Desperate Help Needed - Eating in a nearly 3 year old

[Oana]

I've been having eating problems with my nearly 3 year old for ages

I started weaning at 5 months and up until 12 months he never refused a thing - be it fruit,veg, whatever etc

He got a cold at about 12 months and since then has never eaten anything bar the following:

Bread
Toast
Cheerios
Cornflakes
Occassional weetabix
Occassional shreddies
very occassional bannana
philidelphia
jam
marmite
organix cereal bars
custard
yoghurt

(but would eat any sweets/chocolates given half the chance)

I've had various conversations with health visitor etc and they just say keep trying offering new foods.

I find it so difficult as I eat a very rounded diet and feel bad that he doesn't and I may be doing him harm

We eat as a family every night, same food, have tried 'special cutlery/plate' and also exactly the same as the rest of the family. Have also tried him with friends who eat well and he has lunch at nursery three times a week so I feel we have tried eating with peers to encourage him...

I'm not sure what else to try? Or would love to hear from someone who is in/has been in a similar situation

[Duckie]

I think you might get more replies if you post this in Feeding & Weaning . I'm sorry I can't help with your problem but some people who have experience might be more likely to see it there .

[noddy]

We had the same problem with Henry when he was that age and are going through it now with Betty. Henry now eats 90% of what we eat but he's still not overly fussed with meat other than sausages or chicken (the four of us eat as a family each evening). Really it was just a case of waiting for him to stop being so fussy - although one of the things that helped for us was him having school dinners and getting used to trying what his friends tried. We have a rule now that he has to try everything we put on his plate, if he doesn't like it then he doesn't have to eat it.

With Betty I give her things at lunchtime that I know she'll eat (bread, cheese, Goodies bars! grapes etc) and then give her the same dinner as us in the evening. More often than not she'll just push it away unless it's noodles or sausages, but I'm assuming she'll just grow out of it like Henry did.

because I know how worrying/irritating it can be.

Noddy

[Oana]

Thanks ladies, I will also post in feeding & weaning.

Noddy - you approach sounds the same as mine so hopefully they will both improve like Henry has. Do you withold snacks during the day?

It's nice to know I'm not the only one

[Samba]

Does he eat what they give him at nursery? I'm betting he does a lot of the time ... what little monkeys they can be!

Sorry I don't have any suggestions, but I know how stressful it can be