Picky Eater Question

Good morning ladies,


I have a question about my 13 month old DS, who is a lovely picky eater.

He has about 4 or 5 main staple finger foods he'll eat (pb&j, french toast, yogurt, tofurky and cheese, most fruits) and then the rest is hit or miss (usually miss).

My question isn't about what I should try feeding him, because I try to give him new foods every few days, my question is: What should I do if he doesn't eat?

Last night for dinner he didn't touch a thing on his plate. This has been pretty consistent the past couple of weeks, he'll just completely skip meals. He won't even taste the food if it isn't one of his top 5. He's already slightly underweight (45% at his 12 month checkup), so I get worried when he goes just not eating.

Do I give him some time and if he doesn't touch anything give him food that I know he'll eat? Like, if nothing is touched after 20 minutes at dinner, give him a pb&j? I know if he was older I wouldn't, simply because I'm not a short order cook and I won't fall into the trap of making 3 different meals every night. But at 13 months and already thin, I have no idea what to do.

I don't want to stop giving him new foods to try, but if I offer the new food with one that he favors, he'll of course just eat the one he likes.

At his 12 month appt, the ped said that his top teeth were ready to pop through. But since then, no bumps, and no signs that they are coming, so I have no idea if any of this has to do with teething at all.

Sorry for the ramble, just looking for some advice.

Re: Picky Eater Question

I would just keeping giving him new stuff. At 13 months my DS was still hating most table foods. At that age they will hate things one day and love them the next and then hate them again.

Also I wouldn't freak if DS skipped a meal. As long as he eats good overall a skipped meal here and there is not a big deal.

I find my DS eats more at breakfast and lunch and then a smaller dinner and some days barely any dinner.

Also, I'm not sure who told you 45th % was underweight. All the % mean is that 55% of kids are heavier than your DS. Tjat doesn't make him under weight. Each kid is different just like adults and as long as he is tracking the same % then there shouldn't be an issue.

My DS is the 5th % and always has been. He has never been underweight.

Re: Picky Eater Question

I would mix the things he loves with new things. and then keep offering the new thing each and every meal/snack until he eats it. don't get upset when he doesn't try it but then reinforce the issue by presenting it over and over again. i read somewhere that once he tries it, it still takes like 20 tastes before they may like it/get used to it. but he'll eat if hes hungry.

Picky Eater Question

First let me say I wouldn't consider 45th percentile to be underweight. Sounds like he's doing fine. It seems pretty normal for toddlers to skip meals fairly regularly, I know DD does! It definitely goes in phases for us where she'll barely touch dinner one week and then the next eats a ton. This week it's been lunch that she hardly touches.

As far as offering something else, I've tried to be firm but I often cave and give something. I try to make sure there's something she's likely to eat (pasta, peas, or rice) especially if I don't think she'll eat the protein that night. Sometimes I'll give a veggie pouch or a yogurt but that's rare. Some nights she eats little to nothing and I've realized it's not the end of the world.

Sometimes I do wonder if dinner is overwhelming to them bc there's a lot more variety to what's served and less choice than breakfast or lunch. When they're used to the same few things for breakfast and lunch I don't blame DD for being hesitant with dinner when every night she's looking at something different. She's fine with chicken nuggets or fish sticks and the sides bc she knows what to expect. When I try to give her some other form of chicken or meatloaf or pork chops, etc where she doesn't know what it will be like she often refuses to try it. I don't know how to make it better but I do kind of understand where they're maybe coming from.

Picky Eater Question

Thank you everyone!

I feel less crazy now. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing.

Re: Picky Eater Question

I agree with all of the advice.
Just wanted to add that my picky eater always got a cup of whole milk with ovaltine (now with all natural ingredients) before bed. I was not terribly concerned about him being hungry, but I was worried he wasn't getting enough nutrients.
Good luck!

Re: Picky Eater Question

another piece of advice re: the percentile... I've read that the percentile itself isn't very important - the dr's are more looking for a consistency in your child. like if you're child is the 20th percentile or roundabouts, for months, then all of a sudden the 90th% - that can be a red flag for disorders of some kind. so I wouldn't worry at all about 45th%.

that said, dd is a picky eater too wish I had some real advice...
she still gets 2 bottles a day. 10oz in the morning and 8oz before bed... so I know she's not going to bed hungry, but I make myself crazy with meals too sometimes. she's 13 months and I just wish I knew sometimes, does she not like something, is it just her mood, is she hungry or not? she throws food ALL the time... and people have told me, if she's throwing food then she's not hungry. umm not my kid... lol she'll throw it throw it throw it, then go on to eat a whole meal. it's infuriating lol
but anyway... dd still eats baby cereal and puree for breakfast... lunch and dinner is very hit or miss. so I do tend to give a "staple" to help fill her belly along with the hit or miss items - like yogart or a veggie pouch. and the one thing she will eat for certain is mac n cheese, so sometimes if I feel like she ate nothing for lunch, i'll give her that for dinner, just to be sure she eats and is full. I try to always give her at least one thing at a meal though that I KNOW she'll eat.