Within the last few weeks Autumn has started doing something that she has not done in quite a while. She has gone back on a food strike. Now, unlike our last go around, she is not on strike everyday. This time it seems to be more of an every other day occurrence. One day she will eat everything that I put in front of her and ask for more, it is like I cannot fill the child up. The next day she will eat nothing but Fruit Loops and Goldfish, sometimes I can sneak some cheese in there.
I hate the back and fourth of this! One day I feel like Super Mom because she has eaten three well balanced meals and seems to be filled to the brim, the next day I feel like a Super Failure and worry that I am putting my baby to bed hungry.
We have started trying to cut back on the amount of milk, juice and water that she drinks during the day, in case that is a part of the problem. I think that she has become so accustomed to having her sippy cup in hand, that she drinks just to have it.
I am also trying to mix up her foods and introduce different things (which can be difficult, she is a picky eater and not fond of trying new things). Due to her pickiness, I have been sticking to things that I know she will eat, but I think she may be getting tired of having a rotation of the same meals, I know I would.
Everything that I have read seems to chalk this up to the age, and says it is just another phase. Hopefully, these sporadic hunger strikes will end soon so my fear of my baby turning into a giant Fruit Loop will end as well!
Have any of you gone through something similar with your little ones? How did you get them into a more consistent eating pattern, or is this something that I am going to have to wait out?
How old is she? My son (20 months) was doing this recently. Like you it was driving me insane! So frustrating. We cut back on milk and only gave it to him AFTER he ate his meal. It helped...but only a bit. Would you believe we accidentally stumbled on a solution...?? Lunchables...and not just the lunchables...the containters! He loves the little compartments...so after he at the lunchable food we saved the containers...washed them of course and put whatever we wanted him to eat (unless is was liquidy) in them! Works great for lunchtime! Also, he used to hate using a spoon and would make us feed him, one day he just grabbed it from me and started using it and now he loves to feed himself yogurt and applesauce like a big boy. Hope in some regard this helps. I do hear its the age but that doesn't help us mommies does it?
ReplyDelete--Sandy
www.AsToldByMommy.blogspot.com
I have had problems with hayleys eating since she's been a baby. We had all sorts of hunger strikes. I really have no ad vice but I hope it gets better! I can commensurate.
ReplyDeleteKim, I am still going through this with Ash and she is almost 10. Every meal is a challenge and it is always hit or miss. She is the pickiest thing but then gets tired of eating the same thing. I only luck out when she is in a growth spurt and can't do anything but eat! Good luck!!
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