Civil Debate - Fighting your baby to eat!

Tracy - posted on 01/28/2012

My toddler is slightly picky, but I don't think he's extreme. We also make him taste a bite, but if he really doesn't like it, we will give him something else. Currently, his option is to eat whatever we're having or eat a peanut butter sandwich.



There are certain foods that we eat often that we know he truly dislikes - potatoes and chicken, for example - so we get him to have a taste in the hopes that one day they will grow on him, but we always make him something else, too, so that on his plate he has the food he doesn't like as well as other options. Right now we're making him omelettes when we have potatoes, but we'll also put cheese, fruit and crackers on his plate.



When we know he likes a food, we will make him eat it, but if it is something we are fully aware he hates, it doesn't seem fair to force him to eat it.

Liz - posted on 01/26/2012

I have three other children besides my June baby, and I just don't have the energy or patience to prepare different meals for everyone! I try to make dinners that all the kids will eat, but there are times when one or more of the kids won't eat what I've made, and they get to go hungry. I don't force them to eat everything on their plates either, but that is the only way they are allowed to have a treat afterwards. I am all about at least trying what I've made, and if they don't like it, fine, but I'm not going to make anything else. If my husband and I want to eat something special for dinner, like steak, I will make something else for the kids, but other than that, you get what I make and nothing else! It does not seem to be a problem in our family either. The kids know that's the rule and they are usually fine with it, unless of course one of them finished all their food and got a treat and another one didn't. But that's a whole different issue :)

Corinne - posted on 01/26/2012

Since this will mostly apply to toddlers and older children... With my 3 y/o we use the "this is all youre getting" way! Im not 100% happy about using it but sometimes her demands are a little ridiculous! I grew up with divorced parents and my mother used the "eat until its gone" method and my father used the "go hungry" method! Im a very picky eater and personally, I feel the "eat until its gone" way made me hate food more!



Im 100% about making my kids TRY a bite but I will never force them to eat anything! The only time I will allow my daughter to have something else to eat is if A: What I made for dinner isnt all that healthy (i.e. pizza or something) or B: she has gone almost all day without eating! Then I will allow her healthy snack choices (fruit, veggies, etc..) but will not make her a full on meal!



I know she goes through a lot of growth spurts and part of that is her eating much less than usual so I give her some slack! I know shes healthy and I give her a multi vitamin everyday and try to keep up the fruits/veggies and other things she needs daily!