hello wandered if anybody had any ideas for getting a 20mth old to eat.he hardly eats anything and refuses to eat if it is something new.
He just looks at it and throws it on the floor.the only trouble is he eats at nursery aswell and will eat anything there.
i need ideas and suggestions of new recipes for him.what are good finger food s to give him?he wont eat fruit or veg either.
thank you xx

I watched a program on TV a few months ago about kids who dont eat very well and there was one who ate well at nursery but not at home. The advice seemed to be to just relax about it and let him eat what he wants and not to try to make him eat something he doesnt want. Eventually he will want to try something new. Sorry if thats no help at all but i didnt want to R&R. Have you tried bread sticks as finger food? My neice loves them.

Not sure what to suggest about the eating at nursery but not at home problem.
But when I introduce something new to Spencer (16 months) I mix in something I know he really loves. Sweetcorn is my LO's favourite veg so if I'm introducing a new main meal I'll put heaps of sweetcorn in it so he recognises it. If I'm introducing a new sauce I'll put cheese in it cos my LO loves cheese. As he gets used to the new taste I reduce the amount of "old favourite" in it.
It is so frustrating when they wont even try something new. My LO loves pasta twists and bows but wont even put tagliatelle near his lips! Feel like banging my head against a wall somedays.

My HV said that I shouldn't stress about it cos if LO sees that it upsets you, they'll use food and mealtimes as a weapon.

Liz x

will he eat from ur plate hun?
when oliver had a phase like this around same age i just put his fork/spoon out and he ate from my plate (thought it was funny pinching mums dinner) then gradually put just 1 thing at a time on his plate, he was 2 in sept and is having a fussy time again so he is back to eating my dinner,lol if only he knew :-)
xxx

Hiya,

I have worked in childcare for over 12 years and have seen this many times.

The only thing I can say is not to give in. If he will eat at nursery then he will eat at home. Ask what meals he has there and do the same dishes at home.

It is all about control - at this age they can't make any decisions for themselves, and this is the only area that they CAN control. If you let the pattern continue, then it will stay like this for years. I recently had a child who ate normally till almost 2, then for then next 2 years only ate toast, dried fruit, cereal, milk, rice cakes and chocloate. I'm not exagerating, that was it!! But now he is at school and eating normally. It took me 6 months to get him to eat a normal variety of foods.

He will not starve if he doesn't eat what you give him. Just don't overcompensate by giving milk as a meal replacement, as that will get you nowhere.

good luck,

marnie