20mth old not progressing food wise

[superbaby]

My DS (now 20mths still does not seem to be progressing with food as I had been hoping.
He always has a good breakfast (1weetbix/ half a baby yoghurt fed by me and a piece of vegemite toast cut into pieces - self fed. For lunch the only food he will self feed is cheese on toast - his favourite, otherwise I have to spoon feed him various (e.g. shepherds pie, rissottos, scrambled eggs, pasta dishes). The only food he wants to self feed with a fork are pieces of avocado. He refuses to feed himself with a spoon. Dinner is largely the same, although I keep trying bits of crumbed, chicken,meat and fish of which he will generally only eat one or two bits. I have tried offering various finger foods at lunch and dinner incl veges but these are just repeatedly thrown on the floor. The only veges he will eat are mashed and fed to him or within meals. He eats a bowl of apple and pear puree combined with half a mashed banana and strawberries each day at lunch. At dinner he gets a bowl with half yoghurt/ half a puree and a few spoonfuls of jelly - this is always eaten!!
I have tried offering fruit repeatedly as snacks but as these have always been refused I have pretty much given up and give a couple of jatz sticks or half a milk arrowroot.
Milkwise he has 150ml on waking and at lunch and 200ml at bedtime.

I need some advice as to how to move things forward. Specifically do I need to push the self feeding issue now? put more finger foods down and if thrown stick to that being all that is offered in the hope that hunger will eventually push him to change? Re snack times, should I only offer fruit?
Thanks

[the pero clinic]

Dear Superbaby,

As a starting point with fussy eaters, it is always a good idea to look at your bub’s feeding routine and intake. Would he be hungrier / more interested in food if he were given smaller meals more frequently (every 2-3 hours)? Or a dinner-type meal at lunch? Or less milk to drink?

I notice that he is having about 500mL of milk each day as well as yoghurt and cheese. Toddlers need 4-6 serves of dairy each day with a serve of milk being only 125mL, which you are easily reaching – but is he perhaps not motivated to eat much at dinner when he knows to expect 200mL of milk shortly afterwards?

Toddlers can vary greatly in their hunger patterns and it can take some time and patience to figure out the best food routine to match. Remember that their appetites are only brief (less than 10 minutes!) so look out for, and respect signs of hunger and have food ready.

It would be good to persist in encouraging self-feeding and learning to use a spoon. See a recent reply to “ 1 yr old feeding self with a spoon” in this section for ideas on learning to use a spoon. Also, encourage you son to alternate between being fed a mouthful and feeding himself. Gradually expect more self-feeding as his skills improve.

It is up to you to decide what food boundaries you set for your bub. If you decide that it is not ok for food to be thrown, then calmly take away any meal or food that is thrown, and remove your son from his highchair. Do not react with frustration, anger, tears or laughter – as any emotions or interaction will only reinforce his behaviour and encourage a battle of wills. Your son won’t starve before his next meal.

Finally, have a look at “Won’t eat Fruit” and many other posts within the Fussy Eaters section for ideas about encouraging toddlers to eat fruits and vegetables.

the pero clinic