Needing Help with 16 Month Old's Eating Issues!

Have you tried Mac n Cheese, Pnut butter and Jelly? If she is gaining weight and growing I would say your doing everything right. My son was very picky at that age he only ate a few things, you just have to be persistent and let her try something she eats it great, that same food you give her the next day she probably wont eat. Its normal.

The pediatrician is right. The bigger deal you make the harder it gets. Give her what you guys eat. She'll definitely eat when she's hungry. If you're that concerned about nutrition, give her a supplement or make her drink pediasure.

Different moms will have different opinions, I know some moms who will say you put something in front of them and they eat it or go without...personally I think that is cruel, but each person has their own beliefs. Personally, I would want to get to the "why" of it...if you honestly think its a control issue than its a different story, but usually when a child is hungry...they eat. I have to special needs nieces, both are varying degrees on the "spectrum" one is severe and the other you would barely know unless you spent a lot of time around her ( and were looking for signs) my point is they both have odd diets...and basically its issues with Textures. Your child may have issues with the textures of food, or may have difficulty with swallowing...I am really reaching here, but Mommy instincts are all we have to go on sometimes, and I don't always automatically assume the worst in children, yes they do learn to be manipulative at a fairly young age, but not as young as your little one is ( in my opinion anyway) I know the Ped doesn't seem that concerned...find someone who is willing to listen and has some experience with children who have issues with textures. I am constantly Amazed with how prevelant some of these issues are and so many doctors are ignorant to them. My sister has had a heck of a time finding doctors who are Capable of diagnosing and examining her daughter who is autistic and we all know how prevelant autism is now ( its scary)
I wish you luck, I know how frustrating it is, I have a picky eater...she is 8, I keep hoping she will out grow it, but she hasn't, and getting tough doesn't work with her, she will vomit if forced to eat certain things, and any mom that trys to tell me she "makes" herself vomit, obviously hasn't vomited in a long time themselves...as you can see I feel strongly about this issue = ) Like I said...there will be MANY opinions...go with your mommy instinct = )
B.

Does she like juice? I just got a juicer recently and the first juice combination I made was 1/2 carrot, 1/2 beet, 1 apple (and I added a little extra apple juice). It was pretty good. You could taste the veggies, but it was just mostly sweet from the apple. This would be a great way to get some nutrients in her from fruits and veggies while she is going through this stage (hopefully it's just a stage).

Macy's has juicers on sale right now. I got the Jack LeLaine Juicer and I've been happy with it so far. Kind of pricey (less that $50 or $75 on sale) but I think worth the investment because your whole family could use it.

Oh, and if you decide to do this, if possible make sure you get organic fruits and veggies to juice. One, because they are said to have more nutrients than regular, and two, because you don't want all those pesticides in your juice. Especially if your daughter isn't eating much, you don't want any chemicals to be in what she does eat. Just a sidenote...

Best wishes!

Im a mom of four girls ages 21 to 11 and right around 18 months give or take they stopped eating so it seemed. They didnt stop completely but enough that I was conserned at least with the first couple of them. But they all started eating again (you should see my grocery bill) just make sure she is getting enough fluids and as long as she is still eating and not starving herself things will balance out again.

I know exactly what you are going through. All three of my children (17 yrs and getting married *YIKES*, 6 yrs and 3 yrs) have eating issues. Not a single one of them ate or eat well. With my first child the ped. wasn't too concerned as she grew at a consistant rate even though she was like in the 5th %. My second child wen through 2 years of testing and nutrition visits and it didn't change a thing. She stills eats wierd. Sometimes she eats real good for a couple weeks then goes back to barely eating. She is tiny (only 30 lbs and 40") but she is healthy. She just had her 6 year check up and doc says she is fine. The three year old did eat good when he was about one then took after his sisters. I don't make a real big deal out of any of it anymore. If they say they don't want to eat when it is time to eat I say fine don't it. Sometimes they will sometimes they won't. But they do not get to have a bunch of snacks if they won't eat the healthy food. I do keep a lot of healthy snacks on hand as they do tend to like those. And it is better than nothing. My advice is not to make a big deal out of it. Children will eat when they are hungry. Good luck and I hope this helped! ~B.

