Too Many Cheerios?

it doesn't ever stop! my 18 month old still gets REALLY picky about food, some days he'll eat loads of veggies, other days he won't eat anything but bread and noodles. i recommend making zucchini bread with whole wheat flour. i double the amount of zucchini and use less sugar, and that way you're sneaking in some veggies and he doesn't realize it. i've heard you can make it with other veggies too, like broccoli, but i've never tried. i give my son lots of fruit, so he's getting some fiber and nutrients. really really steamed mushy carrots are good too. just offer him lots of variety. even if he only eats a bite here and there, he's getting something in his system.
my mother in law told me my husband at about 2 1/2 went through a phase where he ONLY ate peanut butter and jelly for weeks, and she asked her doctor about it, and he said "just be happy he's eating something." i know it's hard not to worry but he'll be ok. it's cheerios now, but it'll be something else later. Good luck!

If he doesn't have a lot of teeth yet I would recommend gerber graduates. They have a variety of fruit and veggies that are soft but firm enough to be picked up by little fingers. Both my kids were independent eaters and loved the graduates line of food. Also cooked frozen peas are just the right size for little fingers. My kids also loved bananas sliced the long way in half. That still gave them something to hang onto, but it wasn't too thick so I wasn't too worried they would choke. I would wait to offer cheerios until he has finished his regular meal, then if you are worried he may still be hungry, give him a handful of the o's. My kids both also loved cooked brocolli cut up really small and cauliflower. (Just make sure you cook both until very soft so he doesn't have to chew too much). Both my kids self weaned off the strained foods at around 9 months too and as long as you continue to give them a variety of regular food he should be fine. My kids at this age really loved chicken cooked in the crock pot too. It is super tender cooked this way and pretty much falls apart--no cutting even necessary. Steamed carrots are also another easy vegetable. They can be cut into the right size chunks that he can easily pick up. Just go with what he seems to like. You don't want to force the strained stuff on him, or mealtime will be dreaded by both of you. Better he be independent and enjoy eating than making it a power struggle. Variety is key to make sure he is getting all the necessary nutrients. I assume though since he is under one he is either on formula or breastmilk, so if he has sometimes that he is not keen on what you are offering, no need to sweat it. He is getting plenty of nutrients from the other. Also, our pediatrician said it isn't about what they eat in a particular day, but about what they eat over the course of a week that is more important. So if there are a couple of bad days, he will more than likely make up for it later in the week. Good luck.

He seems to want his independence by wanting to feed himself. I buy the frozen mixed vegetables bags (peas, corn and carrots) and steam a handful in the microwave and my daughter can pick them up herself. Frozen vegetables are much healthier than canned and a lot cheaper. My daughter started cheerios at around 7 months and is now 13 months old and is still obsessed with them.

Hi M..
Cheerios are actually a great snack. As long as he is also getting those other nutrients with the cheese and meat and veggies he'll be ok. He'll eventually burn himself out on the cheerios. My son only wanted cheerios for a short while too but it didn't last long.
A suggestion for getting him to eat something other than cheerios is don't offer the cheerios at all. I found that if I gave cheerios with something else, he'd eat all the cheerios and nothing else. So I stopped giving both. I would give "food" then cheerios.
As a snack I used green beans. They are easy pick-up foods.

Hi M.,
Well, this does sound familiar! Cheerios are a great snack. My kids still love them, at 2 and 5. My only advice would be - at mealtimes, serve him what you want him to eat. If he chooses not to eat, that's fine. But don't cater to his every whim. That's a dangerous path to go down, and eventually you'll end up with a 2 year old who will throw tantrums when he's not give the mac and cheese he wants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Know what I mean? So, for snacks give him his beloved Cheerios, and for all the other meals, feed him whatever you feel is appropriate. Maybe he's getting into the stage where he wants to feed himself. As messy as that can be, let him do it. At this age most of their nutrition comes from breastmilk or formula anyhow. I always used to chop finely, or puree, whatever my husband and I were eating. My girls liked that because they actually did like food that had been spiced somewhat (some of those canned baby foods are reallllly bland!). Good luck to you!