30 Mar
Toddler Feeding Troubles
ETA: Writing this post was such a good idea, the comments have been so reassuring and helpful thus far! I did want to note that I said below we feed him things like bread, mashed potatoes, etc but I was trying to write this post really fast (haha, I just went thorugh and fixed a bunch of typos and trailing off sentences!) and I meant to add that those things are snacks, and that the bulk of his food is whatever we had for dinner the night before. Yesterday it was sheperd’s pie, which he refused to eat all but three bites of. Basically if you see me eat something on my food blog, I probably tried to feed it to T1 too. One thing he does love? My spinach shakes! His attention span is too short to really get full from them though. Just wanted to add that in because I get a lot of people saying that maybe he isn’t eating because he thinks his food is bland, but barring the slices of whole wheat bread I let him snack on I don’t think that his food is bland at all! Especially since I’m eating it too 
Someday I plan to write a big long post about my “baby feeding journey” with T1. Today though, I need help!
T1 is 2 weeks shy of 1 (crazy pants I know!) and I just don’t get how to transition him to more solid foods. I think the biggest thing holding him/us back is that he takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r to eat anything. I don’t have the time to wait 45 minutes for him to eat a slice of bread! He’s so distracted and wants to look out the window or at the floor or eat his fingers.
He is doing fine with small amounts of foods that are easy to mush with his tongue/gums (he has 4 teeth on top and 4 on bottom) like the bread you see pictured here. I feed him pieces of whole wheat bread, soft fruits, mashed potatoes, steamed/roasted veggies. Trying to stay away from processed crap, especially the boatload of refined carbs that food manufacturers seem to think that babies should be eating.
I will sometimes sit for 30-45 minutes, feeding him at this painstakingly slow rate, while I either play Words with Friends or clean the kitchen or something else. I try to feed him as much as possible, using the airplane noises and pretending to eat (or actually eating if it’s something yummy) little bites along with him to encourage him along. Eventually though, he refuses to cooperate. Then 10 minutes later he will be screaming at me telling me he is starving and nothing but his bottle will make him happy again.
He seems to really dislike milk. Not that he’s allergic/intolerant, just likes the taste of his formula. (Which by the way, smells disgusting, I have no idea why he would prefer that). On the day where I tried cutting part of his formula with milk he wouldn’t drink it and screamed and screamed at me in anger.
He also has no interest in his sippy cup. I bought him this one, should I try getting a different one? I don’t give him juice, nor am I ever interested in doing so. He gets water or milk, the same things that we drink. I tried giving him some of my herbal tea (room temp) in his sippy cup, which he didn’t love or hate.
I don’t pay close enough attention to have an exact number, but I’d say that at 12 months he’s still eating around 36 ounces of formula each day. It’s expensive, but even more so I worry that I’m not doing something right and if I make some magical change he will suddenly start eating, but I just don’t know what those magical changes are.
So, fellow mommies, am I stressing over nothing?
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
I have absolutely no advice. I just wanted to tell you that T1 is possibly the cutest child in the entire world. I’m being a traitor to my own nieces and nephews to say that, I’ll have you know. He is just precious!
1I wish I had some advice for you, but I’m having the same type of problem. Our daughter is 9.5 months and LOVES solid food, but it takes SO LONG to feed them to her, and the process is such that you can’t really do anything else while she’s eating. We can only give her up to 5 small pieces at a time, because if we give her more she’ll shove them all in and start to choke!
I’m also ALWAYS worried I’m doing something wrong because at this age she still isn’t holding her own bottle. So while she’s interested in her sippy cup, she can’t really hold it herself/tip it far enough to really get any water in her mouth. The pediatrician told us to just keep practicing but it makes me very nervous!
So, needless to say I have no suggestions for you. Maybe try another type of sippy cup? My niece refused all sippy cups for a while until my sister-in-law tried one that had a straw-like sipper.
2Have him eat when you eat (and what you eat) and don’t stress about it. Do you know any adults who refuse to eat solid food?
My son is 8 months old. He eats a meal typically an hour after he has a bottle. I throw a bunch of stuff on his tray and let him have at it. Meal time is discovery time- it is good to play with the food, look at it, mush it, all that fun stuff! Do you spoon feed him anything? Applesauce? Yogurt? Does he/would he enjoy that?
Steph Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 9:35 am
This was going to be my advice almost exactly. Eating is about more than just “eating” for babies. It can take awhile, just be patient. My son is 11 months and we just let him eat whatever we’re eating (excluding dairy). Suprisingly he prefers spicier/savory foods. He won’t eat a plain green bean, but loves green beans sauteed in garlic and coconut oil. Spicy hummus, cous cous with roasted eggplant spinach and garlic, that type of thing. Our ped. told us we should try to avoid things like bread because they’re sort of a “neutral” food. Bread fills you up fast, but there’s nothing really healthy or beneficial about it. If you’re trying to add fats, coconut oil is an easy way to do it. My son likes to just eat it plain off of a spoon, or you can spread it on things.
