https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:05:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799376 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 13:05:26 +0000 immabeetoo 1799376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ValentineMommy: just keep trying and don't convey that it's bothering you. You can't make a kid eat! I really liked the book fearless feeding. My sons coming out of a picky phase but we've been cutting dinner short if he ignores our requests to stop standing in his booster. It made me so nervous that he'd wake up hungry butttt he totally doesn't. The more someone tries to convince him to try something the less he will (coughMILcough). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799294 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 12:41:38 +0000 looch 1799294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ValentineMommy: That's good, then I encourage you to keep a food diary across a week, instead of focusing on the daily intake. It helps to even things out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799187 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 12:05:21 +0000 Sammyfab 1799187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree to just keep offering. We usually put something on his plate we know he will eat and then add a small portion of something we want him to try. When he tries something - even if it's tasting it then spitting it out - we praise him for trying it. </p> <p>My son is completely abnormal - he doesn't like pasta or tomato sauce (though we rarely eat this), won't go near a hot dog and usually turns his nose at mac &amp; cheese. But apparently at daycare last week he ate TWO full bowls of homemade whole wheat mac &amp; cheese (probably because there was bacon in it!) and steamed broccoli. I was shocked! At school the encourage a 'no thank you bite' and they definitely don't play the role of short-order cook.</p> <p>He's been a selective eater since we started solids and it used to stress me out sooo much. Then I finally came to the realization that I can't force him to eat...I can just give him options and present him with quality, nutritious foods. Eventually he will cave in and realize the yumminess of everything he's refused to eat in the past! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799123 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:38:24 +0000 MsLipGloss 1799123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ValentineMommy: Fwiw, I keep frozen chicken strips (they're organic, but let's be real, a chicken nugget is a chicken nugget!) and meatballs on hand, as well as yogurt/string cheese and other known *favorites*. If she just won't eat what's offered, and hasn't asked for anything in particular (like apples), I will heat up something quick and see how that goes. I do what I can to not get frustrated or stress out, but I still do from time to time. I can say that at 23 months (!), it is getting better. It also got much much better after more of her teeth came in (she didn't get her first tooth until 13 months, and they have been slow to come in since). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799120 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:37:49 +0000 regberadaisy 1799120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I consider my 27m a good eater and she still has phases where she's picky. One week something she absolutely LOVED last week will be a no go. Then out of no where a few weeks later it's a favorite again.</p> <p>All I can say is to keep offering and try not to let your frustration show through. Don't make it a big deal and offer multiple options during meals. Not multiple meal options but like when thinking up meal plans make sure there's 1-2 items you know he will eat and have one new item to try.<br /> Sometimes it's a matter of execution as well. LO loves steamed, stir fry and roasted broccoli. Last night we had it in pasta. Wouldn't touch it with a 10' pole. So try cooking different items in different ways,. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799113 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:34:17 +0000 ValentineMommy 1799113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know you're all right, it's just so hard not to give in!!!! I want him to eat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799112 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:33:54 +0000 ValentineMommy 1799112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: Right?!?! My husband, who is 100% italian, I'm sure is dying inside that DS won't touch pasta lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799111 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:33:22 +0000 ValentineMommy 1799111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Good! He can eat harder to eat things with no problems - biting a piece off a whole apple, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799094 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:26:58 +0000 2PeasinaPod 1799094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Totally agree with everything you said.</p> <p>@ValentineMommy: We have all of the same issues. He's been on veggie strike since about 14/15 months. Just recently, he started eating carrots again, and the only other thing he will eat consistently aside from fruit is avocado. Every once in a while, he'll be adventurous and eat a pea or a soy bean, but that's rare. One of these days, he'll start to love veggies again!</p> <p>ETA: My LO also hates pasta! What kid hates pasta??? Mine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799067 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:15:45 +0000 looch 1799067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How is your child's chewing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799063 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:14:11 +0000 Worrywart 1799063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is my exact life! I just keep trying. For months my 2 year old daughter wouldn't touch a piece of chicken and one day she ate 5 bites. That was a huge victory for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799060 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:12:11 +0000 sandy 1799060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: exactly!!! Don't stop offering bc kids are a mystery. I hate when parents says "my kid doesn't eat carrots" and then never offer it. Try again a few weeks/months later bc they may surprise you </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799057 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:10:48 +0000 sandy 1799057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My pediatrician says it's a phase and as hard as it is don't cater too much to the pickiness. My job is to offer healthy food options and baby's job is to eat...but don't make it a battle. So hard though to not worry about their intake. I think if you prepare a meal just make sure to have a few things they like and make it balanced. So I try to do a starch, veggie, fruit and protein and LO is used to seeing that on her plate. She goes through phases of loving veggies and meat and phases of barely touching it (around 2.5 she barely touches some veggies but will eat tons of other ones). She used to eat everything so it's been a tough phase but I'm trying not to stress about it. My advice is don't get stuck thinking "my kid hates beans" and then never offer them. My LO wouldn't eat beans for almost 2 years but I just kept of offering them every few weeks...well, now she loves black beans and chickpeas. I know so many parents who just write off certain foods bc their kids wouldn't eat them forever and now they only feed their kids 3-4 things. Also, my advice is try not to cater to them too much - meaning, don't make them a new meal bc they wouldn't eat what was given to them. Kids are smart and will know if they hold out then you'll give them what they want to eat. I think if you prepare a meal that is balanced and has one or two things you know they like then they are ok for that meal </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799048 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:07:22 +0000 hilsy85 1799048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I am by no means an expert, considering LO has days where he eats nothing except cheese and fruit, but everything I've read/heard/been told is just to offer healthy options at meal time and snack time, and if he eats, he eats--if he doesn't, he doesn't. Normal developing healthy kids will not starve themselves. It is REALLY REALLY hard to let go control over whether they eat or not (and I still struggle with this), but I can't force Lo to eat. I am trying to be more zen and just tell myself that if he were really hungry, he would eat (because that is what he has done in the past). It is so hard though! </p> <p>There are a lot of ways to get veggies into other forms though--veggie muffins and pancakes, veggie breads, veggies mixed into sauces. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799047 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:06:40 +0000 MsLipGloss 1799047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only thing you can do is keep trying. Things change out of the blue . . . like my toddler voluntarily eating a piece of broccoli after refusing it for months (and refusing it ever since!), and suddenly starting to eat all types of melons and strawberries without any rhyme or reason, and asking for apples all the time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1799034 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:02:44 +0000 Smurfette 1799034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No clue! I am so over the pickiness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-get-picky-toddler-to-eat#post-1798985 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 10:48:11 +0000 ValentineMommy 1798985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had no idea it would be this hard. As a baby, DS would eat anything pureed. Anything. His first solid food was pickles, for goodness sakes. Now, he doesn't want to eat anything unless it's bread related (rolls, muffin, pancake, french toast) or crackers or fruit. I feel like I'm lucky he will even eat fruit! He will only rarely eat meat (and only if it's covered in a sauce). He HATES pasta or rice (he's clearly abnormal). He won't touch veggies.</p> <p>He's 18 months old and our pediatrician insists that this is normal and he will grow out of it. I want that to be true....but I also want to help him any way possible to not STAY picky. I've tried giving him the same things he refuses many times for weeks in a row, to no avail. I just don't know what to do!!! </p>