Weaning!

[behanfamily]

Help!!! Jack (now 13mths) is a nightmare eater .

He was quite poorly a month ago with chest and ear infection and chicken pox all at the same time , and all he would have was milk.

The doctor said not to worry but now Im trying to get him back eating and unless its like soup / mush he wont have it.

The only things he will eat a little of are toast, banana and yoghurt.

Any help / tips to get him eating lumps and finger foods again please. thanks in advance

[joanne]

Kids are amazing - even those with a very limited diet - seem to select foods from all the main food groups - carbs, protein and dairy products! Which is what your DS is doing ! All I would say is that food and meal times need to be enjoyable - both for you and them!

So place a number of foods on his plate and a drink/bottle and leave them there, (encourage him to feed himself - kids love to do things for themselves even if they make a mess) - no pressure - decide on how much time will be given for the meal and if at that time the food is still there - take it away. No other foods are offered until the next meal ( which because he is small maybe in an hour and a half - two hours).

Be calm - talk naturally at the table, no over encouraging him to eat as no doubt he is enjoying all the attention he is getting by not eating. Hope that might be of help to you! Let us know how you get on.

[behanfamily]

Joanne thank you for all your advice. The time scale for meals is a good idea, and Ill try not to get so worked up when he doesnt eat. Children are very clever on picking up on mums weakness`s. I know the gp says dont worry they eat when they hungry, but when you feel like your in a never ending circle ~ roll eye~. Will put into practice your advice and see how we get on.

[noreenc]

sorry gone beyond that stage of development - now its trying to get them to sit down at the table to eat their dinner and not in front of the telly ! Why is the simpsons on at 6pm ?

[neasaod]

Ha ha. We have our dinner watching Simpsons too!!!! I've tried the whole table thing, it doesn't work here, only Christmas day!!! Hey, they're eating!

[behanfamily]

I must be a meany mummy, because we have no telly on until homework, meals etc out of the way, and she only ever eats at the table (Im hoping her good manners will continue)

[joanne]

Every family is unique and what works for one - doesn't work for another. So whatever routine you put in place - if everyone is happy with it - then thats perfect - if not then change it !

Introducing boundaries into family life - gives great security to children - as they know how far they can push and they know whats happening next. So Noreen my suggestion is to work out a routine which is less frustrating for you. For example video the simpsons and let them watch it later - after tea, when it suits you better !!

[behanfamily]

videoing fav programmes is a great compromise, thanks for that tip

[joanne]

I have had to learn that the hard way Rachel !!! The Simpsons was the bane of my life for over a year - nothing could be done between 6 -6.30pm and because I was in some way prepared to put up with it, i let the situation continue. Until I found the kids watching telly at 5pm - waiting they told me - for the simpsons to come on at 6pm! I freaked !!! So that was the end of The Simpsons at 6pm ! So as a compromise - we did video a few of them but in the end I bought my son a 'Simpsons' DVD set - and so they can watch them at selected times during the weekend. That has worked out brilliantly - for me ! And to be honest - the kids don't ask to watch it anymore at 6pm, they know its dinner time.

Amazing how quickly they get used to a new routine - wish I had introduced it a bit earlier !!!