Also instead of a sippy cup, what about a straw cup? We use these: http://www.amazon.com/First-Years-Learning-Sippers-Colors/dp/B0000BX8LV/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1301495550&sr=1-3
They are easy to hold because the baby doesn’t have to tip them up, and there is no valve. They’re BPA Free, Phthalate Free, PVC Free, Latex Free, Nitrosamine Free, dishwasher safe and $2.99 for a 4 pack at Target. As long as you don’t fill them too full they don’t really leak even when upside down.
Chelsea Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 10:49 am
I agree with these moms! Dorothy is 2 weeks younger than P, and she just eats whatever we’re eating. Last night, it was tuna casserole. She probably ate half a cup. I’d just take a bite, and then offer her a bite. When everyone around them is doing the same thing, there’s not as much to be distracted by!
Danielle Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
I agree. My daughter (just turned 1) loves drinking from straws!
Yup, stressing over nothing.
I do it, too.
My girls are 15 months (12.5 adjusted) and we’re JUST making progress on the table foods. And, really, only Samantha is making progress. Alexis just smooshes it all or throws it off her tray. He he.
We’ve started putting them in their highchairs with us for dinner and shredding/chopping whatever we are eating into tiny pieces and putting it on their trays. They eat it or they don’t. Period. They still get bottles afterward (I’m so not ready to wean from bottles…) but that meal is only table food. No spoon feedings. No matter what. They’re both coming around to it. I figure that once they’ve mastered the table foods at dinner, we’ll transition the other meals as well. There is no point in stressing yourself and T1 out at every meal, though. One step at a time!
As for milk, we’ve just started that this week. The girls take 8oz in their cribs while we get ready for work and 6oz for the rest of their bottles. I’m on day three of a 2:1 mix. If all continues to go well, I’ll switch to 1:1 and then all milk in a week or so. Again, it’s a bit of a challenge, but we’re taking baby steps. Maybe you might try a wider ratio? 3:1? Even 4:1? Change is no fun and I think it’s even less fun for the kiddos.
Good luck! Do not stress about it. We’re all fumbling along with ya!
Jenna Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
This comment was so helpful. Thanks Stephanie!
When do you attempt to feed him the food? I’d suggest feeding him the solids well before a bottle, because if he fills up on formula, he’s less interested in eating. But if he’s hungry, he will eat more of the solid food and then “top off” with the bottle so to speak. It’s key to encourage him that the FOOD is what will sate his hunger, not the bottle.
In my experience, it’s best to just switch cold turkey to the milk. Cutting formula with milk made my daughter ANGRY and I do not think the taste is very good. The first night we tried cutting it with milk, she screamed and wouldn’t take it. The next night, I just gave her straight milk and she happily drank it and has ever since.
And finally, my advice is to try a Munchkin brand sippy cup (http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Mighty-Spill-Proof-Sippy/dp/B001THVDSQ). There’s no handles, just a twisty-grippy thing in the center, so it holds like a bottle, which I think the younger babies prefer since that’s what they’re used to. I linked to them on Amazon so you can see what they look like, but they are much cheaper at Target or Walmart. These worked like a charm.
5My daughter is 3.5 months older than T1, here’s some stuff that worked for us.
It may be a simple as sitting down together for a meal. If you’re distracted with Words and chores, why should he pay attention and focus on meal-time? Perhaps a family meal-time will work? If he can look out the window or watch you doing chores, he may not be focusing on the task at hand.
Like you guys, my husband and I did a baby-led-weaning-type-of-thing. However, I did ‘cheat’ and help the process along by spoon or fork feeding her sometimes. She’d have Cheerios, cheese, fruit, or veggies or something on her tray, but I would spoon-feed her yogurt or applesauce or whatever. Another trick I found useful was to have 2 spoons. One I would load up with food and either feed to her or give to her to feed herself. I’d load the second one and switch with her so I didn’t have to wrestle her for the spoon.
Another possibility- it seems like formula may still be the only protein he’s getting? What about introducing other dairy- cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.? Or, what about wheat germ? You could mix it in with the soft stuff to beef up the fiber and protein content. Perhaps if he gets more protein he won’t be hungry again in 10min?
As for the sippy cup, what about one with a straw? My daughter uses this type:
http://www.amazon.com/Nuby-Sipper-Straw-Colors-Ounce/dp/B000LK6KOO/ref=sr_1_9?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1301492578&sr=1-9
I think that because the sucking motion with the straw was so different from the bottle/boob, she wasn’t expecting breast milk/formula from it and was open to other stuff.
Also, do you warm his formula? Perhaps serve the milk at the same temp as the formula?
