14month old takes only a few bites
My 14mo old now does not want anything to do with me feeding him. Which I know is normal. However, he only takes a couple of bites of food then he is finished. How can I be assured he is getting enough? I think this is a teething phase but it is very frustrating. Also giving him Poly-Vi-Sol to fill any nutrional gaps.
Feel like I am giving him chicken nuggets and mini corn dogs / mixed veggies all the time.. Does anyone have any menu suggestions?
Please help!
THANK YOU!
posted November 7, 2006 - 5:02pm
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I think it's normal what your son is doing. You have to remember, their tummies are only as big as their little hands, so maybe a few bites is all he needs. Especially if he's drinking milk during the day - that'll also fill him up. Try switching and giving him only water to drink during the day if you can, then see if it changes how much he eats.
Also, remember, he WILL eat when he's hungry. I am constantly reminding myself of that because my 21mo old daughter eats like a bird sometimes. Other times she eats like a vulture, scarfing down everything in sight.
Unlike us grown ups, babies don't know breakfast time, lunchtime and dinner time. They eat when they're hungry and only as much as they need (also unlike grown ups!)
Eat together. Sit down at the table, limit distractions, and eat together. He'll watch you eat and maybe he'll mimick Mommy
As far as menu suggestions, I highly recommend limiting the fried and processed foods as much as you can. Now is the time to instill healthy eating habits. Try offering him grilled chicken instead of nuggets. My daughter likes wraps - a tortilla with turkey inside, soup/stew, yogurt, cottage cheese, cereal, little finger bite-size sandwiches, mini-tacos (I use 1/4 tortilla, put some refried or black beans in and fold it, she loves it!), and turkey dogs.
Hope this helps!
MamaHall
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PermalinkI do many of the things that MamaHall does. We have our meals together (my son is 14 months also), and he definately likes it to be a group event. Some days he chows, other days he plays with his food. He may also be drinking too much - how much milk/formula does he have? I try to space out the liquid and the meals so that he has room in his belly for the meal.
As for menu suggestions, I try to feed him what we eat, within reason. We try to eat healthy with lots of fruit & veggies, and I think this approach has improved the adult diets too. I would limit the fried foods as well. An easy way to improve flavor is to add some - I often add some basil or herb mix to the steamed veggies to make them more interesting.
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PermalinkMY DAUGHTER DOES THE SAME THING BUT SHE IS 2 YEARS OLD AND SHE ONLY TAKES LIKE 2 BITES AND DONT WANT TO EAT ANYTHING SHE STILL CRYS FOR HER BOTTLE AND ONLY TAKE LIQUIDS NIOT SOLIDS SHE DOESNT WANT O CHEW HER FOOD IS THIS A FACE OR SHOULD I BE WWORRIED PLEASE IF ANY ONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS PLEASE HELP BECAUSE IM VERY WORRIED THANKS love ya! take care!
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PermalinkMy son was never a big eater and still isn't (he's 18 now). He was 8 lbs. 8 oz. at birth, but then slimmed down and stayed skinny as can be since then. From my experience, don't force your child to eat. I totally agree with MamaHall. Have dinner together and make it known that you expect your son to participate even if he isn't very hungry. You need that family time. If you start young, it's easy to continue family dinners when they are older. I also agree with getting rid of most processed foods. Grilled chicken cut up is a great substitute for nuggets, offer lean meats and veggies. Inbetween meal snacks should be healthy, not junk food. It's easier to prevent bad eating habits than to change bad eating habits. He'll eat when he's hungry. I don't think it is a good idea to force a child to eat when they're not hungry or to force them to "clean their plate". If you're offering healthy foods and supplementing with vitamins, he's getting the nutrients he needs.
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