Toddler mealtimes

Is mealtime really frustrating for anyone else? It seems like he never wants to eat anything - everything we try, he spits out. And he always, always, always needs something in his hands - and not just anything, it has to be what catches his attention at that moment (a comb, our digital camera, his liquid vitamins and dropper, mini wind chimes, candelabra candles, etc). I feel like he is always going to be picky and never eat table food - he won't eat fruits and veggies (just the baby food jars), won't eat chicken or meat, no pastina - he had a Breyer's yogurt for dinner tonight. I just don't know what else to try - any suggestions?

Re: Toddler mealtimes

I honestly let her play with whatever she wants when she's eating and despite the mess I let her feed herself and sneak bites in her in between. Have you tried that? I don't want to say Miranda is a picky eater because she really eats a large variety of things but she is very picky from day to day. One day she will gobble something up then you try to give it to her the next day or the day after and she refuses to even open her mouth.

Re: Toddler mealtimes

I do let Jesse play with whatever he wants during meals, but sometimes I can't figure out what it is he wants. He will point in the general direction of twenty different things and just grunt. I know I have the right object when he nods yes instead of shaking his head no.

He's just very thin so I worry when he doesn't want to eat. I usually do let him feed himself and sneak in some when he's otherwise occupied. I just wish he would eat a bigger variety of foods. It takes so long to finish his food, mealtimes are marathons now!

Re: Toddler mealtimes

I have found that sometimes the best way for me to get her to eat is for me to leave the room. She stops trying to demand for me to retrieve objects from around the room and concentrates a bit more on the food right in front of her. You may want to give that a try!