OK, so I know my daughter is teething, doing some serious developmental stuff, etc. but in the last week, I've started to get frustrated with her eating. I've been making my own food, and she has been eating some finger foods (cheese, cheerios, fruit, sweet potato) and purees of various sorts. I want my daughter to eat everything, so I'm trying hard to introduce her to as many things as possible.
The thing is, she has stopped eating her purees. She will SOMETIMES eat her favorite ones if I let her feed herself. So, I've been trying more finger foods...roasted potato, parsnips, carrots, beef, etc. The thing is, she isn't really interested in these things. Also, last week she was in love with kiwi, this week I cannot for the life of me get her to eat any unless it's in her cereal.
At tonight's dinner, she got mad when the yogurt ran out. She would eat dairy products and bread forever...she also loves certain fruits, but why has she stopped eating her meats? Is it a texture thing? I had thought maybe it was just an independence thing, but now I'm wonder if it's texture?
I also wonder if she isn't just coming into her own a bit more and trying to manipulate me into giving her nothing but dairy and bread, with some fruit.
Any ideas as to what might be going on and how I should handle it? I'm so afraid of her not being a good eater I'm tempted to go buy some Earth's Best and see if she will eat those purees. Up until last week, she literally ate anything I put in front of her. Even lamb.
My son has been going through eating phases practically since he started solids. One day he'll eat an entire bowl of something, and the next time I offer it, he wants nothing to do with it. He's gone back and forth with veggies, fruits, and meats for weeks at a time. Then, all of a sudden, everything is back to "normal" and he'll eat almost anything I give him. His phases seem to be connected to teething. He's crazy about things for a few weeks, and just when I'm about ready to go nuts, he'll pop out a couple of teeth and start eating again. Or maybe they're connected to the moon's phases.... who knows? If you get stressed and frustrated or make a big deal out of it, I bet she'll refuse more. Just keep offering it, and if she doesn't want it, try again another time. The more relaxed you are, the more likely she'll try it again later! Good luck!
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E.F.
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I found that at 9 months my kids were done with all purees. i wouldn't spend my money on the earth's best. I would continue to feed her new items as much as possible and with that give her her favorites as well. She will have to see the food something like 25 times before she even wants to really try it. I've learned that you give them what you made for dinner and they will be better eaters. My oldest I would give him his 'foods' and then cook my husband and mine dinner. It was great because while my son ate I made the real dinner. He is my pickest eater. The other three I just gave them whatever I made for dinner and they are better. They still have phases when they get picky but for the most part they eat or at least try everything. Not so much with the first.
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M.R.
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This sounds so totally normal! Like the previous poster said, just keep offering it up. When she flips out that the yogurt is finished, just acknowledge her feelings with an "I know it must be frustrating that you've already finished your favorite food, but check out all the other yummy stuff I have for you!" and move on. My baby is almost two and I have found that he goes in phases; one day he loves broccoli and the next he won't touch it, he used to love pasta and now hates it, and we know he loves ice cream but refuses to eat it unless he is in charge of the spoon.
Just roll with it and try to be as laid back as possible. Think about meals and nutrition from a 'weekly' standpoint as opposed to a 'daily' standpoint; in other words if one day the nutrition seems poor but she makes up for it on other days then don't worry. You'll have bigger battles to fight and you certainly don't want food to be one of them. Don't take it personally if she doesn't want your specially made food!
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L.
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Hi!
So are you offering her meats pureed or regular?? My daughter totally stopped eating baby food by 10 months and ate only regular "people" food cut up. She was even eating burgers and meatballs, chicken breasts, pork--ANYTHING as long as it was finger food. I would try offering her everything that way if she hates the purees. She still goes throug "stages" where she rejects certain foods and only eats others, but just don't stress about it! She will be just fine!! Don't you sometimes feel the same way?? I know I do :)
