What does your 12mo old eat??

[DisFam95]

OK..I have a 4yr old and I can't recall what I fed him at that age. DS11mo had such a bad gag reflex he's just now eating chunkier foods. I just started him on meat sticks (pieces), diced apples/peaches. He LOVES his Cheerios. I just bought some of those Gerber microwavable dish meals like small raviolis etc.

What about while travelling? Have you ever asked for the kitchen to serve anything for the baby (at the table service places)? ANy ideas? I can microwave those little meals in the hotel kitchen but not while I'm out in the parks.

SO what have you served your 1yr old at the parks?

Any help appreciated

 

[all4fun]

I don't have a lot of advice because my ds had major oral aversion issues at that age but I wanted to point out that you can bring baby food into the parks and the baby care centers do have high chairs and a small kitchen w/microwave. So if all else fails, you still do have that option. hth.

 

[rt2dz]

MY youngest DS will be 12 months Friday. He wouldn't eat baby foods. Gag. Spit them out. Pull the mush out of his mouth with his hands. Our Pedi said at his 9 month well check, except for certain choking foods that kids shouldn't have until 3/4 years old regardless (depends on the food), he could eat whatever I ate. It just has to be tender. And he only started getting in teeth two weeks ago.

That kid eats pasta like there's no tomorrow. All kinds of breads. Peaches, pears, gerber graduate apples, loves carrots, potatoes, fish (loves fish), banana slices/chunks. Just anything he can put in his mouth himself (except green beans--hates those & I don't blame him) he chows on.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

My youngest is now 13 months. He eats basically whatever we eat. If we go out to eat, my two youngest will share a kids meal. I just tear everything into small pieces. He loves grilled cheese and pizza. And pasta is also a favorite. I try to get a cup of fruit as his side dish, and I just cut that into really small pieces. He won't have anything to do with baby food anymore, unless I let him experiment with self feeding with his spoon.

It's a lot easier to feed him now!

 

[sdoll]

I have a 13 month old and he too eats anything. I was nervous about trying regular food but we went on vacation when he was 9 mos. old an I was unsure what to feed him so we just tried different things. He so far likes everything. I learned not to put everything on his plate at the same time because he shoved everthing in. Now he is fine. He loves fruit. I cut up grapes into quarters, peal apples and cut them up, blueberries you name it he eats it.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

I just have to say you guys are so lucky! My dd 2.5 is the pickiest eater ever! My oldest eats a large variety of foods for her age, but dd 2.5 won't. It started early - didn't like baby cereal, didn't like veggies, not too many fruits, none of the baby meals... <sigh> And I never met a baby that gagged and choked on absolutely anything as much as she did! Things are much better than they were a year ago, but it's still a challenge feeding her.

Keep your kids on a varied diet and stick to it, and it will make life so much easier later. Although if they are born naturally picky like mine,
I know you didn't ask, but had to get that off my chest! lol Thanks for listening.

 

[bgirl29]

When my youngest was little she was a TERRIBLE gagger. I would take along bananas to smash for her or the individual applesauce containers. She would eat potatoes and gravy or mac and cheese at restaraunts along with some smashed veggies, usually carrots or green beans. Breakfast would be eggs, smashed fruit, maybe some pancakes. We really had to watch what she would eat because no one wanted to see everything come back out if she tried something too chunky But with practice we soon learned what worked for her. Good luck! I know this can be a challenge.

 

[rt2dz]

I just have to say you guys are so lucky! My dd 2.5 is the pickiest eater ever! My oldest eats a large variety of foods for her age, but dd 2.5 won't. It started early - didn't like baby cereal, didn't like veggies, not too many fruits, none of the baby meals... <sigh> And I never met a baby that gagged and choked on absolutely anything as much as she did! Things are much better than they were a year ago, but it's still a challenge feeding her.

Keep your kids on a varied diet and stick to it, and it will make life so much easier later. Although if they are born naturally picky like mine,
I know you didn't ask, but had to get that off my chest! lol Thanks for listening.

OK, I know, a little and I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I wanted to let you know, I KNOW what you are talking about.