We switched our daughter over to cow’s milk right at 12 months- thankfully it was smooth transition. She’s now almost 15 months and still getting 16oz of cow’s milk a day- from a bottle. We’re working to get her to take it from a sippy cup. While she drinks water out of sippy cups or straw cups for meals and when she’s thirsty, she doesn’t seem inclined to drink several ounces at once from them. She’ll only do that with the bottle. We’ll see.
Good luck. And I wouldn’t worry too much- he’s certainly not starving!
Jenna Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Two spoons! Genius.
I wouldn’t worry about it. Formula or breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for the first year of life. He’ll get solids soon enough! Neither of my girls were eating a great deal of solids by their first birthday. I would make soups for them and found that they loved those!
Also, another person said it and I think she hit the nail on the head: Sit down and eat the meal with him. If you’re doing other things, that will slow him down. I also believe that you should have set meal times for him. I know that you eat kind of whenever, but I really think it’s important for kids to have set meal times. Maybe get him up in the morning and immediately put him in his high chair for eggs/fruit/oatmeal/whatever. Offer him milk in a sippy cup or a straw cup (my girls loved straw cups!)
Good luck!
Steph Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 9:38 am
Absolutely this!
If I’m cleaning the kitchen or playing on my laptop, my son will just pick at and push his food around then want to get out of the highchair. If we are all eating together and sharing our food with him he will sit through a whole meal, have fun, and taste all sorts of foods. I think kids like doing what we’re doing… so if he is stuck in a highchair while I’m focusing on something else, then whatever I’m doing becomes more exciting to him.
Maybe a straw cup would work better for him? My daughter loved straws but would never drink from a sippy cup. Interestingly, speech pathologists prefer straw cups too (but, I wouldn’t worry too much if you DO use a sippy cup!).
As for the eating, I wouldn’t stress over it. My daughter (16 months) is an excellent eater and has been feeding herself since she was 6 months old. I’d like to say it’s because I did something particularly right, but I suspect it’s more the luck of the draw! As long as he’s healthy and growing, I think he’ll be fine.
Also, Annie did better with straight whole milk than she did with the cut formula/milk. So, maybe P will prefer it straight? Just keep trying. I know a lot of people say that when they went cold turkey (no more bottle, milk in a sippy/straw cup) that their child protested and wouldn’t drink for a few days, but that after that they realized it was all they were going to get and they did fine.
In all, don’t worry too much. It’s hard, trust me, I know, but it will work out!
8Urgh! I hear you. My daughter is 10.5 months and totally going through a painful mealtime stage. She hardly ever wants me to feed her. She wants to do it herself thank you very much! But it takes forever and I feel like she can’t possibly be eating enough. I just keep trying different things but it is certainly frustrating.
My daughter likes her sippy but she’s never had a bottle so she doesn’t have anything to compare it too. We use the Playtex - the first sipster. Have you tried the straw ones yet? I’ve heard some kids really like those ones.
I would be a little bit concerned about the amount of formula he is on. From what I have heard the average at a year is about 24oz. What does his pedi say? Maybe he is not hungry after the bottle. What about starting to make smaller bottles an oz or two at a time and see how he does?
Good luck. It is hard work being a Mom!
9All of the above advice is good advice, and you should glean from it what you’re comfortable with and what suits your family. I can only add that my 11 month old son is more interested in eating shortly after waking up. Absolutely do not stress about this! My biggest stress inducer is comparing my son’s sleeping habits to the babies around him, and it does no one any good, especially not my son. Maybe consider your motivation for wanting him to eat more solids, he really is getting what he needs from formula and will transition when he is ready as long as you are putting in the effort.
Keep up the good work Jenna! You’re doing so well… the proof is in that handsome boy’s smile.
10I have no children - but this kind of reminds me of OMGMom and the bed/crib scenario, in that it almost feels like a battle of will. I know its not as simple as it sounds, and there’s a reason why I’m at a desk right now and you’re rearing a child. I am certain that I would not have the will to handle these moments! But is it possible that its as simple as you are just giving up before he does?
Maybe three days of holding the line on sitting there until he’s eaten or holding back on the bottle will work?
At the same time though, I also go back to the whole caveman/baby raised by mother without “The Bump” to guide development steps…. who says its time to force solids? Aren’t there cultures where kids breastfeed for the first two years? Maybe its not actually time for T1.
LPC Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 10:29 am
As a mother of grown children, I respect the thought that went into this comment, but I would really recommend against ANY forcing or acts of will about food at this age. You put out only what you are willing to have them eat, i.e. don’t resort to french fries just to get calories in them, but it’s up to the kid to eat or not.
LifeOnMulberry Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 11:01 am
Sorry that I wasn’t clear - definately not thinking you should pin him down and shove food down his throat! More just referencing Jenna’s comments about being bored when it takes T1 an hour to eat something or that he screams when he wants to get out of the highchair. That’s what I meant with battle of the wills.
