt. and her advice was to continue offering it---even if it's only a mouthful per meal. This is a stage that will pass. she also suggested mixing a little of the food that she doesn't seem to like with something that she Does like. Hope this helps.

P.S. I, too, am a stay-at-home mom. :)

Hi E.,

Check the web at:

www.westonaprice.org/children/picky-eaters.html

Hope this helps. D.

I think you just have to wait it out. Remember to always offer her the healthy foods and one day she will surprise you. As well it lets her know that this is what she should eat (for when she gets older and feeds herself). Don't give in to her hunger by feeding her junk - if they get it that is all they will ask for. Also remember that they have small tummies do a bite or two may be enough.
I have a 2 year old. When she was that age i started making orzo or rice and cooking the veggies into it or even using v8 to cook with. As well I made some fruits and vegetables fun by letting her dip them into yogurt. You could also make biscuits and add baby veggies and fruits when you cook them. Sometimes it is all trial and error. Just don't give up or show your frustration. :)

Well, both of my kids are very picky eaters. They are 4 and 2. So far, they seem to go in phases where they will eat good for a while and then not for a while. Try to sneak in other stuff in the bites w/what you know she will eat, that is, if she will still let you feed her! If not, then try your best, but don't get too stressed about it. Kids will eat when they are hungry (I know you don't want to hear this, I still hate it when my mom tells that to me)! But, it IS true. As long as she's not losing weight and her diapers are still about the same, then she is still doing ok! I know it is frustrating, but this may be her way of realizing she is in control of something, too! So, give her time and eventually she will start to like a few things. Even though it will seem like forever, in time she will start to eat at least a few different things!

If I were you, based on my mistakes, I would continue the healthy choices only! My children would eat whatever I gave them, but last year we moved in with my in-laws, moving from Tx to Va, and the kids started to eat anything they wanted. Now I can barely get them to eat anything good for them. So, do not let your daughter eat whatever she wants, because it could turn out bad. Like my parents told me, if she gets hungry enough, she'll eat what you give her. Good luck & God bless!

Don't give in by only giving her what she wants to eat. My daughter is now 6 and will eat only about 4 different meals. It is SO frustrating. My husband runs a restaurant and is usually at work before lunch till well after dinner. So when all she would eat was macaroni & cheese and chicken nuggets, well, it was easier to give it to her. Easier to make and at least she was eating. I couldn't have been more wrong. Thankfully I learned my lesson with her and now I make sure to offer my 2 year old all the healthy choices. It is still so frustrating that my older 2 won't eat much of what I cook. But even my pediatrition says that they won't starve -- they'll eat if they are hungry enough. I just have to follow through with "if you don't eat what I offer, you don't get any snacks later." It's hard when you know your little one is hungry and won't eat. You want to give her something so she won't be hungry. It's all a power struggle and they need to learn that they have to eat what you provide.
Good luck with this. Just keep offering the healthy choices and don't give in.

My daughter who is 15.5 months goes through phases and I have just ridden them out. She can eat everything and then go through a phase of not wanting to eat solids.

She ate a lot of variety befor 12 months, then stopped and was picky. She then picked up again, but has gotten finicky lately.

I think much of it is realizing she can control what she eats and her environment, but yesterday I also noticed that a tooth was coming in further back in her mouth and she has seemed a little more crumpy and clingy lately.

OK, that is a long way of saying toddlers have a lot going on in their lives. My daughter still nurses, so I know she is getting good nutrition. I don't sweat the solids.

Hi E.,
First off, know that is TOTALLY normal. Our now 4 1/2 yr old son did the same thing and is starting it again. There are two things that kid have total control over---eating and going to the bathroom (unless of course you force them and then you are just in for frustration and tears, for both of you)
My suggestion is this. When you make your meals, make sure there is one thing she likes at each meal. Don't cater to her, but just make sure one component is someting you know she will eat. then set her plate in front of her and let her eat what she will. If she eats nothing but peas one night, OK.

