Picky eaters

My 2yr old son didn't eat solids till he was bout 9mth old. started really well but never took then refused so started late. actually i think he was more 12mths. Always been healthy looking, never starved looking, not fat, just not skinny. never got teeth til 17mth so found a lot of foods hard to eat due to this. He used to love mince pureed with vege but of course now wants big boy food not baby food. I can't seem to get him to eat dinner! He eats a Very good size breakfast, often eats 1-2 pieces of bread for lunch (sometimes not till later) & snacks on things sometimes. Loves his fruit but i cannot seem to get him to eat dinners. Can't stand the texture of mince so leaves it in his mouth. We have worked out that if he doesn't really want it, he will just store it in his mouth. he still talks & mucks around & it can stay in there for up to 45 mins given half the chance. i get to the stage where he has chewed it so much & it's sat there so long i get him to spit it out. The only food we can always get into him consistently is pasta. he used to love peas & corn, but nto so much anymore. Oh & Pizza (not mummy made). Sometimes he'll eat roast pork, sometimes he'l eat chicken, sometimes he'l eat a bit of sausage. He never eats much & it's not every time that he will eat it. what works one week won't necesarily work the next. IYKWIM.

Does anyone else have this problem? Or had this problem? Know any solutions? Oh Yea, he eats dinner with us, normally 6pm which works well as he sometimes has a LITTLE snack after his avo sleep. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, should i be checking his iron levels since he doesn't eat meat etc?

so i shouldn't be too worried then? sometimes i get all worried bout it & then i figure he will eat if he's hungry. & he is a happy happy kid. Like he doesn't sit there unhappily with the food in his mouth, he sits the chatting away & laughing & being silly etc. My biggest concern is the fact he doesn't get much iron or anything..... just wondering should i get the dr to check his levels?

I have an incredibly fussy eater here as well so although I can't help, as I haven't managed to get mine to eat meat either. I can sympathise with your worrying about iron levels etc.

Alyssa doesn't eat meat, drink any milk or eat veges . She eats a really good breakfast of weet bix and baby museli with follow on formula on it so at least I know she's getting something good once a day. Then she eats bread, crackers, rice, pasta, fruit and that's about it. So I also worry about her protein intake as well.

But she's a happy little thing really bright and not at all sleepy (apart from around nap time) so I guess she's doing ok. I just wish she would drink some milk or eat some meat, the vege I can cope with as she loves fruit.

Arg where did she come from the other two were nothing like this.

Maybe try the meat/protein thing at lunchtime when he is less tired - by 6 he may be a bit past it, I know my 2 1/2 year old is! I have a friend whoes little boy wont eat meat at all and she gives him pate - either in sandwiches or on crackers/toast. As it is usually liver it is really high in iron.

Maybe give him a proper dinner at 3ish and a snack when you and DP eat at 6. That way he will be eating a good meal and will still be having the good interaction of having dinner with you both. Once he is older you can change it over.

How about keep trying with the types of dinner meals you are trying, but at 3pm ... then give him toast and fruit or yoghurt and fruit at dinner time? You could get tins of fruit, so you always have some fruit for him even if not fresh.

You could try a well cooked casserole so the meat is really tender? Or make your own pizza with some chicken on it? Or add those watties meat sauces to pasta that he likes?
Or even just offer the meat as finger food before the rest of the meal, and hopefully he will eat some.

Oh - I didn't notice the ticker! I wouldn't be in here if I'd had bubs yesterday!! You definitely have better things to worry about than your boys dinners!

thanks, haven't changed the ticker yet. had bubs at home, hence can come on

wow that is a huge list joshierocks! well done! I wish i could get Vincent to even eat that much! He will eat Bananas, grapes & oftentimes peaches willingly. Honey sandwhiches are his fav for lunch these days. Oh & weetbix or nutrigrain for brekky. (Ate two bowls & all the milk of nutrigrain today!)

one thing i did try the other day was marmite & cheese sandwhich. Vincent wasn't too sure about it but didn't chuck it either IYKWIM.

YES.... we have the same problem and Miss Lucy is nearly 3 in Dec!!!

DH and I have been stressing about her not eating. She eats bugger all for tea, says "No I don't like it" so after awhile we will give into her and give her a marmite sammie. This has been the same since she started solids, and it is all my fault as this is what we did when she was a baby... and now she isn't any better

With Zoe, she is the opposite.. is a very good eater. We know what to do with her and it seems so much easier! Number one child is always the guinea pig!