What am I doing wrong? I think I have the worse eater :( :(

[Mom to M&M]

Wendy, I thought you said that Zach had been much happier off milk until you reintroduced cheese, etc? Sorry if I'm wrong. In any case, whining is DEFINITELY normal for any 18-month old. Marisa whines too. But if Zach is less fussy/happier off milk, especially if the immunologist feels he is MSPI, better to hold off until he's at least 2, IMHO.

But if you and DH want to give him "hidden" dairy cooked in foods that is of course your decision. I would only urge you to think twice about offering him stuff like McDonald's burgers and fries weekly. In addition to the dairy, there is so much that is unhealthy in that food (trans fats, etc) that it's just not worth it. I make my own burgers, but if you don't want to/don't have time, what about Trader Joe's? Or a chain like "Better Burger"?

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Mydreamcametrue]

To be honest, I cannot even remember when he was compelety off dairy.  I mean his poops did clear right up (the mucus and diaherra went right away), and I think he seemed happier, but still whined a lot.  Then he got that stomach bug and was in the hospital. 

After that my DH introdcued cheese to him and he seemed fine with it.  The only thing I did notice (espcially now since he is not having it), is it did give him a lot of really smelly gas.

So I honestly do think he can handle dairy cooked and in very small amounts. 

I am still watching it, but just not as closely as I was.  I mean if he wants a bite of my bagel
(the has a milk ingredient in it), then I am going to give it to him. 

I totally agree with the McDonalds.  I actually am not even going to do that anymore.

As far as my new way of going about his whining.  Well today worked great.  Everytime he whined, I loooked at him and said in a very calm voice "Zach, you are whining, please stop".  It worked. 

He ate wonderful at dinner tonight and afterwards he even played quitly by himself for almost 30 minutes.  I was cleaning the kitchen and kept having to look at him, becuase he was SO QUITE. 

One other thing I did was block all access to the kitchen.  There is a gate leading from the living room and the dining room, so know he can't come in the kitchen whining to get something.

Well better run and clean up..  He made a mess with the spegetti.  BTW, I pureed Zuchinni in it tonight and you could not even tell.

[*Natasha*]

wendy that is fantastic lets hope he keeps it up.

[binxyboo]

My guilty secret is that I LOVE McDonalds breakfasts. I love the egg & cheese bagel, no bacon, the potatoes and coffee. I would eat them every day of the week, but I restrain myself 6 days out of 7.

Sorry Wendy, that piece of trivia doesn't help you at all!

[Mom to M&M]

The reason I mention that, Wendy, is that I remember you saying that when he went off milk he was like a new boy - not whining all day long, finally into everything, etc. Perhaps he felt so much better at first off the milk but with the hidden dairy and cheese and McDonald's fries, etc he still was in some discomfort? Not sure - maybe he's just being a normal 18 month old LOL and whining - Marisa does sometimes too and have lots of activities and challenges for her certainly helps. In any case, glad the zucchini worked well!

[Mydreamcametrue]

Michelle:  I LOVE McDonalds's breakfast also.  My bad thing was Starbucks coffee every single day, no joke. I got a Mocha everyday.  Well now with being pregnant, it has been so hard to stop.  I did De-caf for a couple days and now I am trying nothing...  I don't know how that is going to work out, because it was like my little treat...

Karen:  You know I do remember saying that (sorry I have had so much on my mind lately).  Anyhow that he was a new boy into everything and maybe you are right with the hiddne dairy in fries, it still made him whine some. 

Who knows.....  I am just going to stick with what we said we are going to do and see if the whinning stops. 

So far today has been a good day.  He has ate well and everything.

[binxyboo]

My ob said it was better to drink one small coffee (8 ounce) than decaffinated becasue of all the chemicals in it.

[Mom to M&M]

I've heard that too with coffee. I was/am so paranoid that I just cut it out completely.

Wendy - does Zach drink juice? If so, you can offer V8 Fusion juice - I give Marisa 4-6 ounces/day and it has a serving of both fruit and veggies.

[Mydreamcametrue]

I never knew that about coffee.  I will have to ask about that.

Karen:  I have given Zach that juice before and he liked it.  I need to get some more.  It has been a while since I gave it to him because when he was having chronic diaherra, we avoided all juice.  Thanks for reminding me.

Well better run, DH has cooked me a steak tonight!!!

[AidansMommy]

Wendy,
Your question was probably already answered many times over but............With breakfast I always get a few bites into Aidan then hand him his sippy to drink from while I feed him his breakfast (lately he will eat french toast so i feed him this and he takes sipps of milk as needed).  If I give him milk before breakfast he won't eat much. hth.
Stay strong Wendy, you are doing the right things, it will come together, it will!
Big hugs, Tammy

[Mydreamcametrue]

I tried offering breakfast first, but he still are the same.  We are so used to waking up and snuggling on the couch while he drinks his milk (and I wake up).  I am just going to stick to that and not worry about it.

He pretty much eats all morning long.  He will eat a little breakfast (ex: pancakes) and come back a little while later and eat another one (mini).

For the past few days though, he has not eaten much of anything, but......  he is eating soemthing...