need food suggestion for 18mo

[smileymama]

hi!
my lo is super picky and eats finger foods, but not until he is full... he just wants his milk then. i am really trying to cut down on his milk intake but am going to have to gradually do it. he loves rice cereal (he likes almost anything plain and lacking in flavor) and giving it to him 3x a day is the only way that he is full enough to sleep through the night. does anyone have any suggestions for what else i can spoonfeed my lo that is high in calories, bland and heavy enough to make him sleep at night? any thoughts would be so wonderful.
xoxo.
smileymama

[zed]

I don't have much to offer you.  Sorry, but have you thought about mixing other foods into this cereal.   This may be a way to gradually increase his Torrance for other flavors and maybe even other textures?

I have done that and at the very least has been a way to get a more rounded diet into my LOs.

Just a quick question, Have you talked to your DR. about this?  Maybe there is another reason why this is happening.  I am quite clueless here just a thought.

In Tracy's book I seem to remember a similar problem.  I think she said that you have to start somewhere and even just one bite is better than none.  Then the next day ask for 2 bites and so on. 

Anybody have any other suggestions?  This has been a hurdle for me too.

[smileymama]

hi stacy,
thanks for your advice. i think i am going to try giving my lo some oatmeal... one of the moms on the picky food thread suggested that as it will stick with my lo longer.

to answer your questions, my lo has never taken a bottle but has used a sippy since he was 10mo. i think the main problem is that when he gets hungry, he asks for milk instead of food. if i start feeding him before he gets hungry, then i am able to give him other things besides milk. my lo loves using a spoon and a fork but he just doesn't eat until he is full.
thanks for your help.
xoxo.