Teething or Being Picky?

[theu.s.lees]

My 16 month old DS has been hardly eating anything the past week. He's usually a great eater - he will eat curry couscous, quinoa dishes, etc, without a problem. He would go through phases while teething where he didn't want much beyond soy yogurt and applesauce or those squeeze packs for a couple of days. DH and I didn't think much of it since he was teething, and he'd go back to eating regularly after a few days.

This time, it is lasting a bit longer. I'm pretty certain he's getting a couple of his eye teeth, but it has been a week of struggles at meal time. The other day he had 3 bites of applesauce and 2 garbanzo beans for lunch. Dinner would be similar.

We keep trying squeeze packs or anything, but he's not wanting much at all. I'm afraid that we are creating a monster once this passes, if it is just teething. Or do you think he will go back?

[*Liz*]

Sounds like teething to me really  .

Personally I think teething partly causes a lot of toddler eating issues though - even in those who do on to be horribly fussy eaters.

[ZacsMumme]

It was exactly this age we hit food issues. .... We still have them but honestly they seem to teeth the entire 1-2 years!  (well my monkey has)

FWIW 50% of the time I think teeth, and the other 50 I suspect typical toddler fussiness. I have found though, the more try to fix it, or stress over it, the worse Z is. Keep offering, and as long as over a few days yor LO eats a balanced diet then try not to stress too much.

ATM with a cutting canine Z will destroy toast, yogurt and bananas...that's it I've found ways to 'sneak' anything neccersary in ie spinach in a toasted sandwich.

So happy to hear your post Liz, this is what I'm starting to feel...even if Z is going to be fussy, the teething process and age makes it impossible to really deal with.

[~*Nicole*~]

Our DS is quite picky and not a very good eater...and honestly, he is cutting his canines right now (I can see a couple/few have broken the gum and they are all irritated) and right now he's really at his absolute worst for eating. Today was a particularly bad day.

[theu.s.lees]

Not that I wish this on anyone, but it is good to hear I'm not alone. I know that he's teething, but it is tough because he will eat applesauce, but then he could eat crackers all day long. I will keep offering things and see how he does. The hard part is that I feel he's not getting enough food in general, not just well balanced. With the squeeze packs, I know he's at least getting some veggies, and some days he will eat garbanzo beans (we are vegan so meat and cheese are out).

It just feels like we have a tough week, then a good week, and then another tooth comes along to ruin our stride!

[ZacsMumme]

FWIW we are also squeeze packing to get extra fruit and veg in when I worry. Zonly seemsto want them when teething so I figure teeth are more atplaythan we sometimes think

Hang in there, I've heard that when they are 6-7 yrsold they go from being fussy to eating everything!

[rlkoh]

My son won't eat anything that comes in a squeeze pack or appears to be a puree - no applesauce, no guacamole (which he used to love), no fruit packs, no yogurt, no dip of any kind whatsoever.  He started to refuse them after he got sick once around 10 months - he's 18 months and still refuses.  We try to not let it bother us and not make a big deal, we just wait a few days, or weeks, or even a month or so before we try again.