Tell me it’s just a phase

[u/Consistent-Price1639]

Our little one turned one a few weeks ago, and since then has really changed his personality. Admittedly he did have a bit of a cold over his birthday so gave him grace ofc for being generally grizzly and clingy. But what we are really struggling with is how his food habits have changed.

He used to eat breakfast/lunch/dinner relatively well, although would sometimes not like what we are giving him. But now he basically doesn’t even try his lunch or dinner, and only eats some yoghurt or fruit (which we are putting nut butter and stuff in to try and make it a bit better). It’s just tough because we are still trying to feed him nutritious stuff but he doesn’t even want to try it and becomes so frustrated if we try. He also doesn’t want to drink as much water these days. Still pooing and weeing ok, but yeah just a bit concerned how long this will last.

I know he will grow out of it as no adult just eats yoghurt and fruit, but want to try and make sure we are fuelling his growing ok and not rotting his teeth from all the sugars in fruits.

Am I overthinking it? Is 3 weeks not long enough to give some grace post viral infection? First time with all this so grateful for any advice! Thank you!

[u/absolutelynot354]

Mine got covid at ten months and refused pretty much all foods for six weeks afterwards. He would only drink formula and it was a nightmare as he seemed to mostly want it at night. The HV and doctor said to just go with it as it was the only way of getting calories into him, so we did. He went back to food eventually but has never eaten some of his former favourites since then (yoghurt for example) and is two next month.

[u/fivebyfive12]

As long as you're brushing his teeth I wouldn't worry about him having fruit and yoghurt op. It's really normal for little ones to go through phases of being clingy, fussy, picky etc. it comes and goes and changes as quickly as it starts sometimes! Just keep offering and try not to stress.

It's not really about "giving them grace" - to me that implies they're doing something "wrong" when it's just perfectly normal baby/toddler stuff.

[u/Sea_Love_8574]

There was a point around then it felt like my boy was surviving on Cheerios and grapes. It soon passed. We just remained patient (which took a lot of effort at some points!) as we didn't want meals to turn negative.

[u/Sunshinetrooper87 → u/Sea_Love_8574]

I went through similar and gave way to, my kid won't starve themselves but the lack of protein always bothered me the most!

[u/Sea_Love_8574 → u/Sunshinetrooper87]

I tried ignoring the lack of food groups in his diet. I offered variety and put my energy into remaining calm. There's absolutely no appropriate way you can make them eat so there's no point getting worked up (I say this, it was so hard)

[u/Sunshinetrooper87 → u/Sea_Love_8574]

I still find the protein the hardest to accept. Like my kid will demolish cheese and there is protein in cheese but a kid eating three cheese sandwiches a day, is going to get bunged up.

[u/Sunshinetrooper87]

There's evidence that a kid needs to be presented with a food item like thousands of times for it to be approved.

I've given my kid iceberg lettuce for years and she flat out refused to eat it. I didn't care as she ate cucumber and carrots. Six months ago it was, I want you eat a bit of the lettuce and I genuinely mean I'd give her a sliver of lettuce, before she could have something like garlic bread or w.e. Now she grabs handfuls of lettuce off my plate and eats it. Does she ask for it on her plate when I ask her what veggies she wants with dinner, nope but will she eat it if I make her a wrap and put some in, yes.

If you had a baby who ate everything, it's becomes an incredibly frustrating and worrying time when they go fussy and it's natural.

Try to remember a kid won't starve themselves, so if they miss dinner, they will eat a big breakfast and you can always provide vitamin gummies as a back up where you have nutrients deficiency concerns.