When you are 16 months old, you have no control over much of your life, EXCEPT what goes in your mouth. So she is exerting her control and is seeing just how far she can push you in this.

Suggestions would include,
1. Stop worrying about her nutrition, she will eat what she needs
2. Ask her what she wants to eat, limiting it to 2 choices ( peanut butter sandwich or grilled cheese), then fix it, but only the usual way for the family
3. If she wants it a different way, tell her this is the way it is fixed in this family and drop it
4. If she changes her mind, tell her that this was her decision and that is what is for lunch
5. Be sure to offer her foods in addition to the main course. Such as fruit and veggies. Keep the portions small, say a table spoon or 2. She can always asl for more.
6. Keep her at the table a reasonable length of time, but not a long time for a 16 moth old.
7. She WILL eat when she gets hungry enough. I promise

All this allows her some control in her life, but shouldn't disrupt the family.

K., oh yeah, mother of a 'grown' 24 yo son and Pediatric RN (disabled)

M....is she teething? I can remember my little ones giving me a hard time when they were cutting new teeth.

I'd try simplifying her choices, this worked for me with my little girl. When she went through her picky phases, I gave her a vitamin and oatmeal or grits every morning (when she is most hungry and less likely to be so selective.) Then, even if she only picked around at her food for the rest of the day, at least I knew she was getting fiber and vitamins. You can do all kinds of add-ins to either oats or grits (craisins, bacon, cheese, cinnamon & brown sugar, sprinkles, sausage) depending on what she's into at the moment, and you can buy 'instant' packs that microwave in 1-2 mins.

Also, try putting less food on her plate during your family dinners. Like literally 5 green beans, 8 noodles, 1 chicken nugget cut into fourths, three french fries...maybe if she sees little, kid sized portions on a fun kid plate, she'll be inspired to munch on it.

I have to agree with other moms here about the bottom line, though, which is that she will certainly eat when she gets hungry enough!

Good luck.

Ah, 16 months... just learning about independence, trying to figure out what they really want, what they really like, trying to still be a baby but also wanting to be a big girl...
Right around this age, they actually need to eat less. Yes, they are still growing, but their caloric needs are down. Sometimes they'll eat everything in sight, sometimes nothing. And they get pickier because they can, because they know the difference.
I made up a bunch of things and froze them, just popping them in the toaster when my little one was hungry. Some things to try: French toast (soak it in the egg mixture for extra protein), pumpkin pancakes, pizza pockets with puff pastry. If my son was hungry and didn't eat them, I took him to the refrigerator and/or cupboard and asked him what he wanted. I would say, Do you want raisins? Yes or no thank you? And he could tell me that way. It was a way for him to assert himself without huge battles. And as far as the cutting thing... I would give him a whole grilled cheese sandwich and hold the butter knife over the sandwich. He saw it getting close to it. If he didn't fuss, I cut it. If he did, I left it whole.
At first I was very adamant that he would eat what we did or he would go hungry, but I know how picky I am. I like my apples cut a certain way; when I explain to my husband what I would like for supper and he makes it "wrong", I get upset. So I try and accomodate my son's needs and wants (within reason).
Sorry so long. I hope some of it was helpful!

I think what you are doing is fine--giving her what the rest of you are having and letting her decide whether or not to eat it. You could even point at each item and ask if she wants some of it before putting it on her plate; this may help limit the food waste. ("Would you like some green beans? Would you like some chicken?")
I'd offer her a few small choices before fixing her plate, but don't cater to her every whim by allowing her to choose just *anything* in the fridge or pantry (not to mention, too many choices can be overwhelming). For instance, letting her select the vegetable or side to serve at dinner, asking her if she wants her sandwich cut, or giving her a choice for lunch from two or three options should be enough.
You might also try giving her some choices in other areas, if you aren't already--letting her select what she wears from two or three outfits, for instance. It may help her feel less of a need to control her food if she feels she has some control in other areas.
Giving her limited choices still allows her some control, but doesn't turn you into the short-order cook! If you are really worried about nutrition, you can also provide healthy snacks between meals, such as fresh fruit, cooked veggies, or cheese cubes. But limit these, too.
Personally, I wouldn't worry that much about nutrition, as long as what she does eat isn't junk food. If she skips a meal or two, she won't die of malnutrition or starvation. (Really!) ;-) Unless there is a medical problem, she'll eventually get hungry enough to eat what is available.
It's not at all cruel to limit a child's choices, nor is it cruel to let them skip a meal if they don't want to eat what is served; in fact, it's MUCH better than making them clean their plates when they aren't hungry! It helps the child learn to listen to their hunger cues. They learn to eat when they are hungry and stop when they're full ... rather than eating when they're bored and/or overeating at mealtimes.
HTH! Good luck!
--A.
P.S. While I agree that juice is one way to get some nutrition in her diet, be careful about how much fruit juice you give. 4 oz. is a single adult serving size; much more than that, and it becomes a "junk food" because of the sugar content.

