https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:53:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1843508 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 13:22:03 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1843508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you ever gotten a chance to observe what goes on while she is at school? It really sounds like either a control issue or an atmosphere issue. I wonder if there is any aspect of lunch at school that you could recreate at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1843506 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 13:18:54 +0000 Applesandbananas 1843506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: lol I meant the bean casserole recipe ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1843492 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:54:05 +0000 Cherrybee 1843492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: I guess so.... it's worth a shot..... although I like to think I can make toast or or a ham sandwich without resorting to a recipe, yet she eats daycare toast but not mine! </p> <p>@Dandelion: That's a great idea. I can guarantee if I scattered her food around the floor and shrieked "No! Dirty!" she would gobble it up! </p> <p>@Ra: Hugs. I read your thread. Its a nightmare - its starting to really bother me (read: make me mad) which I'm sure isn't helping. Today, for tea, I made her roast chicken, steamed carrots and lightly stewed apple slices and she ate three bites of chicken and had one bit of carrot which she chewed and then spat out! The rest went on the floor. This is after she ate NONE of her pasta lunch and spat out the only bite of food she took at breakfast. Its hard not to react. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1843420 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 10:58:20 +0000 Ra 1843420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no advice, just pure, frustrated, commiseration. :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1843419 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 10:57:11 +0000 Greentea 1843419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I find feeding LO to be really challenging and what works is always changing. Everyday we make her a smoothie and hide healthy foods in it. Some days she throws it, some meals she eats it. Some days she won't eat her favorite things. Some days she will only eat her favorite things. What worked last week or yesterday or last meal might not work for us right now! So, it is hard to give advice.<br /> I eat when she eats, as other mentioned. The last few days she started asking for what I am eating and apparently she loves baba ganoush. Kid wouldn't eat any yogurt... until I gave her one with sugar in it. My new motto is closer to "whatever works" than "only perfectly healthy balanced meals." She likes baked tofu (only store bought!), and beets. She doesn't like things I make. The baba ganoush is from a local restaurant. Also, what she liked last month she won't touch. I try to just keep offering and trying new fruits and veggies and other ideas.<br /> I got the book "eating the alphabet." It helped her learn about some more fruits and veggies and gave me some more ideas for variety. IMO it has helped. I also like "in the garden." There have been meals where she ate only milk and grapes- I say it is better than nothing. Pouches, banana bread, apple cake... whatever works! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1843366 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 09:07:32 +0000 Applesandbananas 1843366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you get the recipes from nursery and try them at home? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1843359 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 08:54:46 +0000 Dandelion 1843359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: try playing the "don't eat that!" game. When D was little and wouldn't eat, I'd say in a silly voice "don't you eat that, it's mine!" and he'd defiantly laugh and eat "my" food. She might be a little young for it, but worth a shot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1843262 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 01:08:22 +0000 Cherrybee 1843262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skibobrown: They have an onsite chef who prepares all the meals and they are really healthy. Mixed bean casserole is a firm favourite.... she eats tuna wraps, salad sticks, sweetcorn ..... everything! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1843048 Sat, 30 Aug 2014 17:17:10 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1843048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: veggies puréed as smoothies or pouches may vex worth a try. I mixed puréed spaghetti or acorn squash with applesauce. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1843013 Sat, 30 Aug 2014 15:41:03 +0000 skibobrown 1843013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is the food at daycare different from the kind of stuff you eat at home? My daughter eats way better at school than at home, and I'm pretty sure it's because they feed her all kinds of standard kid fare at school. At home I try to feed her healthier stuff, and more of a variety, but I can't really win against chicken nuggets and canned peaches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1842977 Sat, 30 Aug 2014 14:37:38 +0000 Cherrybee 1842977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: She usually eats ham, cooked chicken, cheese, Satsuma and a few spoons of fromage frais. She will sometimes eat frozen blueberries. She eats banana at my inlaws but won't touch it at home. She will guzzle warm milk with a bit of decaff tea in it though so I've been giving her extra milk to compensate. I just hope its not a cycle and I'm making it worse! </p> <p> @T.H.O.U.: Frozen veggies get flung!! But smoothies in sippy cups might work....! It won't hurt to try, at least! </p> <p>@mamimami: I might have to look into this powder stuff.... Its good to have a plan b. Thanks. </p> <p>@Mrs. Lion: Pouches used to be our go-to but in the last 4 wks or so she has started sucking it then spitting the puree out!!! I really think it is a power thing.... Because she eats everything they give her at nursery. That's why I try to ignore it but I really need sleep!!! :silly: </p> <p>This evening we took her to the pub for dinner. We weren't even eating but she devoured a whole kids meal - fish fingers, chips and peas (she won't touch peas at home). Hopefully she will sleep well tonight. We will see....! