[coolbabe843]

My 14 month old wont eat ANYTHING except chicken nuggets and potatoes...i been trying for days now at dinner time to give him new things and he throws it on the floor and wont even try it and i dont know what to do...he recently went to the doctor and his blood work came back hes anemic and i feel likes its my fault that he dont eat better...anyone have suggestions it sure would help...THANKS!!

[JeanLynn81]

Well the chiclen is a good source of iron, so it can't hurt. Although try baked chicken. You can add different spices until you find a flavor he likes.

Melon is good for anemia. Of course green vegetables. Whole grain cereal. Try different cereals.

Alyssa can be picky. But most of the time she just doesn't like the way something looks. So I Always give her a bite first (yeah I shove it in her mouth ) and when she gets a taste, and realizes she likes it, she gobbles it all up.

Good luck!

[JeanLynn81]

I also wanted to add that milk is great for anemia too. Will he take a bottle with milk and cereal (preferably oatmeal)?

[KR258]

I also have to shove the food in her mouth for her to at least taste it...but even then she's still very picky. I don't think there is any trick to get them to eat...just show them that their favorite person likes it or if you have other kids or a cousin...make it a point to show like "look so and so likes it! Yum" Then they're more likely to try it but if they don't like it they probably still wont eat it.

[DivasMomma]

I just wont give in to my daughter...she either eats what i give her or she wont eat...sometimes her plate sits on the table for 2 hours before she realizes shes not getting anything else, and next thing u know the plate is empty!! Believe me, once they get hungry enough, they will eat whatever is there! GL!

[mollymae]

Although too much milk can decrease appetite and cause anemia. I believe I read an article about milk anemia. Although i might be wrong.

I would just keep offering a varied diet and if he is hungry he will eat eventually.

[Alejandros Mommy]

Don't feel bad. All kids go through this stage. My now 8 year old was extreamly picky with cooked vegtable for the longest time. My MIL tells me that when my Dh was young he wouldn't eat anithing but macaroni and chef boyardee for weeks.

It does pass. He is testing you and also develpoing his palate. He is still to young make him eat. Just try differnt foods. Have you tried allowing him to help you make his food? I know it may be messy but I have done this with Aiden for the longest time and he eats almost everything 'he makes'.

[LeanyBean]

Originally Posted by DivasMomma

I just wont give in to my daughter...she either eats what i give her or she wont eat...sometimes her plate sits on the table for 2 hours before she realizes shes not getting anything else, and next thing u know the plate is empty!! Believe me, once they get hungry enough, they will eat whatever is there! GL!

Here, Here!!!!

This is exactly what we do. It is our job as parents to offer our children food, we cannot force them to eat what we offer. Sometimes they just aren't hungry and sometimes they are just stubborn.

As for the anemia, perhaps trying a half of a child's chewable vitamin every day. Just talk with your ped first about it and perhaps they can offer up suggestions. Of course pushing lots of cereal may help the anemia too. The vast majority of cereals on the market are fortified with iron.

[DK615617]

I agree with the whole "if they get hungry enough they will eat" theory. It must be hard to do though.
Good luck, I hope you figure out something that works.

[MommyDee]

You are so NOT a bad mom... almost every kid goes through that (unbelievably frustrating) picky stage at some point. We've been through iron-deficiency anemia with Gabriel as well; he had bowel issues and was refusing solid food in favor of his milk. Unfortunately, milk actually inhibits the absorption of iron, so that just compounded the problem. You want to make sure if you're offering iron-rich foods or supplements (you can get chewable multivits with extra iron), hold off on the milk til at least an hour or two later. Vitamin C on the other hand helps with absorption; we used to hide Gabriel's iron supplement in orange juice.

If you're looking at anemia, you need to try and get him eating more, even if you have to concede a little... Try some kid-friendly but decently healthy foods. Peanut butter is a decent source of iron (if he's not allergic) and most kids like it -- Gabriel eats it by the spoonful. Also, if you can get him interested in hamburgers (or even meatloaf), you can puree and hide TONS of veggies in ground beef (or pork or chicken) -- he'll never know what he's eating! I had iron deficiency when I was a teenager, and my mom cooked, pureed, and mixed liver into my hamburgers... and I didn't even know until she told me. Best of luck -- and don't worry, he'll get there!