DS2 barely eats anything. I can't get him to touch a vegetable. And I mean touch--with fork, spoon or fingers. What fruits he will eat is limited. There are about 6 foods he will eat, and not necessarily every time they are served to him. Our pedi has us giving him a vitamin and a pedisure every day just to make sure he is getting nutrition. We also serve him V8 Fusion (tastes like juice, but gives him vegetable servings) to drink. Couple that with 16 oz of milk and a prayer, and were set.

You're right that some children are just born that way. My other two are great eaters, anything and everything, with one or two exceptions (green beans & peas--and who can blame them?).

 

[rt2dz]

I have a 13 month old and he too eats anything. I was nervous about trying regular food but we went on vacation when he was 9 mos. old an I was unsure what to feed him so we just tried different things. He so far likes everything. I learned not to put everything on his plate at the same time because he shoved everthing in. Now he is fine. He loves fruit. I cut up grapes into quarters, peal apples and cut them up, blueberries you name it he eats it.

Warning: I'm getting on a soap box here. The AAP does not recommend giving a child apples until much older (3). It tends to be a food like hot dogs (4) and popcorn (3) and hard candy (4). My pedi specifically warned me about apples b/c some many toddlers over the last several months have been rushed into the ER from choking on apples. Two of his patients didn't have good outcomes.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

OK, I know, a little and I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I wanted to let you know, I KNOW what you are talking about.

DS2 barely eats anything. I can't get him to touch a vegetable. And I mean touch--with fork, spoon or fingers. What fruits he will eat is limited. There are about 6 foods he will eat, and not necessarily every time they are served to him. Our pedi has us giving him a vitamin and a pedisure every day just to make sure he is getting nutrition. We also serve him V8 Fusion (tastes like juice, but gives him vegetable servings) to drink. Couple that with 16 oz of milk and a prayer, and were set.

You're right that some children are just born that way. My other two are great eaters, anything and everything, with one or two exceptions (green beans & peas--and who can blame them?).

Thanks for feeling my pain! It's good to know we're not alone!

To the OP, if you're in a pinch, the microwaveable meals don't have to be warmed, do they? Maybe I'm remembering wrong since my first dd, but I thought in a pinch they didn't need to be heated. Also, if you want to serve table food, buffets might offer you a wider selection than a regular restaurant.

 

[KirstenB]

R2dt2, thanks for the warning about apples. DD2 is turning 1 yr old this Saturday, and like the OP, I'm trying to remember what I fed dd1. Obviously, if she can eat at least some of what we're all eating, I start with that. For instance, on taco night, I take taco meat, some refried beans, cheese and rice, and stir it up to feed her. At lunch, sometimes it's mac and cheese, or canned veggies or fruits. Sometimes a cream cheese sandwich cut up into little bites.

We were just at Water Country, and I took the chicken inside the chicken nuggets to feed her. I had brought jar food, but she seems to really perk up when she's eating what we're eating.

At WDW, many kid's meals offer mac and cheese, so I'll probably do that. You can often buy applesauce, so ditto that too. I'll probably change my own eating habits while we're there, and deliberately order "softer foods" so she can eat what I'm eating. I remember at Epcot in the Land Pavilion, they had a huge variety of very nutritious offerings, which is unusual for counter service.

One thing that I try to pay attention to is sodium. I've never watched it for myself (although I guess we all should anyway). It can be hard to transition from jar foods to table foods, and watch the salt at the same time. It's really made me look at low sodium soft foods at the store.

 

[flortlebap]

Warning: I'm getting on a soap box here. The AAP does not recommend giving a child apples until much older (3). It tends to be a food like hot dogs (4) and popcorn (3) and hard candy (4). My pedi specifically warned me about apples b/c some many toddlers over the last several months have been rushed into the ER from choking on apples. Two of his patients didn't have good outcomes.

Apples are a recommended first finger food here in the UK from 6 months.

I don't really see them being a problem as long as you're there when your baby is eating!

As for the OP... my 12 month old likes any kind of fruit or vegetable, salad items such as peppers, cucumber and tomato. She likes "real" foods like cheese on toast, macaroni cheese or anything pasta based... sticks of cheese are good too, toast, crackers and butter, yoghurts, bread rolls etc are good snacks. Just mix and match according to what you can find on the menu! And ask for reduced salt and sugar wherever possible - at 12 months a baby's salt intake should be no more than 1g per day.

