https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 13:45:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2481080 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:48:29 +0000 nana87 2481080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my daughter is a total grazer, and was bf'd until almost 22 months. I try not to worry about how much she eats at a given "meal" because she eats such little bits at a time. like, there are often times where she eats so little at dinner that her grandparents (esp my dad) will be concerned that she didn't eat enough. but her pediatrician isn't concerned since her growth is on track, and I remember reading somewhere that their eating balances out over the course of the week--so like, 1 day she might barely eat but the next she'll eat everything in sight. as long as I'm offering a variety of healthy foods, I feel like I'm doing an okay job of feeding her.</p> <p>with pouches--have you tried yogurt pouches? my lo has been off fruit/veggies ones for a loooong time (except now she's getting into applesauce ones) but is obsessed with the yogurt ones </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2480959 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 01:30:39 +0000 Kemma 2480959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: just another perspective, but breastmilk is an ideal / almost perfect food regardless of age so you know that even on the days your LO doesn't eat many solids she's still getting optimum nutrition! And KellyMom guidelines advise that an eighteen month old should be having a diet of equal amounts of solids and breastmilk so as long as you're happy nursing and LO is trying foods then I wouldn't stress.</p> <p>My girl was a real booby baby and didn't eat huge quantities of food until closer to eighteen months but food has never been one of our battles and she eats just fine at 3.5 years old! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2480801 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:51:25 +0000 MoonMoon 2480801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DS isn't a picky eater but he's always nursed on demand, especially until 24-26 months or so, and he didn't eat large quantities of food until around 2. He was a great size and I was comforted that breast milk was giving him most of what he needed (we took care to make sure he was getting iron and vitamin d). It just happened organically, I think there's a big dip in appetite after 1, then it picks up again later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2480798 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:50:36 +0000 regberadaisy 2480798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure if you need to "worry"? Maybe she's just not interested and /or a small eater?</p> <p>DD2 is 18 months and we still nurse a min 2x a day. She gets milk at daycare. But she eats like a champ and most days more than the almost 4 yo. So, I wouldn't say because you're BFing is why she isn't eating much? She just might have a small appetite? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2480770 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:23:32 +0000 Cole 2480770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks ladies! She's still growing like a champ and she doesn't seem averse to anything except fine purees. </p> <p>@twodoghouse: I think this is mostly what it is, she's rarely super hungry so if it's not exciting for her to eat she just skips it and gets those calories from nursing. I feel like we missed that magic window that most kids have where they eat everything! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2480707 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:53:50 +0000 MrsRcCar 2480707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E is finally only nursing 2 times a day and he eats more then my 3 year old. It took a lot of time and effort to help handle his feeding aversions. We are still working but that's ok with me. He is finally growing well again </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2480697 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:41:45 +0000 twodoghouse 2480697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think extended breastfeeding has definitely had an impact on my twins' eating. I pretty much nurse on demand, even now at 22 months. I think because we never had a regimented schedule of nursing, sometimes they'd fill up on nursing and not be hungry enough for solid foods. They are generally growing well (although my daughter especially is a low percentile, but our pediatrician is not concerned) and I know they CAN eat a variety of foods and textures. I just think they are not always motivated to try new things because they don't get prticukarly hungry because they "snack" on breastmilk a lot throughout the day. It's not ideal, but as long as they continue to grow well, I'm not concerned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2480693 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:36:46 +0000 Jess1483 2480693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 was like this. Unfortunately, he was dropping weight, so I had to do some weaning (down to 1 feed a day at 12 months), at which point his interest in food shot up. So yeah, you may not see a dramatic change until you reduce nursing. (Though unless you have weight issues, I'm not suggesting this...just sharing our experience. )</p> <p>One thing that did help was feeding him outside (though he was a bit younger). He had to not be thinking about it to be willing to eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2480685 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:26:38 +0000 MrsRcCar 2480685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: He remained small for his age and size. He nursed like a newborn and gagged/puked often. He rejected all purees. We even went through GI follow ups because we thought reflux, but turns out not. He was a preemie with feeding issues from the start due to tongue and lip ties. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2480680 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:20:41 +0000 Cole 2480680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsRcCar: what made you decide to pursue feeding therapy? So far my pediatrician doesn't seem concerned but I am not sure she gets how little she's eating. It's so hard even for me to gauge though, she went through a phase where she ate three "meals" a day but today she has eaten two animal crackers, a couple of French fries, maybe three bites of sweet potato and a cherry tomato... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2480637 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 19:41:26 +0000 MrsRcCar 2480637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E was/is like this. We ended up in feeding therapy. He really turned a corner around 22 months with food. He still hates any milk expect breast milk and will only take it straight from the breast. He does eat much better now and does drink from cups for other liquids aside from milk. He also decided around then that pouches didn't suck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/extended-breastfeeding-and-a-picky-eater#post-2480610 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 19:19:53 +0000 Cole 2480610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 16 month old isn't a big ester, she definitely still gets the bulk of her calories and nutrition from breastfeeding. Her favorite food is macaroni and cheese and even that she has only ever eaten half a cup of. Most stuff goes untouched or she might take one bite, I swear I have the only toddler ever to show zero interest in a pouch. </p> <p>Do I worry? Anything I can try to get her more interested? We do the basics-eat together, grocery shop together, let her help cook, play in her play kitchen etc. I don't have any interest in weaning though which I suppose will play the biggest role. </p>