Fussy Boy

[wellybob1981]

Hello there ladies
Firstly I would just like to say how great it is to finally see that I am not the only mother with a fussy child, and I certainly feel less guilty after reading all the posts on here. Why is it people always assume that it's the parents fault?
My little boy always ate well up until about 20 months, he would eat anything you put in front of him. Then suddenly it changed over night he started refusing food, even if it was something we knew he liked. I read all the books and stuck to my guns if he didn't eat the meal he would get nothing until the next meal. The longest he went without was 2 days, and it was sheer hell but he did get back to eating normally again.
Now it will be the odd meal that he refuses and it is frustrating because he cahnges his mind about what he won't eat so there is no one safe bet I can give him. He always loved chilli and rice but on Monday he wouldn't even try it and yesterday I cooked him some home made chicken niggets with sweet potato wedges that are usually eaten in record time but no, he would not touch them. In fact he through a 20 m inute tantrum when I explained that he couldn't have something else.
It is so awkward when we go to peoples houses or go out to eat as we just don't know how he will react and what he will eat. Even when he's helped me cook it and tasted it from the pan and said it was nice by the time I put it on the tables his devils horns ar out and he won't eat it. It is driving me mad.
At least I now know that I am not the only one to be going through this which is of some comfort.

[Rachael1]

On the whole Evie is a great eater (fngers crossed it stays that way) but has her moments (or days!) and we do the same as you - that's it til the next meal. I know what you mean about in company tho - today people thought I was cruel as she didn't have a sandwich at first then they brought out cake. She started with the "I want, I want" and getting all worked up, but I said "no - you're obviously not hungry as you haven't touched your sandwich" the 'cake-holder' was standing over her, watching her having a bit of a tantrum saying "no - you're mum says no, so I can't, even tho I want to" etc, etc. Aaargh! I'm like "take it away, man, and she'll forget about it!" She did eat the sandwich in the end! About half an hour later when she was hungry

[kerri-anne]

Hi there,

You most definately are not alone!!!! Molly is really fussy and has been for some time. She was a brilliant eater until she was about 10 months old but it's gone down-hill from there!

There are only a few things she'll eat but even those are a struggle and like your LO, one day she'll eat something fine - the next she won't touch it. I'm trying to get her to eat different things but most of the time it's a waste of time, i stand cooking for hours knowing full well it'll be straight in the bin later. The thing is though if I don't keep trying there's no way she'll ever try anything new. We too struggle to eat out as we know that 99% of the time she'll eat nothing at all.

I've found this website invaluable, for advice as well as recipes but more than anything, just to know that I'm not alone and other mums are going through exactly the same thing. Sending big hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[AbiHMF]

It can be sooo frustrating to cook something really tasty and then have them reject it... my theory is that deep down all mums have this primal fear that their baby might starve and so we stress out trying to get them to eat something, anything, or feel like we're terrible mothers.

My parents were broke when I was a baby and, according to my mum, if I didn't like what I was given it was tough, because there was nothing else - and she doesn't remember having food problems with me.

My boy will scoff something one day and throw it on the floor the next... he won't eat any raw fruit - only pureed - but I can pretty much rely on sweet pot / carrot / lentil stew, which is healthy enough, but I worry his insides will turn orange!!

I reckon the food issue turns into a power game for them - some other mum said on the forum, it is the only power they have at this age and at 18months onwards is the 'terrible twos' when they realise they have a bit of power and want to use it - who can blame them!

Stick to your guns and relax about it as much as you can - easier said than done I know.

xxxx