Jenna Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 10:53 am
I have thought this SO many times. And as much as we complain about the cost of formula, we aren’t short on funds. Maybe I just relax and let it happen when it happens, we aren’t going to go broke if he drinks a bottle until 18 months.
Jenna Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
I understood what you intended when you said hold the line (but I agree with the comment below, I never want to force feed him or feed him junk “just so he will eat”)
Hayley Marie Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
Don’t be too hard on yourself as long as you keep trying
I think some kids are just picky and so they aren’t the type to sit down and eat. My youngest brother was the worst eater known to man! He ate almost nothing when my mom was trying to transition him to solids (heck he still only eats a handful of things). I think so much of it depends on the child and what they like or not. Try different things and switch it up, but don’t be stressed if it takes longer to get him to switch or to find foods that interest him and make him want to eat 
It will happen (when was the last time you ran into an adult who only drank formula??).
Not that I have kids, but I’ve always heard “under one just for fun” that until the kid is a year old (or slightly above) that food is really just for fun and to learn textures and excitment and that they should be getting most of their nutrition from formula/boobs.
So I say let him play around with food while you eat or while you have family dinner but don’t stress about it quite yet. Plus just think of it as a little while longer until hes a typical boy eating you out of house and home
12My daughter had a tough time switching from breast milk to formula at 10 months, and then from formula to whole milk-we ended up doing a complete switch at about 13 months. I agree, cold turkey with the formula is the best method but I don’t see the immediate rush if he isn’t eating that many solids. Perhaps introduce legumes, cheese and yogurt (for protein) if you haven’t already. Not sure how you feel about fish but that is a great source of protein and easy to chew. Or maybe start with a puree or mash so his tummy gets fuller quicker, then move to the finger foods? Honestly there really aren’t any set rules-as long as you feel comfortable and he is getting adequate nutrition than it is all good!
13We started our daughter on solids at 6 months. Now that she’s a year (March 18th) we’ve been at the solid eating for a while now.
Here’s what worked for us:
We found out quickly that if we waited until she was starving, she would refuse to eat solids. It’s just more work and she wasn’t willing to open her mouth and have things shoveled in to it. All she wanted was immediate gratification which was her bottle. So we learned we had to feed her before we thought she’d get hungry. Which was easy for us because we had/have a feeding schedule. So if you could possibly offer T1 food before you think he gets too hungry, then that may help.
We slowly started to give her less and less milk. We’d do this by offering her small snacks during the day. Things like big pieces of a banana (we’d cut it in half and hand her half of it) and put her down on the floor (watching her). Or large apple slices or pieces of toast. We did this because we wanted her to eat more and expecting her to sit down and eat a large meal in one setting wasn’t going to work at a younger age (probably when she was about 7/8 months)
If I was eating something, I’d give her some. So if I was eating penne pasta with spaghetti sauce, I’d dip a few noodles and hand them to her. Making sure to watch and telling her “Too much” when she took too big bites and sometimes I’d reach a finger in and scoop out some of the food. Now when I tell her “Too much” she spits some of her food out or takes a smaller bite the next time.
My daughter isn’t a fast eater and I’d say feeding her takes about 45 minutes. But during that time I’m eating with her, reading a book, or cleaning up around the kitchen as she eats. So maybe you can schedule kitchen cleaning time while he eats so that you can both be in the same area.
My daughter (now 12 months) has a bottle once in the morning (8oz water, two scoops of formula) and if she didn’t get enough food during the day (maybe we were busy running errands or she was no working with me) then she’ll get one at night BUT NOT before she goes to bed or in her crib. So she’s eating 8-16 (16 is rare) ounces a day. The rest of it is fruits, breads, veggie puree, or grown up food.
14I wouldn’t stress!
It made me feel a lot better to learn around 12 months their appetites start to diminish and they actually need less food than before. (Which seems crazy, since they’re now moving so much — but their rate-of-growth is just slowing way down.)
Is there a way to make his bottles smaller, so he’s naturally hungrier for other foods? When I was working toward adding more foods, I made sure the ones I offered were her favorites — oatmeal with cinnamon (I make it on the stove and then refrigerate it so it can be made into little edible chunks) or blueberries or whatev. I worried less about a balanced day, so I could show her eating was fun.
Oh another idea — have you tried a yogurt smoothie? If you make it thin enough, it works in the sippy cup. She won’t let me feed her anymore, so it’s the only way I can get yogurt in! And it’s a great, filling snack.
Harper isn’t a huge regular milk fan, but she’ll drink it. Sometimes I do half milk/half soy and sometimes she gets a little orange juice with calcium/vitamin d added. (Which helps with her constipation, too…tho I know many people hate juice, it works for us!)
Harper loved that sippy cup, but hated others that some babes loved — so you might need to try a couple other varieties. I’ve weaned her off that cup now and use only straw sippies — maybe he’d get into that?
