14 month old won't eat anything but junk foods....

Dana - posted on 03/17/2010

I agree with most people here, you've got to stop giving him the junk food. Good luck!

Rhianwen - posted on 03/17/2010

I wouldn't worry about the not eating meat bit...one of my sons doesn't like meat...neither does his dad. Loves lentils and chickpeas though!

As for the junk food...why give it to him in the first place?

Simply do not give him the crap...give him real food. He will NOT starve...believe me! It might take a while for him to adjust, but adjust he will.

The ball is in your court...please feed him good stuff,and he will thank you for it in the end. Remember YOU are the boss...not the kid!

Rhianwen

Andrea - posted on 03/16/2010

You can also offer peas as a meat alternative. My nephew wouldn't eat meat, but he loved peas!

Erin - posted on 03/16/2010

You shouldn't be giving in an giving him junk food if he isn't eating his meals! When my son was that age it helped to take him out of the high chair. If you all eat at the table then stick him in a regular chair...if you don't eat at the table then he's going to want to eat where ever you all are eating...Once our son started walking around he was too busy to sit and eat so he'd just run around and take bites in between...I figured at least he ate! Good luck!

Kathy - posted on 03/16/2010

Heather, you're the mother, you're the one in control here. Just don't offer him the junk food. Don't even have it in the house. Just keep making and offering nealthy stuff.He might try to hold out for a while,but no child is going to starve himself while there's food on offer.

Joanne - posted on 03/16/2010

I talk to a lot of parents who have concerns with fussy eating. I have started a blog and give free advice. There are many reasons why children stop eating healthy food. It is very common. If you are interested visit http://fussykids.blogspot.com/. You may find some useful tips.

Iridescent - posted on 03/16/2010

Refusing to eat meat is rather common. Offer other high protein foods (pasta and bread are actually high).

Quit catering. Stop offering junk food as snacks. In fact, stop purchasing it. Healthy food for meals. Healthy food for snacks. Eat or starve (which the child will choose eat).

Nikki - posted on 03/16/2010

Dont have junk food in the house and prepare healthy snacks when you go out. You control what he eats.

Joanna - posted on 03/16/2010

If he's hungry, he'll eat whatever you give him (it's survival). So stop giving him junk, and just push healthy stuff. He might push it away a few times, but once he's hungry, he'll give in!

Amanda - posted on 03/16/2010

Parents make picky eatters. First by giving a child a choice at food time. Second way is by allowing junk food to be a choice of a meal. The easiest way to fix this problem, is throw out all that junk food, and only offer him healthy choices, no child will starve themselves because they dont like a food. In time they will give in and eat the very food you thought he didnt like.

Aliska - posted on 03/16/2010

Don't give him the junk food. Give him healthy food at meal times, small amounts at a time so if he throws it away there's still some more. Don't pay too much attention to him throwing his food, making a mess etc as maybe he's doing it for the reaction. If he doesn't eat at meal times and is hungry later he'll soon learn to eat his meals. Between meals only offer healthy things like water, fruit and veges. Some kids fill up on milk and juice between meals so don't eat much food. Save the junk food for an occasional treat after he's eaten a reasonable amount of his healthy meal.

Katarina - posted on 03/16/2010

My son is 11 months old and won't really eat anything but shredded cheese and Mum Mum crackers. He only wants his Formula(which is still in bottles, since he won't take a sippy) but my suggestion to you, is maybe trying foods with more flavour. My cousin's baby won't eat bland food. Now, I've tried that with my Son and it didn't work but maybe it could work for you little one. Mac and cheese, maybe?



If he won't eat meat try introducing protein some other way, peanut butter?



I'll be watching your post to help my Son.

Abbie - posted on 03/16/2010

Quit giving him the crap food!! When he gets hungry enough he will eat the healthy food!!! There are many other ways to get protein in their diet besides meat, offer beans lentals things like that.



But if he wont' eat the good food I'd surely hold off on the junk food. He is old enough to know that if he holds out on the good food mommy will give him crap. He wont' starve himself!!