I really need some advice. My daughter will be a year old on 9/23. She absolutely refuses to eat any table food or gerber graduates other than cheerios, raisins, yogurt, deli turkey, and sliced cheese. How do I get her to try new things? Every night I cook supper, and every night I put things she can chew on her highchair. She justs sits there and looks at it. The only reason she touches it is to through it off her chair. She isn't thin or anything (75th percentile weight and height), but I am worried she's going to be on baby food forever. Please give me tips if you have them. Thanks so much.

By Rayanne on Friday, September 3, 2004 - 08:52 am:

I don't know what to really tell you. I am still learning with my first. The only thing that I can think of, which I am sure you have probably done, is to feed it to her. Show her that it is ok to eat it. I hope you get some better advice. Sorry I wasn't much help.

By Emdee on Friday, September 3, 2004 - 09:39 am:

We have alot of problems with our dd (16 months old) eating anything (very small for her weight--3rd%), so we have tried everything. The thing lately that has been working is to let her try it on her own. I give her a baby fork or spoon and let her have a go. Sometimes she just plays and doesn't eat, but then when I least expect it I will see her eating something. She won't try new things either--sorry I don't have much advice other than keep trying! Good luck.

By Kellyj on Friday, September 3, 2004 - 10:09 am:

Sometimes what I do is eat a piece of whatever I want dd to eat right off of her plate. And then I make a big deal about how tasty it is. That usually gets her to at least try it.
I also try using things that I know she likes to try to get her to eat the things she might not like/try. For example...I cover broccoli with lots of cheese. New fruits that she is skeptical of get mixed up with a little bit of cool whip.
At that age my dd loved bread and yogurt and eggs. I'd put a thin layer of tuna fish between wheat bread and she'd eat it right up without inspecting it. I'd put meats, cheese and veggies into omelets for her and she wouldn't notice the veggies.

By Emily7 on Friday, September 3, 2004 - 10:28 am:

I still struggle with my ds. I feed him the table food, when he saw that he liked it he would try to eat it himself.

By Annie2 on Friday, September 3, 2004 - 04:17 pm:

If she is nursing or taking a bottle she just might not be all that hungry. The items that you mentioned sound diverse. Keep offering her new things, at least one thing each day on her plate.
Small amounts so she doesn't feel overwhelmed.

She'll eat when she wants. At this age kids don't starve themselves. They go through different stages of eating, sleeping, etc. Next month she may decide to eat you out of house and home! She'll eventually start to try different items. Be patient. I wouldn't worry or stress if she is otherwise happy and healthy.

Welcome to Momsview!

By Hdelfuego on Saturday, September 4, 2004 - 08:24 am:

thanks a lot! I really appreciate all the advise. I have shown her that it is okay by trying to feed her, and letting her feed herself, and eating it off of her highchair. Thanks so much KellyJ, maybe I can try.