Good Eater Now Refuses Everything!

[OCMom]

My previously always hungry 14 month old is now so picky he hardly eats anything. I have always offered a balanced variety of choices at each meal and he used to have favorites like yogurt, cheese cubes, banana, sweet potato, waffles, and most all of the gerber fruit/veggie tubs. Now he refuses everything including milk even when I know he's hungry (and hungry = crabby!) This week he only wants graham crackers or watermelon, and his fluid intake is down. Any suggestions to get him the nutrition needed?

[MommaC]

I have nothing brilliant to say, but my daughter occasionally goes through these phases. I keep offering her the good stuff. I withhold the stuff she wants as long as I can...then I let her have it because a little bit of something is better than nothing. I'm often concerned about her fluid intake because it greatly impacts her pooping ability. I just offer her drinks as often as I can, but I don't push it (don't want to make it a pressure/power struggle thing). You can try adding a little juice to his drink to make it tastier (I'm not convinced it makes a difference for my daughter), or you can teach him a trick. My mom taught my daughter to do the "refreshing sigh of satisfaction" after taking a drink. Now she's constantly signing for a drink because she wants to do her trick (she's almost 11 months). Her trick is always reinforced by our laughter or mimic. Good luck to you--don't sweat it...it'll pass.

[fuzzy]

My doctor told me that I should expect a decrease in appetite at his 12 months check-up,And since then I have!It's not all the time but once every couple weeks he'll go a few days without eating as much as I think he should.
I like mommaC try to offer the healthy choice stuff!I'm curious does he eat on his own?You mentioned the fruit and veggie tubs that's why I ask;When my son stopped eating jar food (11-12m) I really had to be creative on what real food I could give him(he refused anything I tried to give him that was in a jar)Maybe that is where your son is at?? My son is 14m and eats what we eat and has been for a couple months at least now. Good Luck!