With most food stuff, I find it’s all a phase! Sometimes, she’s barely eating and other times she’s chowing and signing for more all day long. I’ve discovered, all we can do is offer yummy foods and they’ll eventually eat!
Whew — long comment over!
15First, I see you have the Ikea high chair! Don’t you love it?! I love ours and will only ever buy this kind for the rest of my baby days.
Second, I’ve had baby feeding experiences at both ends of the spectrum - Grant with his feeding tube and now his very, very picky eating. It’s getting better and he eats well what he is willing to eat, but seriously - the kid doesn’t even like sweets. THAT’S how picky he is! (shouldn’t complain about that one though). Then Kyle, well he’s been a pro eater, not picky at all since he was born. But something in front of him and he goes to town. So I’ve had some very different experiences!
So, saying all that, what you are describing doesn’t sound too abnormal to me. Some kids just like to get a bottle a little longer than others (but I understand you’d like to stop paying for formula!) I’m afraid I don’t have good specific advice since I don’t remember Kyle caring that we took him off formula.
But I do like the other suggestions of giving him his food well before the bottle to make sure he isn’t full from the liquid (maybe you are already doing that) and experimenting with some more food choices. Soft cheeses, homemade oatmeal, yogurt. Hope someone gives you advice that can help - I’m just here to tell this sounds pretty common and not totally weird or anything!
16I found at that age if I was watching to make sure he was eating he wouldn’t eat. So I would give him food and then not pay much attention to him. like I would go get ready for the day or whatever and my kids would seem to eat it a ton better then if I was constantly watching over their shoulder. Also it helped when i was eating with them too. As for the transition from formula to milk. I say warm up the milk to the temp of his formula and just go cold turkey. and still put it in his bottle. Sippy cups were a hard transition for my kids. My 18 month old has just barely decided to like the sippy cup. Also he might like using just a regular cup, because that is new and exciting and you could try putting some warm milk in just a cup and help him drink it that way. Just some ideas. I say don’t stress too much, but just remember he will do things so much slower then you want. especially when you are in a hurry and it can get SO FRUSTRATING but we have to remember not to rush them and maybe slow down ourselves! One more thing. sometimes i have to put a toy on their tray just to keep there attention on what’s in front of them and they would always eventually eat! good luck!
Tiffany Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 10:12 am
also my little guy still get around 20-30 oz of milk a day and he is 18months and still eats 3 square meals a day. so i say let him have his bottle when he wants it. sometimes it is the only thing that works! Also if you are worried about protein (not sure you said that, but alot of comments aluded to that) just boil up a chicken breast and tear it up in small pieces, my kiddos LOVE CHICKEN!
My comment should have an asterisks since my kid has been anything but normal in the eating department, but here are a few thoughts:
I’d try to cut back on formula, he’ll probably be hungrier. After 1, he shouldn’t need more than 24 ounces. When we switched Eli off formula, we started with one ounce milk and seven formula, and over the course of two weeks added more until it was all milk.
Eli is finally eating real food, so is essentially in the same place as T1. it also takes him a half hour to eat a slice of bread. But, the more he gets used to a certain food, the faster he eats it. A meal around here never takes less than 45 minutes though. Some kids inhale food, others take their time, and I’m not sure how to speed it up much. Eli does have a horrible habit of watching tv while he eats, otherwise he gets bored of eating after twenty minutes when he’s hardly eaten anything.
In terms of sippy cups, I have literally tried every cup on the market. I hate them all. The one I hated least was the playtex straw cup. The take and toss straw ones are actually my favorite (easiest to drink out of), but they are not spill proof so probably best just at the high chair.
Anyway, good luck! I seriously miss the days where you could just give them 4-5 bottles a day and know they’re fed and healthy :).
Lisa Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 10:05 am
P.S. My Words username is Lisa226-start a game with me if you’re bored sometime. We can play while our kids take years to eat :).
P.P.S. As others have said, I wouldn’t stress about it too much. It seems like T1 has pretty good eating habits, and I bet with time most of this will resolve on it’s own. Again though, what do I know :).
You mentioned in your post about television viewing choices that you only want to watch shows that you’d be okay with your child watching too (well, that was one of the reasons). I second peoples’ suggestions about including T1 in your family mealtimes (nap and bedtimes permitting), so that you and TH can model the behavior you’d like him to adopt.
19I’m not a mom but I think you shouldn’t worry too much. Your child looks healthy and he’ll eat solids when he is ready.
If you’re not already doing it, have him sit down in his high chair with you during your meals and let him try some of your food. He might not be hungry but he’ll slowly learn that there is a time for family meals.
Oh and remember, nothing wrong with eating slowly, don’t all the specialists say it’s better for you anyway?
20Oh something else, a friend got this for her nephew. T1 might be a little young but I thought it looked fun to get him involve with silverwear.
http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/construction-plate-utensils
Jenna Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Oh my that is so adorable!
