My children are fussy eaters!

[Legend83]

The twins are 13 months now and are well versed with solid food. The only problem is they have decided that anything spoon-fed to them from a jar of food they liked last month, is akin to us trying to stab them in the face.

Spitting it out, turning their faces away, crying, trying to escape the high-chair etc. All they will eat is stupid little finger food bags of carrot sticks or pudding! We are trying to clamp down by just removing them from the dinner table and not giving them an alternative or pudding but I am beginning to worry that this might make their weight issues worse.

Any tips on how to fight back?

[Tumbler]

Do they sit at the table and eat with you once a day? If so, just dish them up the same meal a you are having, they are pushing the boundaries, they know you are giving in, you both have to give the same clear message, three healthy meals a day and two snacks if they have eaten their main meals.

Colour is a massive thing for children, it is very easy for them to slip in to the 'beige' plate, always include green and orange colours and let them explore with their hands, no matter how messy it gets.

I should add that I am hugely adverse to any sort of food from a jar, I think freshly steamed veg is always the best way forward right from the very start.

[Legend83]

Tumbler said:

Do they sit at the table and eat with you once a day? If so, just dish them up the same meal a you are having, they are pushing the boundaries, they know you are giving in, you both have to give the same clear message, three healthy meals a day and two snacks if they have eaten their main meals.

Colour is a massive thing for children, it is very easy for them to slip in to the 'beige' plate, always include green and orange colours and let them explore with their hands, no matter how messy it gets.

No they usually eat at 5 and I don't get in until 6 - wife feeds them in kitchen.

We gave them a bit of lamb chop, potato, carrots and peas yesterday and they proceeded to put each item to their lips then toss it over their heads and onto the floor...

[KrazyIvan]

Its a phase that will last about 18 years, stick with it and you'll get thought.

My son is 7 years old, and he has a very bland plate, but will pretty much eat anything he can eat with his hands (wont eat chilli and rice, but loves Chilli and Tortia chips, same goes for Fajitas)

My Daughter is a few months behind yours and is starting to get the same way, doesn't like anything on a spoon, as she likes to feed her self, so we just carefully choose finger food (everything from low salt bread sticks, to veggies like cucumber/peppers/carrots).

My dad always said raising kids was like waging a war, you have to choose your battle carefully.

Just out of interest (and feel free to ignore it) what weight issues do your kids have and who has told you its an issue?

[Tumbler]

Legend83 said:

No they usually eat at 5 and I don't get in until 6 - wife feeds them in kitchen.

We gave them a bit of lamb chop, potato, carrots and peas yesterday and they proceeded to put each item to their lips then toss it over their heads and onto the floor...

Can they have breakfast with one of you? Or meals at the weekend with you, the above is not surprising, it's probably a combination of texture and colour, try introducing one 'new' food at a time, you can start with it mashed then increase the lumps.

[theshrew]

Dont give them stuff from a jar ?

I cant remember tbh but think at that age they can have normal food ? Can you not just give them what your having obv mushed up a bit ?

[Legend83]

We try and have our cereals together in the morning but sometimes the practicalities of mobilising twins plus me trying to get ready for work in the morning make it tricky.

We would try and push dinner back to 6 but our schedule is for them to have tea at 5, bath at 6, last bottle at 7 then bed. We often find if they have tea late then they are not interested in their bottle.

KrazyIvan - my little girl had bad reflux from 1 month onwards (now controlled via the right medication) and was not even on the weight scale chart. She is 13 months and still in 0-3 month clothes! She had a growth spurt when we started her on solids but since she has been moving around the weight gain has flat-lined a bit.

[Hugo a Gogo]

13 months, anything they do at that age is a phase that will only last couple of weeks at most

give them anything they will eat

[KrazyIvan]

Legend83 said:

KrazyIvan - my little girl had bad reflux from 1 month onwards (now controlled via the right medication) and was not even on the weight scale chart. She is 13 months and still in 0-3 month clothes! She had a growth spurt when we started her on solids but since she has been moving around the weight gain has flat-lined a bit.

I feel for you my little girl suffered with the for the fist 6 months and it was a nightmare, even now she will randomly throw all her food/bottle up with in a few minutes.

Because of this I would be looking to get a referral from your local GP to speak to a specialist, and pretty soon as well, weight loss at this age and be hugely detrimental later on in life. Strangers on the internet are not going to be able to offer you advice that will help you, no matter how well meaning.

[theshrew]

Maybe worth a trip to the docs then to see what he thinks. I no my friends son is really fussy he will only eat baked beans. The doctor told my mate just give him beans if thats all he will eat. He was about 9 at the time though.

Maybe not the case for your daughter being so young and under weight. Worth talking to one just to see what he says and put your mind at rest.

Id just try different foods im sure you will find something they like. My little girl isnt to keen on some meat if my Mrs has cooked it a bit long and its gone harder she wont eat it but will wolf the same meat down if its cooked nice lol

[Hugo a Gogo]

my kids have never been very interested in any meat - except salami, they love that
the generally prefer fresh raw veg rather than cooked mushy stuff, grated carrot or some chopped up peppers or something 'handy' for them to eat, failing that a bit of toast

I'd definitely try to have a mealtime with at least one adult though

[Slyjoe]

The best thing our health visitor ever told us, and the only thing I remeber is that "No child has ever starved itself to death"
(obviously excludes juvenille anorexics, but you get my point.)

[Legend83]

KrazyIvan said:

I feel for you my little girl suffered with the for the fist 6 months and it was a nightmare, even now she will randomly throw all her food/bottle up with in a few minutes.

Because of this I would be looking to get a referral from your local GP to speak to a specialist, and pretty soon as well, weight loss at this age and be hugely detrimental later on in life. Strangers on the internet are not going to be able to offer you advice that will help you, no matter how well meaning.

She is under the care of a paed who has been pleased with her progress in recent months. This latest episode apart, seriously, she eats like a horse!

I was thinking it might be due to us getting back from holiday - their routines have been up the creek a bit recently. Hopefully we will be back to normal soon...

[mattnunn]

Legend83 said:

The twins are 13 months now and are well versed with solid food. The only problem is they have decided that anything spoon-fed to them from a jar of food they liked last month, is akin to us trying to stab them in the face.

Spitting it out, turning their faces away, crying, trying to escape the high-chair etc. All they will eat is stupid little finger food bags of carrot sticks or pudding! We are trying to clamp down by just removing them from the dinner table and not giving them an alternative or pudding but I am beginning to worry that this might make their weight issues worse.

Any tips on how to fight back?

At 13 months it's most likely they want to feed themselves, if they've got teeth it's almost definately likely they want to. My youngest turns 1 next week, she has no teeth but can do a tuna butty no problem, my lad was eating yoghurts himself off a spoon a 13 months.

They want to be in control, let them, saves you a job, just be there with the dustpan and brush, or get a dog that likes tuna and bread!

[BlackVanDyke]

am I wrong in thinking that 13 months might be a bit young for 'clamping down'?

Worked a bit with a slightly older kid who's an incredibly, unbelievably bad eater - has a brain injury and, we think, might not be able to feel hunger properly - kid is very, very underweight (was 12.5kg at 6 years, now has a feeding tube for top-ups and is doing better) so food is Serious Business. Was told that the big thing is just that she gets enough calories, all the other stuff - micronutrients, good habits - can be worried about later on or tackled other ways, with supplements if necessary.

[Google [bot]]

When my kids were younger and played this game, I'd get the food they liked that week to the detriment of other foods and smear it with hot chilli sauce. They'd then go off that and be happy with the other food.