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1842767 Sat, 30 Aug 2014 08:48:32 +0000 Applesandbananas 1842767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are there any go-to foods (beyond ham) that she will definitely eat? I think at 13m, it won't do irreparable damage to allow some bad habits. </p> <p>Or, would you be willing to give her more bottles?</p> <p>My LO, when super finicky, will nurse like a fiend, so it alleviates some of the stress/anxiety! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1842761 Sat, 30 Aug 2014 08:44:59 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1842761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: sorry haven't read all the comments </p> <p>Have you tried different textures and temperatures of foods? Frozen veggies are great finger foods. Warm sweet potatoes puréed in a sippy cup can be an interesting smoothie. Also try dips. My daughter now loves salmon because we let her dip it in grape jelly. Most things that sound gross to us kids actually like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1842722 Sat, 30 Aug 2014 07:41:14 +0000 mamimami 1842722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter was the same at that age. In fact, she had to start taking a special powder in her milk to keep her weight up. Honestly, almost a year later she's still picky but she's gotten better. Hang in there and definitely try to eat with her. Both my kids eat better if you're eating with them and also not stating at them the whole time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1842712 Sat, 30 Aug 2014 07:27:51 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1842712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: is she still getting lots of bottles? Could you maybe work on decreasing those and see if she will increase solids on her own?</p> <p>Also, at that age lo could eat pouches on his own, by sucking through the spout. I mix greek yogurt and applesauce and put it in reusable pouches. At least that would have some protein, and she could do it herself. </p> <p>I would also not try to force it. It sounds like a power struggle. I would just put her at the table with you with food, go about eating your meal, and talk about how yummy it is. It might not help immediately but most kids like to do what you do, so if there is no pressure she might just start trying things here or there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1842702 Sat, 30 Aug 2014 07:03:30 +0000 Cherrybee 1842702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right so today I tried:</p> <p>- Eating with her. It didn't work. </p> <p>- Showing her how to use a fork. She loved waving the fork but would put any food near her mouth and freaked when I tried to. </p> <p>- Eating to music. She danced but didn't eat. </p> <p>- Ignoring her at the table. She threw all her food on the floor in just a few seconds and started screaming. </p> <p>So far today she has eaten two bites of cheese. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1841886 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 10:01:48 +0000 Foodnerd81 1841886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I have just started using a fork with C. The novelty is often enough to get her to eat a few bites at least, though sometimes she takes the fork from me, pulls the food off it with her hand, and feeds herself anyway. But at least she will try something new. </p> <p>My problem is rarely that she won't eat ANYTHING, it's 'that she will only eat cheese, frozen mixed vegetables, and fruit. So it's not the end of the world but I would really like her to have a more varied diet. And she will throw things on the floor just because, which is really annoying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1841877 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:57:41 +0000 Cherrybee 1841877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: E will eat a few mouthfuls of fromage frais off a spoon but only if she's allowed to do it herself - and no, loading the spoon for her is not allowed (that makes her MAD!). I wonder if a fork would be enough of a novelty to get her eating? I might give it a go!</p> <p>@beaker: I even tried giving her chocolate the other day but she wouldn't touch that either!! </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: Hmm, I'l try that one!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1841843 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:30:40 +0000 .twist. 1841843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have been dealing with this too. I like the idea of eating with him for sure and I'm going to try that. </p> <p>Otherwise, we end up giving him pouches at dinner time just to make sure he's getting SOMETHING. Does she like pouches, @Cherrybee: ? Sometimes after he's eaten a pouch he will even venture off and eat something else on his tray. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1841838 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:22:39 +0000 Applesandbananas 1841838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO goes through these phases and eats like a horse at daycare too. I feel like daycare thinks we starve him or something! It doesn't always correspond to teething for him but teething is a guarantee he will be very finicky. </p> <p>I offer cold pouches, let him walk around with his food, and feed him from my plate... All terrible habits but it gets him to eat. He's 17m, so I'm not too worried about it. Maybe once he's closer to 2, I'll push for better habits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1841787 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 08:42:58 +0000 Anagram 1841787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: eating with my LO has really helped the throwing food issue because she'll eat a bite when I take a bite. Ive also recently introduced a fork (I hold her hand to stab food and then she puts it in her mouth) and that has made eating fun for her and she'll usually eat half her meal with her fork before throwing the fork and finishing with her hands.