Food.

I wrote about Lil's eating habits a while back and to be honest, they've got worse. She knows what she doesn't want to eat (fruit - apart from bananas, veg... the good stuff) and she's pretty sure what she does want to eat (bananas, occasionally homemade pizza or sushi and chocolate) and when she eats (which isn't often) it's only very little. And now, she's refusing her vitamin drops. I've even tried giving her the sweetie version. Nope, nada.

I'm at my wits end and it's starting to get me down to the point where I feel like it's time to get professional help (my HV has been useless - 'it's a phase', well it's a bloody long one then). But before I start looking in to expensive alternatives, I wondered if anyone else has been through the same? Does it get better? How? Do I have to keep persevering? How long does it last? We sit down at dinner together, the three of us... what am I doing wrong? Is it my fault? All these questions. Can anyone recommend a book on it? Sigh.




This time last year, before she got sick on her birthday, she was eating everything. Fuck you, sickness, you fuck everything up. Wah.

10 comments:

  1. Larry is currently going through the same "phase" it's frustrating. He will only eat cheddars, toast, CHOC BIC BIC, and cereal.

    Oh and every now and then fish fingers or yorkshire pudding. This was the child who would hoover everything up.

    I'm fairly calm about it, partly because, well he has a fair bit of weight to lose before it's a problem ;)

    Theo went through this, and it worried me, but I managed to battle through and it didn't last as long as this.

    Have you tried the usual reward charts rar rar rar?

    x

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    1. Ah Larry!!! :( He ate so well. Choc bic bic all day long and I'm pretty sure that's my fault ;) If I produced a reward chart with stickers, she would go mental and throw a tantrum until I let her stick them everywhere!

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  2. I feel your pain! mine is now almost 4 and still barely eats anything at all. I've been to the HV and Doctors and they have no interest what so ever, as long as she is drinking they say its all normal. She even collapsed last September from lack of food and they still could offer no advice. So now I try to load her up on milk on the days she won't eat to try and get something in her, its a nightmare.

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    1. It's so worrying isn't it. I read somewhere that children can survive for days without food - it's crazy. I know I can't! She's still having milk. Does your little one take vitamins? Lil will not touch the things x

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  3. Don't bother with reward charts!! Would you eat something you didn't like because you'd get a reward? Nope. Toddlers (back in our caveman past) were set out on their own to fend for themselves. They're hardwired to be fussy because they have to be (well, had to be, back then) it was all down to survival and not eating anything poisonous. Mae eats ok, well, badly ad infinitum. She's well most of the time. It all evens itself out. I think someone else suggested smoothies and juices. Brilliant. Do it. I had an 'eating disorder' as a young child (basically, I like only a few foods and didn't have a massive appetite) It was extremely distressing for me....being made to sit at table, LONG after everyone else had finished, faced with a dinner I just wasn't hungry for. Don't make a big issue of it. Keep offering. If she eats something, great, if not give her something you know she will eat. Mae grazes mostly and I think it is probably better for them to have smaller more regular snacks rather than big dinners. Unless she's losing weight I wouldn't worry.

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    1. You are SO right - I had problems with eating when I was five and I remember lots of horrible moments of shouting because I didn't want to eat. I'd blocked it out until you posted and I'm glad you did because I can remember how I felt and it's really made me think about how I act around Lil at mealtimes. She isn't losing weight but she isn't really putting any on. x

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  4. Hey! Oh my God, have I got all of this to come?! My daughter is nearly 18 months and so far has been good. She eats fruit and veg, but I also make her raw food juices (can never have too much goodness!). I mix carrots, apples and beetroot. It is actually very tasty. Maybe you could try this your little darling (although pain in the bum to clean these bloody juicers...but all for good cause I suppose;) Raminta

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    1. Officially start juicing tomorrow. She used to eat all sorts but two massive bugs put that to bed. Apparently I was the same at her age so I'm hoping it will improve pretty soon. Let's see how the juicing goes! x

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  5. R is just one (and was also ill on his birthday, then got some new teeth, then got a chest infection - I am so fed up of winter!). He's still a pretty good eater so this doesn't come from personal experience but I thought it might be useful. I hope so. C xx
    http://reciperifle.blogspot.co.uk/2012_11_01_archive.html?m=1

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    1. Oh hi GENIUS MAMA! This post has helped me massively - thanks for sharing it with me. It's such a funny blog too, I wish I'd know about it sooner. Let's hope Spring is on it's way, I'm not sure how much more of this crappy weather I can take! Thanks again for letting me know about this post xx

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