is it normal at 18 months for toddlers to become fussy over food?

[tracynben]

hi everyone, my lo is nearly 18 months, and for the past 2 or 3 weeks, hes been quite fussy with his food, nearly everything i cook him he doesnt really seem to eat, he will only eat certain foods.
he will eat fruit, yoghurt and tuna pasta, everything else he just seems to throw it on the floor.
he even eats the jarred food more than mine, but i only give it him occasionally.
Does anyone else have these problems, anything i can cook that he may eat.
i dunno if its anything to do with the fact hes learning to eat better with fork n spoon but not quite there, and i dont know if he gets frustrated.
thanks
tracy

[EmMUK74]

he will eat fruit, yoghurt and tuna pasta, everything else he just seems to throw it on the floor.

wow, he's Rachel!  sounds really normal to me, he's starting to hit the fussy bit but don't worry hopefully it won't last for long and will probably change from food to food.  Those foods are rachel's definite eats, any fruit at all, most yoghurts and tuna and pasta until she looks like it.  she loves meat but not if it's with any sort of potato or veg; but if I offer her up a potato and veg cake she'll eat that mostly.  I can hide veggies in pasta sauces and as long as it binds well to the pasta then she'll eat it.  I try something different most days and have had to accept the fact that she'll eat it or it won't; it's no big deal and every 3rd day I give her something I KNOW she'll eat and let her have as much as she can.  she hasn't gained weight in months but she's gaining height and she's got loads of energy so I try not to worry.

I hope you manage to find more foods that are eaten OK, good luck.

[amywiz24]

I'm pretty sure it is normal for toddlers to go through phases where they get extremely picky. ANd also go through phases where they just don't eat very much. It may also be  related to teething. I wouldn't worry if he appears healthy otherwise.

[elmarie]

Oh yes, it is normal.  At the moment our DD will only eat frozen corn (frozen out of the packet LOL) baked beans and tuna mixed (yuk!).  But I know next week it will be something else-so don't worry about it...

[lilmonkey]

I would say that it is rare to have a toddler who is NOT a picky eater.  It is a phase that will come and goes.  It is frustrating but as long as your lo is healthly, sleeping well and active there is nothing you can really do other than just keep offering.  I have friends with older children (6+) and they all said that the pickiness went away at around 5/6 yo.  So there is hope. 

Mimi

[appletree]

I'm having this same issue with Bella (she's 19 mo.) only, she's also allergic to dairy products (soy, too). I feel like she's so picky and I'm so limited on what I can feed her that the poor girl isn't eating much of anything. She does like fish stix (occassionally), lunchmeat, corn dogs, hot dogs, pb (sometimes), bread/biscuits sometimes, applesauce and tomatoes (sometimes). Seriously, this is about it. Ideas anyone? AND, she too throws it on the floor if she doesn't like it or doesn't want to try it.  ugh.