My 18 Month old has slowly become a picky eater?

Paige - posted on 04/11/2012

Thanks ladies! Glad to know I'm not alone. I'll keep trying!

PS- Last night he devoured a grilled cheese and said mmmmmmmm the whole time. It was snacking that was killing his appetite... Thank you all so much :)

Heather - posted on 04/11/2012

Keep feeding him what you normally do. He will start eating it again, just keep giving it to him. Give him more of and a few bites of what you are eating every meal. Even if it's cereal, chicken, veggies, things like that. He would probably do better eating more real food like what you are eating, instead of mac & cheese, etc. Try PB & J, grilled cheese sandwiches, tacos, pizza!



Totally fine to go cold turkey on the baby food. He will eat when he is hungry. It might take a few days to a week, but he will eat. Most kids his age eat like birds. Don't start giving him only what he will eat, or you will end up with a 4 1/2 year old like mine who literally lives on yogurt, goldfish crackers, graham crackers, cookies, M & M's, milk, juice, and water. That is because I stopped feeding him real food or what I was eating, and started only giving him what he would eat because I was worried about him starving to death or not sleeping.



Wasting food sucks, so give him a few bites of this, a few bites of that, and put the rest in containers in the fridge for the next meal. Frozen mixed veggies will last a few days in the fridge, so will plain, cooked pasta! My daughter likes pasta with butter and parmesean cheese on it. So I put butter on it, and a few drops of water and microwave it for 25 seconds. Then mix it and put the cheese on it, and mix that in too. She eats it fine, and it lasts for about 5 days, with no butter or parm on it in the fridge for 5 to 6 days.



Keep feeding him, don't give up. But stop with the stage 3 baby food. There's no reason for it when you can make similar, real food to feed him.

Tori - posted on 04/10/2012

My daughter is exactly the same! I've cut out most snacks so that there's no way she's not hungry but still she will only nibble her meals, it seems snacks are the only food she gets other than fruit! I've been told not to worry about it & she'll eat what she needs & wants but as a mum it's very hard not to worry! a lot of people say give your child whatever they will eat as eating something is better than nothing. I personally just continue to give my daughter her meals, put it in front of her & try my best not to make a big deal over it, I've found that even praise can often make her decide 'no more!' she's very active & happy with plenty of energy so she's getting it from somewhere! Maybe you could try vitamins? I have started giving my daughter vitamins so at least she's getting them from somewhere!x

Brittney - posted on 04/10/2012

Make only a little bit and if he is still hungry make a little more and don't give up! Keep offering healthy foods. My daughter is 18 months too and in a rut of only eating watermelon, grapes, green beans, peas, and tomatoes, no breads/grains and no cheese.