Jenna, since he’s so physically active, he’s apt to be more of a 6 small meals a day, than 3 large. This pattern may stay with him all his life. He will also be much more apt to eat if it’s a social act. So eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with him, then feed him snacks on the go the rest of the time. This is how all my friends with physically active, early mover children, have done it. Focus more on nutrition than on calories. Keep feeding him variety, and let him eat what you eat.
22When I first started nannying the boys I used to watch, the younger one was 6 months older than T1 is now, but he had 2 less teeth (4 on top, 2 on bottom) so I get that it seems like he can’t chew all that well. But he, was still able to eat quite a few things. He had milk with all his meals, and water throughout the day in a bottle with a straw. For breakfast he had things like lots of fruits, most chopped up into smaller bites (oranges, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, pear) scrambled eggs, whole wheat waffles cut up in tiny pieces with a little bit of peanut butter, bread with jam, etc. For lunch he had things like small bites of grilled cheese, applesauce, yogurt (one of his favorites), macaroni & cheese (the Annie’s organic kind), chicken nuggets (I admit these were def. processed). Through out the day he might also have a fruit breakfast bar for a snack.
By the time I started watching him, he was completely on milk, so I have no help for you there. But I second what others said. If you sit down and eat with him, I think you are bound to see an improvement. T1 will see that it’s time to eat, because that is what you are doing, too.
23My dude’s only 9 1/2 months, but I say this.
Trust your instincts and don’t let other timelines bog you down. We do this:
-finger foods while I get his dinner ready - so he works on his dexterity (cheerios, little pieces of avocado,etc).
-he always has a sippy cup on the tray (and yes, we’ve had to buy like 5 to find one he likes - try one with a straw)
-then I come over with the spoonable food. I spoon feed him and he has his own spoon that I load up occasionally and let him feed himself.
-Then, while I eat, he gets more finger food or a bottle on the tray to finish up.
Ditto on the slow feeding thing - but also maybe mix it up? My guy seemed to hate eating till I made homemade pinto beans with lots of flavor and rice - and now he LOVES to eat and does it with gusto. Sometimes we feed them stuff they don’t like.
I’m a firm believer that my baby will tell me what he needs as long as I’m offering healthy options. If your little guys needs more formula - let him have it (unless a ped you really trust tells you its dangerous).
Jenna Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Love this pattern. Love love love. This feels really doable for me. Do you repeat this same pattern for three meals a day? I’m struggling with this because I don’t eat three meals a day. It’s hard to worry about him AND my weight loss at the same time!
Gigi Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
We only eat three meals a day with him on weekends - and then we do this pattern, but we eat breakfast and dinner with him most days and it works for us(though usually my breakfast is coffee and a banana).
My guy won’t sit in the high chair for long periods of time without wanting to get down, so I don’t usually get a full meal in. We (you and I) are on the same weight loss journey - so I feel you.
Good luck and trust your instincts, mama
*the other thing I keep reminding myself and keep forgetting is that everything changes every four weeks. He could have totally different eating habits next month and totally new problems
My little girl likes to eat some days and some days not so much. She is still on formula, but eats solids too. She has a bottle about every 4 hours (because she still only likes 4 oz bottles) and then she eats solids about every 2. I rotate feeding her and having something for her to feed herself. The sippy cup we use is
25http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/beaba-3-stage-training-sippy-cup/?pkey=e%7Cbeaba%7C11%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C3&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-
It is great because you start out with a bottle and then move to the sippy cup. Hope this helps.
Jenna, I’m not going to echo everything that’s been mentioned-you’ve definitely gotten some good tips in the comment section.
Grace is taking to solids somewhat slowly, though much faster than Addie. When we returned to the States, Addie was 13 months old and not eating much in the way of solids, maybe 2 meals a day, or (3) small ones when we ate. We went to a family reunion two days after our return and she started getting tons more solids then (partly because I was a little embarrassed that she was nursing so much in comparison to her like-aged cousins).
It was a slow then fast transition, she weaned herself when she was 15.5 months old (I’m pretty sure my milk changed as soon as I was pregnant, which of course helped that process along ;D).
Don’t worry too much about it, just keep giving him what you are. Also, don’t be afraid to give him more “seasoned” things-more of what you are eating and less of other stuff prepared just for him. It will make it easier to feed him because it’s not -yet another- meal to prepare.
26Great advice above!
With the milk thing..slowly….slowly add milk to the formula. I’m talking 1/2 an ounce at a time. Once he takes that ok, then add another 1/2 ounce of cow’s milk. It make take two months or more before he’s drinking straight up cows milk.
Btw, I’ve learned after four kiddos that there are three things you can’t MAKE kids do: sleep, eat, and go in the potty. These are all behaviors THEY have to do on their own. We can set them up with all the right things, but they still have to make that choice…kinda like the old saying “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink” They’ll sleep/eat/poop when they’re ready.
