@-related: Food issues

[redheadbaker]

DS is 2 years 2 months old.

From about 9 months to 14 months, he happily ate whatever we were eating. Then we hit the picky phase.

When he started daycare at 16 months, he ate whatever they served but remained picky at home. He's been getting a bit better -- he will eat quesadillas, my homemade pizza, or anything in a "pocket" (spring rolls, savory hand pies, etc.)

Yesterday, I saw a note in our daily emailed report that they have been having trouble (didn't say how long) getting him to eat. He eats the breakfast we supply, eats only some of the lunch they provide, and isn't touching his afternoon snack (which they provide). They asked for suggestions or for us to supply an alternative if they are serving something we know he doesn't like.

The thing is, I don't know what he truly doesn't like! He's always eaten better there than at home.

And I'm just starting to be firm at home that he eat whatever we're eating. I don't want him to have an alternative. Am I horrible mom if I don't send in something else?

[ringstrue]

DD went through a phase like this around this age and I think we developed a natural "lull" in her appetite without meaning too. I usually gave her some sort of breakfast with milk in the AM before arriving at daycare (usually she ate and drank in the car) and she would drink and eat well enough for dinner, so on our end she was fine. But at daycare, she'd have the "morning snack" and pretty much be set for the rest of the day, minus drinking her milk or juice, until dinner. So I ended up scaling way back on her pre-daycare breakfast and just gave her water, and things started to even out and she'd eat at daycare more.

I've actually found myself doing that a few times - give her too much milk - because for a picky eater you wanna "give them enough good stuff" but you can end up throwing off their hunger cycle pretty quickly.

[ijack]

Unless he has a weight issue I would just stick to your guns.

[caden]

My kids turned picky around 2.5. Since then I don't let them snack unless there's something out of the ordinary happening. I also don't do meal alternatives. If my kids refuse to eat then when they get hungry later they get that same plate of food back to try again. That said I do always serve more than 1 thing so there's at least one option I know they'll eat. If they still refuse then too bad, so sad.

[redheadbaker]

Ok, I feel better now. He gets a whole grain waffle or pancake plus fruit and milk at breakfast.

And dinner always includes at least one thing I know he'll eat and he has to have at least one taste of everything else.

I'm also wondering if he has molars coming in. He's never been bothered much by teething pain, but his cheeks have been bright red lately and he's been drooling.

[ringstrue]

Yeah maybe. I guess you could check to see what they are feeding for the snack and if its a hard crunchy thing like crackers provide something like applesauce for just a couple weeks? OR actually, our daycare usually has a few alternatives so maybe they could make that sort of switch.

[SusanBAnthony]

I wouldn't cater to it, unless there is a specific thing you know he hates. He can either eat what is served, or wait until the next meal.

One thing I do, that your daycare might be able to do depending on their set-up, is if he doesn't eat the meal when offered, can they save it to offer an hour later? If they are on a strict schedule that probably won't work. Sometimes I know my kids turn their nose up at something, but an hour late when they are reallllllly hungry, they eat it.

Also, does he get a ton of milk? If he is drinking a ton of milk to avoid eating the food, I would have them limit him to one small serving of milk, so that he eats food if he is hungry. I know sometimes the are regulations around milk consumption, though.

[redheadbaker]

Jan 24, 2014 14:20:53 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

One thing I do, that your daycare might be able to do depending on their set-up, is if he doesn't eat the meal when offered, can they save it to offer an hour later? If they are on a strict schedule that probably won't work. Sometimes I know my kids turn their nose up at something, but an hour late when they are reallllllly hungry, they eat it.

Also, does he get a ton of milk? If he is drinking a ton of milk to avoid eating the food, I would have them limit him to one small serving of milk, so that he eats food if he is hungry. I know sometimes the are regulations around milk consumption, though.

I will find out, thanks!