Also, don't think she is under nurished becasuse she doesn't each veggies every day. Our ped says look at a 3 day span. She should have something from each food group over that span. And at her age, she can get just as much nutrients from fruit as from veggies. Just keep putting things on her plate and try and get her to try one or two bites of each thing (again, don't force her, just encourage [or bribe with a health treat] her ) We got my son to eat salmon by letting him have a big sip of fruit shake (just fruit, yogurt and ice) after each big boy bite. Now at 4, salmon is one of his favorite foods.
Good luck and try not to take it personally. I am sure you are a great mom!

A.--SAHM of three 6,4,9mo

I hope this doesnt come across offensive. However, who is the adult and who is the child? Why does she have a choice in what she eats? If she doesn't eat then I guess she will be hungry. When she is hungry, then she will eat what is given to her. I don't see myself saying a fifteen month child. " Tammy, what would you like for dinner tonight? Spaghetti? or Meat loaf, oh you dont want onions in your spaghetti?, how about I just skip the onions and just make it plain? Oh, you dont want broccoli on the side? Oh okay, Well since thats all we have, I will make a special trip to the store and go get you some green beans." Yeah Right, she better eat that food and say no more! Hope your firmness works, and she will understand her position as a child.

Hi - my oldest was that way for a while. At first I tried to accommodate his requests - but it only got worse. Then it was "here's what we're eating" and he'd eat or be hungry. No nagging, just eat, have dinner conversation. When everyone else was done, I'd ask if he was going to eat. He'd either say no, or nothing. So I'd take his plate away - and no snack or drink (other than water) before bed. I felt a bit ogre-ish - sending my child to bed when I knew he was hungry. But, he didn't starve - and it seemed to work.

I also highly recommend a book "Boundaries for Kids" by Cloud/Townsend (sp?) It's a wonderful balance for raising our kids in love and discipline. Good luck!

It is developmentally normal for kids to become picky after their first birthday. They don't have the same caloric needs and can therefore afford to be more picky. I'd rely on the research that says that kids will eat what they need--that by the end of the week, they will have consumed adequate amounts of the good foods their body needs. Battling now will only set her up for eating issues later.

Hi E.

My now 5 year old son went through the same process you are talking about. He would eat a varied diet with no issues , at 15 months old he became very picky and selective , he still has the same issues now & won't eat any fruits or vegetables but we have recently found out this is because he also has Autism which goes along side the picky eating.....I'm not saying your daughter has the same issues but all toddlers go though a fussy stage with food , my 2 yr old daughter is also being picky at the moment. The advice we were given is to put there meals down as normal and if they choose not to eat then take it away with no fuss and don't try to force feed or bribe them to eat it , the more fuss you make the harder it becomes , if after 10-15 mins they have still not eaten anything then take the plate away and get them down from the table and let them go hungry.....it's hard to do but after a week or so most kids give up and start eating again , as long as you make sure she is having good healthy snacks during the day and she eats breakfast & lunch then she will be fine missing dinner a few times , just keep in mind that toddlers are actually very clever and know exactly what they are doing and no child will let themselves starve , she's just testing the boundairies to see what she can & cannot get away with.

Good Luck

K. H.

My boy is a picky eater, he's quite adamant about what he wants to eat. And sometimes seems nothing will please him. I however present him with what he can eat and he either eats it or doesn't.
When it comes to dinner time he can be real slow, a lot of the time it's getting him to try it and once he does it's not so bad, he's very visual so he'd rather reject than try anything new. We use his little sister a year younger who will eat anything to encourage him to eat new things. She is almost the same size as him and actually weighs more.
We make him sit there until he eats it, it can take over an hour just to get him to eat his meals, we feel it's important for him to eat to help him to grow and develop, he loves fruit and vegies and so they aren't a plm he dislikes meat immensely.
Sometimes he wants to be fed, when he can amply feed himself, it's annoying but after an hour of sitting there with him encouraging him to eat, we give in occasionally.
Admittedly I am a picky eater also, so I fear I may have passed on a gene I myself struggle with daily. I just live in hope it will fade with time.
Good luck as it does require patience.