27Is this the natural lighting in your apt? It is lovely. So bright and natual but not washed out or over saturated. T1 is adorable!
Jenna Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
It is! Right before sunset and so soft and pretty.
Have you heard of Ellyn Satter? (http://www.ellynsatter.com/) I don’t have kids, but I really like her approach to feeding, division of responsiblity, focus on family meals, not turning meal time into a battle, etc. In fact, I use her ideas for kids on myself sometimes! Since you have an interest in intuitive eating and such, it might be helpful (or not
).
29Wow, it has been too long since I last commented
J is now 15 months and this was a total battle for us too. Like a lot of others replied, I found that if I/we eat when he eats, he will eat more and much faster with less distraction. If we are on-the-go or have somewhere to be I always try to feed him something I know he will devour and not sit there and linger for 45 minutes!
The sippy cups were a (somewhat expensive) trial and error. He “learned” on the Avent cups and still loves them, both the hard and soft spout. I tried to introduce the Nuby sippy cups earlier and the spout was almost too big for his little mouth! Now at 15 mo he loves them. The Born Free are a little hard to find but he also really likes those sippy cups. I have no advice on the formula-to-milk transition but have heard from friends that warming the milk was the key. And don’t feel pressured to get rid of the bottle just do what YOU feel is right.
You’re doing a great job! Good luck!!
30I am not a mother but I am a nanny. I think it really helps to be eating while they are eating as others have said. The three year old I watch wants to know why it is dinner time for her but not for me if I am not eating with them. I have a lot of explaining to do! hehe
The two spoons idea worked wonders with the youngest child I watch because she wants to do everything herself and if I allow her to think that she is, she is perfectly content to sit and finish all of her food.
Also, I read something somewhere that said you decide what and when your children eat they decide how much. If they are finished you don’t have to make them eat one more bite.
We should all try to breathe and eat like a babies because on their own they do it naturally and the right way. They don’t overeat and they breathe from their diaphragms.
31I didn’t read everybody’s comment but maybe he’s getting to much formula? Our pediatrician recommend that by a year our little guy should only be getting 16 oz of formula/milk which ever you are giving at the time. We switched to sippy cups with a straw (which is what the pediatrician recommended) at 13.5 months. That hardest thing for us to stop using the bottle to put him to sleep because the sippy cups to do not work lying when he’s lying down.
Eating takes 45 minutes for us. I just try to make time for it. My little guy is 20 months and he is better at feeding himself with a spoon but after about 20 minutes of doing it on his own then he asks for help. He will eat really good for 3 days in a row then the next week, not so much. Our pediatrician says that it all evens out just give him options of healthy food and if he eats, great if not try again at snack time.
By the way he eats 3 meals and 3 snacks and his milk. So eats little bits all day basically. (The snacks I leave out in a place he can reach them while he plays)
32My 9mo. old eats like a champ. But I do struggle with what to feed him. I am trying to raise him semi-vegetarian, so meat is out of the question. To increase the amount of protein we feed him tofu, lentils, beans, and cheese.
He’s still breastfeeding, and I don’t think we will switch to cow’s milk when he’s 1. Also around 1 we will begin reducing the number of breastfeedings. I intend to have him daytime weaned at 14-15 mo.
I have found that I need to put the things that are new or the things that aren’t his favorite on the tray first. Once he’s eaten some of that I add some cheese or his favorite fruit/veggie, lastly I give him bread. He loves bread and will just eat the bread if its all mixed on the tray.
33Hi…so I think pointing out typos on a blog is obnoxious so I don’t do it. EXCEPT in your “edited to add” notes, well, if you do end up eating someone on your food blog, I’m pretty sure you won’t be able to get T1 to share
Jenna Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Doh! He woke up from his nap and so I was trying to type as quickly as possible. I don’t have a lot of time for proofreading lately
My younger brothers had a hard time transitioning to regular milk. My mom started warming up their milk just a tish about room temperature and adding a drop or two of vanilla into the bottle. It seemed to do the trick in helping them transition to regular milk. I used the same trick with one of little boys I nannied for. He would always refuse a bottle and his parents were having no luck getting him to take regular milk (he would scream bloody murder if you tried to give him the stuff which made both his mom and myself feel horrible). We tried the trick my mom used on us and he was quite happy to transition after that.
35PS He has SO much hair! When did this happen? He looks so grown up!
36Your view is soooo lovely, I couldn’t eat there either!
37As a mother of 3 grown children, I would say let him be a baby as long as you can- he wont be taking a bottle to kindergarten.if you aren’t totally opposed to it, let him play in his food and he will naturally stick it in his mouth. Children need far less food than we think…
This sounds exactly like my first. Until 14/15 months she wouldn’t eat more than a few bites of solids. She was a huge boob monster lol. Then something clicked around 14/15 months and she realised food was awesome. WE nursed her until 17 months when I just couldn’t do it anymore. I wanted ot make it until 2, but geez she was a wiggle worm and I was pregnant. She’s 2.5 now and eats like mad. She won’t drink milk though, she just hates the taste so I make sure we do plenty of cheese, yogurt, etc. So I guess all I’m saying is it sounds normal to me and I’d keep up with teh formula for a few more months until worrying.
