https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:38:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-moms-of-picky-eaters#post-691372 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:12:49 +0000 Weagle 691372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I don't think it's abnormal to expect a 5 year old (really, younger) to feed herself. As a part of our family, our children will be expected to participate in meals. We will not be ignoring our own food or the younger siblings that may or may not need help learning how to eat. Picky or not. A 5 year old will not starve. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-moms-of-picky-eaters#post-691340 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:07:53 +0000 Anagram 691340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weagle: @pelikila: Okay, what you ladies are talking about is how I was raised. My parents weren't super forecful about say.."cleaning my plate" and they didn't force me to eat the vegetables I didn't like...</p> <p>BUT my mom only cooked one meal for the whole family and we ate what we could/wanted from that meal and we weren't allowed to get out other food. And we all sat at the table, every night. We had to be excused from the table. There were times when my mom made things I didn't like (her version of "stir fry" for example) and I would make my dinner out of white rice and some of the chicken picked out from among the vegetables I didn't like. </p> <p>Now I like all of those veggies--snow peas, carrots, etc. </p> <p>But I've had some experiences lately that have been making me wonder if this is an "american" or "western" parenting thing. I have some friends (and family!) from other non-western countries and their child-feeding culture is just so...different.</p> <p>Like...feeding a child until they are *very old* (in my American opinion) is not abnormal to them. And I don't mean breastfeeding...I mean, picking food up and placing it in their mouths seems to be normal up until the kids are 6,7,8.</p> <p>I probably should have made this Gold so I can go into more detail!~ Let's just say...lately, I have made some comments about this style of feeding to my husband along the lines of "that's not what I'll be doing with our LO" and he totally doesn't get it. Like, he thinks it's fine to still be feeding a kid who is already in school, if the child is a picky eater and won't eat well on their own.</p> <p>I feel like it's too indulgent and the child isn't learning basic manners. It's interesting to note the difference, but also stressing me out! I don't want my 5 year old to be unable to sit at a table because Daddy lets her do whatever she wants at dinner time, you know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-moms-of-picky-eaters#post-691264 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:55:09 +0000 Weagle 691264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pelikila: That was my parents approach when I was growing up. They always had at least one thing I would eat. I was super picky, but I eat all my veggies now. I think if you keep offering they eventually grow out of it. I don't intend to ever chase my children around with food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-moms-of-picky-eaters#post-691187 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:42:41 +0000 pelikila 691187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: This is where I made the decision (with my pediatrician's suggestion) that I would always serve at least one thing I know my son likes (maybe it is slices of apple or some cheese, etc.) and the rest of the meal served is what we are eating (chicken, broccoli, potatoes, etc.). DS has the option to eat or not eat what is served. This way I know he is getting something into him but he doesn't get to make demands or totally not eat. He'll eventually get hungry enough to try what he thinks he doesn't like and figure out it might not be so bad. I've been rather surprised at how it has worked well. Sometimes it takes changing venue to get him to eat well, for instance, eating outside sitting on the tailgate of DH's truck is how we got him to eat steak. I don't cater to his food preferences but I do try to make it work.</p> <p>For the 5 year old chased around, that is a parenting decision that I'm not willing to do nor does it sound like it is working for them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-moms-of-picky-eaters#post-691122 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:32:22 +0000 looch 691122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a picky eater, but he mastered utensils around 16 months of age. He will rarely let me stick a spoon in his mouth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-moms-of-picky-eaters#post-691118 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:30:41 +0000 Anagram 691118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pelikila: What about say...a 5 year old who is a picky eater?</p> <p>Like...she has no problems eating cake or cereal or things she likes by herself at 5 (of course), but when it comes to "real food", her mom kind of chases her around with a spoon to get her to eat, and then half the time she just spits it back out. And then the mom chases some more. They don't eat at a table sitting down usually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-moms-of-picky-eaters#post-691032 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:14:32 +0000 pelikila 691032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on the child. My sister's son was awesome at using utensils by the time he was around 16 months. My son was decent but still needed help some time until around 18-20 months. Once my son mastered utensils, he didn't want/wouldn't let you feed him. Now the only time I feed him is when we are in a hurry and he just isn't spooning fast enough (sometimes applesauce gets eaten with a straw to hurry thing along). I consider him a picky eater but he is of an age that if he doesn't want to eat something, he isn't going to no matter if I put it in his mouth or not so I just let it be. He's not going to starve. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-moms-of-picky-eaters#post-690963 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:06:15 +0000 Anagram 690963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know a lot of moms struggle with picky eaters, and there have been many threads in the past about getting kids to eat. I also know a lot of moms here are into Baby led weaning, and although I really know very little about that, it seems that the child is allowed to feed themselves, with more "adult" versions of food (am I on the right track?)</p> <p>For all moms.....at what age do you think it's still appropriate to be feeding your child? As in...you use either your hadn or your spoon to put food in their mouth. Is there an age where you think it's not appropriate anymore, or if the kid is a picky eater, is it a "whatever it takes" philosophy? </p>