</p> <p>I also sometimes feed her with my hand, which she likes. She eill not eat anything from a spoon, I dont know why.</p> <p>And she insists on variety. I cant serve her the same thing two days in a row or she will refuse.</p> <p>And finally, when all else fails I take her outside to eat. Either to our balcony or to the park. I have even fed her lunch in a swing at the park when she was teething and not eating. Something about the change of scenery helps her eat more. When we are out and about, I just feed her bits with my hand. She cant really self feed without a tray or table.</p> <p>Good luck mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1841770 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 08:32:14 +0000 Foodnerd81 1841770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@illumina: I agree that eating with her helps. However C gets mad if I use my phone while she's eating- she doesn't like win ignored. </p> <p>@Cherrybee: C actually likes when in play music during dinner. I theorize that it's enough of a distraction to take all the focus off her eating but not so much that she doesn't eat. I don't know. I do try to eat with her but I'm afraid it's going to make me far since I snack on her dinner then eat my own dinner after bed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1841753 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 08:24:57 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1841753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not that it's necessarily better, but have you tried bribing her with other food/activities? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1841748 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 08:22:44 +0000 Cherrybee 1841748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: I think you have a really good point..... At nursery she is eating with other children and when we eat out we are all eating together. But the rest of the time, she's eating alone. I can't stomach breakfast (just the smell of anything before 10am makes my stomach churn) and then her other meal times are just so frequent.....! I should try it though, it might work! </p> <p>@illumina: Seriously, if she sees my phone she just wants to play with it!!!! :happy: Yeah, she drinks loads of milk. We did try stopping her having her milk with her meals because we feared she was "filling up" on milk first but it didn't help so we brought the milk back!! She loves her milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1841723 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 08:04:19 +0000 illumina 1841723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry :( We've had our share of feeding issues and it sucks! </p> <p>How much milk is she getting during the day? We have meals/days where LO will barely touch solids but she makes up for it with extra milk at snack times/before her nap.</p> <p>What has helped us with meal times recently...one of both of us eating at the same time as her, or if not eating, I go on my phone and just basically ignore her. It seems to work as she feels less pressure and is happier to eat something. When she starts dropping things on the floor, or messing about in some other form, we declare the meal over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1841719 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 08:01:00 +0000 Silva 1841719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'm sure you've tried this, but sometimes eating together does the trick for my daughter. if my husband and i are eating (the same thing) as her, she will often try more/ eat more. If we just sit her down alone to eat dinner she tends to eat less.</p> <p>Also, if she's really tired (like a bad nap day at daycare) she won't eat much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-young-toddler-that-just-wont-eat-at-home#post-1841709 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 07:55:43 +0000 Cherrybee 1841709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What am I going to do?! :shocked: </p> <p>E has never been a great eater. We struggled to get milk down her in her early months and now, at 13 months, she won't eat food! She drops it on the floor or sweeps it off the table with her arm but eat it? No way! She rarely even tries the food I put in front of her now - it just gets thrown (with a whine). </p> <p>Two weeks ago, she went four days without a single bite of solid food passing her lips. Then, on the Thursday, she went to nursery (daycare) and ate everythingthey put in front of her - including TWO entire dinners!! She always eats everything at nursery so I don't think it's pickiness or teething.... I think she's just testing us! She will also happily eat if we are having dinner out somewhere but she refuses food for me and has also started refusing to eat at my inlaws' house where she goes Mon-Weds while we work. </p> <p>What can I do?? I'm all for ignoring the red light behaviours etc etc and I get that she will eat when she is ready.... but the problem is she has started waking in the night and crying hysterically unil I give her a bottle! Yes, my 13 month old is waking for a bloomin' night feed!!! Nothing else will calm her down. She's a hungry Bean!</p> <p>The only food I can get her to eat at home is ham. And that's only if we let her walk about the house eating it (read: wiping it everywhere then ramming it in her mouth). I don't want to teach her that she can hold out for the food she likes or that it's acceptable to eat while playing but I also don't want her to start takingnight feeds again! Agh! </p> <p>What on earth can I do??? Any tips and tricks? Words of wisdom or experience? </p>