38Wow, what gorgeous photos of your baby! Wish I had some advice for you, but I’m not a mother yet myself
39Food is for fun until one, and he isn’t yet one, right?
T1 looks heathy, I would try not to worry too much (but if I’ve learned anything over the last year, worrying is part of being a mother!).
I have no advice re: formula. I bfed Clara (still am, actually) - and until she was a year old the advice I received was to offer the breast before solids. I’m not sure if the same would apply for formula.
We did BLW without a hitch. Yes, at the start it was lots of play and little eating, but you know to expect that. Now she eats like a champ. Sometimes she isn’t in the mood to eat (much) and we DO NOT push it. I’ve seen first hand out this can be a problem….
40I can’t offer much help on the food situation, since Owen LOVES to eat and will basically have whatever is in front of him — except green beans!
He is a champ at the sippy cup, though, and what worked for us was this:
After some trial and error, I settled on the Dr. Brown’s Soft Spout Training Cup. (BPA Free). http://www.handi-craft.com/training-cups/ I got it at Walmart.
In the beginning, I would remove the stopper so any time he tipped it the water would come right out. It was a wet mess for awhile, and he would occasionally get too much, but it taught him to drink slowly and master the tipping motion.
Now I use the stopper and he drinks like a big boy. And he also likes to drink out of our water glasses
41I have a 6-month-old that I’ve only recently started on solids, so I am not where you are at right now in the learning to eat process.
Maybe in lieu of the sippy cup, you can use a regular, small cup. I used a regular cup with my son the other day. He couldn’t hold it, but I tilted it so that he could sip from it. He (somehow) knew exactly what to do. He was slurping the water right out of the cup. I had introduced two differen kinds of sippy cups previously with no real success. The day care uses these cheap, take and toss cups (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2793342), and they’ve had success with him sucking on these as well. I plan to get some to try out on my own. My next attempt was going to be the ones with the straws!
Good luck! I may be soliciting advice from you in 6-months depending on how this whole feeding thing progresses with my son!
42My daughter is 16 months and is kind of a picky eater. Our pediatrician’s advice was to let her eat what she wants to eat, and it will all balance in the end. while i have tried giving her more table food and less baby food, sometimes she still wants baby food and i think that’s ok. and some days all she wants is string cheese, and other days she loves cut up fruit. i think also they will eat when they are hungry, and they won’t eat when they’re not hungry so I have tried (not always successful) to stop stressing about her eating “enough.” That does seem like a lot of formula though for an almost 1 year old, and our ped told us to drop the milk (or formula) to only 1 6oz bottle a day because they just won’t be hungry for food if they drink a lot of milk (or formula). good luck!
43I haven’t read the other comments but I think you’re doing a great job giving him the same healthy food that you eat and only water or juice to drink.
He will eat more if you reduce his milk. Up to you when/how much you want to do that. You’ll have to be patient, he’ll have to get the message you’re serious before he changes his habits (as with everything).
Have you tried mixing just 1oz cow’s milk into his formula? Then when he gets used to that, add a little more, so he slowly gets used to the different taste.
Try to eat at the same time as him as much as you can. Less boring for everyone!
Also have you tried an open cup? Obviously not for all the time/carrying around the flat but at mealtimes he might like it.
Oh and don’t forget to stay relaxed about it all. You’re doing a great job.
44Like everyone said- eat with him. Feed him what you are eating. I learned this with both girls- they want to be like you, so they will want to eat like you. Also, give him utensils. Praise him with what a good boy he is for being a ‘big boy,’ etc.
When we switched from formula, I choose to use the toddler formula at night and half during the day when I started to transition. Then it worked.
Good luck! You are the mama- you know best and will figure it out along with him.
45i think sippy cups are pretty trial and error. the first one i got for my baby (i introduced it when she turned 6 months old) had a soft silicone spout like the one you have and a little while later i got her a soft straw one (which 2 months later she still hasn’t mastered). turns out the one she took right to was the one with a hard spout that my mom got for her. i would have never guessed and i would have never thought to get her one with a hard spout. so for what it’s worth, this is our favorite sippy cup! http://www.amazon.com/NALGENE-Tritan-Grip-N-Gulp-BPA-Free-Bottle/dp/B001NCDE2U
good luck and try not to stress!
oh, and in my experience with kids of that age (from working as a nanny and in a daycare and preschool), 45 minutes for a meal is tooootally normal… as painfully long as it seems.
some people have fast eaters, but i’d say for the most part 30-45 minutes is average.
46It’s been a few months now… I’d love an update in this matter!
47