1yr old only eats cheerios and cheese?

Question

Anyone have a little one around the age of 1 yr who will only eat select finger foods? My little one will only eat cheerios and cheese chunks on his own. One meal a day he will let us feed him and we'll try and get a meat and veggie down through the Gerber 3rds. He usually doesn't want us to feed him though. Is this normal for this age? I worry of course he's not get enough nutrients through meat and veggies. He drinks his formula pretty good but not too much. He puts a lot of finger foods in his mouth- chews them up for awhile and spits them out. Odd.

Answer 1

I had a tough time with my son at this age getting him to eat, it was getting to the point that I was really worried. He would only eat select things and then only in small portions.

I decided to make him a "grazing plate" every day. I would put fruit, veggies, crackers, cheese, pretzels, cereal, etc. (really, any finger food that wouldn't get yucky too quickly) on a plate and set it down where he could pick what he wanted when he wanted. I usually put a few items that were a sure thing (cheerios, cut up grapes, goldfish crackers) and then a few things we were working on (cheese cubes, green beans)--the experts say it can take several tries of a food before a child decides they like it. He would eat the things that he liked first, but he would usually try the other things if I didn't put any pressure on him concerning it.

You have to really be willing to give up some control in the situation, give him essentially healthy foods, and let him pick what he wants.

My son (aged 20 months) now eats just about anything (during normal meals--he no longer uses the grazing method), although we still often have to "try" new foods several times before he decides he likes it.

Answer 2

My 15 month old will now eat anything I give her. However, when she was learning to walk, she virtually stopped eating. She learned something new, that she had control over it and started to exert her control elsewhere as well. I just make sure the coffee table is clean and put down some crackers, some string cheese and some cut up fresh fruits and veggies. She would eat all day long, no big meals (and the fit she threw in the hi-chair just wasn't worth it). The biggest things is just to take the pressure off. They'll eat when they are hungry, just make sure there are lots of healthy options.

Answer 3

I actually read an article in American Baby magazine recently about this. They say that you should give a variety of foods such as avacodo, papaya, bagels with cream cheese or light jelly, fortified cereals like cheerios, strawberries, oranges, grapes peeled and cut in half, graham crackers with a little yougurt spread on them, bananas, ravioli cooked and cut up..... I can think of so many more, I like the idea of giving babies more exotic types of food because not only are they cool colors but they are packed full of nutrients and will teach your baby to experient and enjoy new foods. I hope this helps you, only other advice I can give is to make sure the food seems appealing to your child and you can always share and make mealtimes more fun! Maybe let him "feed" you for a change or teach him colors by saying I am going to eat a red strawberry, can you try a green grape? Good luck!

Answer 4

As long as he's eating a variety of foods don't worry. When he chews food up and spits it out he's just not hungry and is playing with his food. My kids always ate what I ate just the texture was adjusted to the amount of teeth and their ability. He may be interested in feeding him self, give him a small bowl of mashed potatoes, bananas, carrots, apple sauce ect and a spoon let him try than clean up the mess. You can always give him vitamins. I strongly recommend that you water down his fruit juice, this will help prevent him from getting to many calories from sugar.

Answer 5

Most toddlers (and pre-toddlers) at this stage have zero control over everything in their life except in this area. Refusing foods, or refusing to be fed, gives them a modicum of control, and is part of them recognizing they are separate entities from you.

*Have you tried giving him fresh, mashed banana?
*Stage #2 Gerber and/or Beechnut veggies?
*Low-sodium Progresso soup (all large chunks mashed)?
*Tiny, tiny cuts of meat (ground beef, turkey, chicken)?

While my daughter prefers cheerios to most other foods, she will eat all of the above, and will accept "tastes" of just about anything that I am eating, provided it is not too hard, too hot, too bland, or too sweet.

Since she wont eat large meals at each sitting, I just make sure to give her "tastes" as often as she is interested, and that typically covers all the food groups nicely.

So long as your son is not losing weight, he's probably just fine! Ask your pediatrician what he thinks if you need more reassurance.

Good luck!

Answer 6

maybe you could stop giving him cheerios and cheese as much. try just putting various finger foods down.my 10 mon. old refuses to let me feed her so i just give her a variety of healthy foods and she eats what she wants. i notice she definately has her preferences(she might ignore the brocoli if she also has carrots for instance) the good thing is he will eat eventually-just keep putting the food down. he cant say"give me the cheerios and cheese now"

Answer 7

i would try gerber graduates food. My daughter was the same way very picky. This allows him to eat more independly. Just keep trying different foods everyday. Give him what you eat cut up small. it might take a while butj he'll eventually start eating more.

Answer 8

It might be that he doesn't see you eating them. With my daughter, I always sat down to eat with her. She saw what I was eating, and evertually she wanted some of her own. You could try to make some funny foods to attract his attention, or you could go to the doctor to see if they have any suggestions.

Answer 9

Maybe,if hes teething get him a teething ring and try dirrerent foods now so then later he'll eat.

Answer 10

perfectly normal. don't worry. right now my 2 year old wants to eat bologna all day. the doctor says they eat what their body craves, just like us when we are pregnant.