OK so Libby's (and ours) diet has been VERY poor the last few weeks, mainly because Simon cooks during the week and bless him he does try but its usually pasta and sauce (the ones in the sachets) with chicken steaks, fish and chips or pizza and chips. So I've been trying to be suttle and say that we need to cook 'proper' food as it's not healthy. So he's agreed and we tried sausages (I know not overly healthy but better) mash potatoes, mixed veg and onion gravy. Well she wouldn't touch it So we basically took it away and she had to sit there while we ate ours and then let her get down from the table. Anyway she was still saying 'yum yum yum' meaning she's hungry so I tried her again but nope she wouldn't eat it Anyway, left it for about 20 mins and tried her again and finally she ate her sausages (but wouldn't touch the rest )

My theory is if she goes to bed hungry a couple of times because she won't eat what we give her, eventually she will realise and eat it? Thats great in theory but she's so bloody tiny (only weighs about 21lb) and if she loses even a little bit of weight surely that's not healthy either?

Arrgghhh I just don't know what to do, I really don't want a fussy eater but she needs to eat. Do you think my theory is right or do you think I should give in if she doesn't want what we make to get the calories down her? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would say personally not to much a big fuss over it as she will pick up on it. If shes that hungry she will eat (sorry if that sounds mean) i always give tayla a pudding so i know if she doesnt eat her dinner then she wont starve! If she is fussy with her dinner i make her pudding a bit bigger, not like she would notice though!

mmmm thats a tough one. have you got a HV to ask advice?? the main thing to remember is you cant force a baby to eat (unfortunately ) if they are hungry enough they will eat. maybe try offering jacket potato with beans (carbs), or avocado which is full of nutrients and that "good" fat (cant think of the name),fishcakes, pasta shapes on tomato sauce - all good for filling her up - dont know what else to suggest x

p.s i know it must be a worry with her weight but i think libbys just a dainty girl My friends toddler doesnt eat...at all...she has a mouthful and spits it out :O but she is a far bit bigger than tayla still! (theres a new pic of the two of them together on my fb) x

I know the feeling suss. C is being a bloody nightmare at mealtimes at the moment. Shes ok at brekkie and lunch but is hardly touching dinner and as shes only just gotten back to 19lb after all the bugs she had im loathe for her to lose weight but at end of tether. I put her in highchair and she got nuts and throws her dinner. Im done cooking extra meals to try and get her to eat though. If she dont eat her dinner now she can have fruit and her bedtime milk. Shes gone to bed on milk again tonight cos she refused her pasta at teattime.

Just a suggestion, have u tried sitting them at a table? Be it your dining table or a kiddie table? Tayla eats much better at her table.

I find Izzy eats better if I just leave her to it, if I sit and look at her she will purposely throw food, feed the dog and play with her food!
If I get on with something in the kitchen or I am eating mine and me and Dan are just talking etc while eating (not at the same time lol) she eats really well

I also find that if I have left it til she is really hungry then she gets narked and doesnt eat well!
I usually get her in her high chair well before she is hungry, then give her something to nibble, cheese, cracker etc while I get her meal ready - then she is usually ready

Thanks everyone!!

Terri, yeah I've tried letting her eat on the chairs normally with us, on her booster seat, at the little table in the playroom and even letting her 'pick' in the lounge, we really try hard not to make a fuss but it's so hard when she's so small

Mario, yep that's exacly what Libby is like, she'll eat a huge bowlful of cereal for brekkie, a large ish lunch of for example a sandwich, mini chedders and some raisins/ice gems etc. But she does seem to want to eat at dinner until we sit her down in front of it, then she just whinges (even with the crap she's been eating) and chucks it on the floor

Leah, when Libby was younger the HV 'advised' me to feed her crap to get her weight up (which didn't work) so I don't really trust what they say anymore, thank you though

Maybe it's just a phase and if we perservere she'll eventually give in and eat what we give her?