Ask your pediatrician about food allergies/intolerences. We had similar problems with our son, and the ped. was like yours and warned us against making a big deal out of it. He also said that they often know when a food makes them feel not so well but don't know how to tell us, and it's particularly confusing when it tastes good to them. It might also give you peace of mind to talk to a nutrionist about your options. When my son was 8 and still being difficult about food -- and that turned out to be more of a symptom of his intense focus and personality than an allergy issue -- I bought nutrition software for the home computer. Every day, we'd list what food he'd eaten, let the computer analyze the nutrition and tell him what he was missing. Then we'd check the list for good foods with those nutrients, and he'd go eat something from the list. It was a great tool for us, and so much better than the unending battle of wills. And while it's not applicable to your situation right now, I remember what it was like to worry about these things and wonder how I'd cope if it went on and on until . . . well, whenever.

LauraP

M. - My DD (16 months) has had the very same issues as yours!! She has recently become very picky and refuses to eat all veggies and most fruits. However, I decided to make her a smoothie (banana, peach sherbet and fruit from a can of fruit cocktail) and she loved that. I recently bought some grapes and strawberries and kind of just had them sitting around and she asked for some! But with veggies, even if they are hidden in the food, she finds them and spits them out! She won't even eat veggie soup!!!! So I've resorted to giving her the V8 Fusion juice. One cup is a full serving of fruit/veggies. I have never been a big fan of giving her juice and when I do, I dilute it. However, if you want to ensure she gets at least one serving of veggies and fruit, I'd recommend trying it! I do still try to get her to eat fruits and veggies, but I'm not as obsessed or worried if she's had her juice. I have also found that going back to some of the baby foods (Stage 3 Squash, Green Beans with Rice) has worked for a few bites!!! She also loves the baby fruits (Pumpkin wiht Apple, Pears and Pineapple) so I've gone back to buying her that!!! Good luck!

M., from my experience, i hate to say it but i think your ped. is right. don't make a huge deal out of it, and keep offering her what you're eating (or more kid-friendly variations). it's a transitioning time when a lot of times you'll have to make concessions because she's not truly ready to eat all that the big people do, but you don't want to give her the impression that you're going to be jumping through hoops to find something she "wants" to eat. i tried to make more meals that my son could easily eat (mac n' cheese, hamburger helper, etc) and then as long as it was something i knew he "could" eat, then i expected him to eat it. there is always room for compromise but i wouldn't bend over backwards to cut her grilled cheese just right, when it tastes the same however you do it. when she's hungry, she will eat. i absolutely wouldn't worry about it. good luck and try to be patient! you sound like a great, loving mom!

o.k....I'm going to be the "bad guy" here! What about just setting some ground rules? At 16 months, your daughter is old enough to be told, "o.k., this is what Mommy is going to do: when we sit down for dinner, I would like you to eat...some green beans, some .... If you do this for Mommy, then I will read this special book/play this game with you. But, you have to eat (like a big girl) what I give to you."

Yes, it's bribery...but it also sets the limits & boundaries, & also offers a reward for complying with Mommy's rules. Dinner time is for eating, not for dancing to your little one's tunes! & with the age differences in your children, you seriously have to be proactive in not creating the "little princess" who rules the whole house! Good luck, & please don't take offense at my words. I hope some of it is helpful!