 

[kristenrice]

My 3 yo DD will barely eat anything. She won't even consider vegetables ("Those are bucky for me") but my 11 mo DD eats EVERYTHING! My DH actually let her eat top sirloin steak (supervised and in very tiny peices) and she probably ate about 3 oz of it. She will eat a 4 pc order of chicken nuggets and a cup of mandarin oranges from Wendy's when we eat out. She loves pizza, pasta, hot dogs, PB&J sandwiches, pancakes, and anything else that is edible that we can make small enough for her. Luckily, she will still eat baby food too. Now, if we could just get the 3 yo to eat.....

 

[sdoll]

rt2dz
If you read my post I wrote that I peel my apples and cut them up for my son. I would not dream of giving him apples with the peel still on or an apple not cut up. I am well aware of the foods he should not eat. When we started him on solids we were on vacation with my sister and her husband who happens to be an ER doctor. Not only do I read the books and ask my ped. I trust my BIL he was there and offered his advise on what we could and could not give our son.

 

[rt2dz]

rt2dz
If you read my post I wrote that I peel my apples and cut them up for my son. I would not dream of giving him apples with the peel still on or an apple not cut up. I am well aware of the foods he should not eat. When we started him on solids we were on vacation with my sister and her husband who happens to be an ER doctor. Not only do I read the books and ask my ped. I trust my BIL he was there and offered his advise on what we could and could not give our son.

I am sorry to have offended you. I DID read that you peel & chop your apples. All I said was my peditold me that apples are not good and they are on the AAP list of foods not to give your children until older. But, hey, in the UK they're recommended. Go figure. Of course, I don't know if they're recommended raw, but from the sounds of it they are.

My pedi has had a few kids in their (very large) practice that have gone in to the ER choking on apples. Apples are a food where the actual apple must be chewed, not just the skin. While most kids will have teeth at this age, not all do, AND most will not have in their molars--which is what people actually use to chew. The front teeth are more for looks & a tool (biting). Think about it, do you chew in the front of your mouth or the back of your mouth?

I'm not saying you are an uncaring parent. Or an uneducated parent. Or any type of awful parent at all. All I said was what my pedi told me. He specifically pointed it out because these kids were rushed to the ER, many having to under go surgery. The parents were there when it happened, which is why all but one lived. It was still a traumatic experience.

We feed our 1 yo apples. Just the softened ones in Gerber graduate jars. Or cooked apples. As per my Pedi's advice. We also only feed him meats if they're ground and only chicken if it is soft enough to fall off the bone. As per my pedi's advice. I also stay away from french fries, hotdogs, popcorn, hard candy, gum, raw carrots, etc all per the recommended AAP list. But, hey, I won't even dream of giving my kids something like chicken nuggets until they are at least 2--my oldest didn't get it for the first time until 3. But that's me.

Our 2nd DS has health issues. And we've almost lost him more than once. We've been to hell and back with his health and I take a lot of stock in our pedi from it. He HAD to find the best general pedi because of it, per our pedi specialists.

My pedi stays pretty up to date attending conferences and reading journals (not all Drs do, and I'm not saying yours doesn't...) and he is very highly regarded in the medical community (as why we chose him from what was mentioned in the above paragraph), including the #3 ranked children's hospital in the country. And don't forget there is a reason why Dr specialities vary, it is impossible to learn and be the best in everything--especially with children where there bodies work differently & parts aren't even located in the same places. Children's bodies just aren't mini adult bodies. We've learned that the hard way.

Hey, if you feel comfortable with your choices, why do you even care what I think or say? I certainly would never walk up to you and say "Don't do that". Heck, I see people giving there toddlers and infants things that make my stomach turn (hard candy or gum) and I just keep it to myself. It's none of my business. But someone asked everyone for advice, and I gave her mine. Or rather my pedi's. Again, I'm sorry you took offense at something that was not meant to demean you.

 

[ObsessedwithWDW]

My DD is 8 months old and I give her solid foods in the mesh net thing....

http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...&cp=2255981.2256162.2256179&parentPage=family

This makes it alot less scary and the fear of choking isnt there. I appreciate all the tips on here for traveling with a baby that does not eat ALL SOLIDS.

 

[tiff211]

MY youngest DS will be 12 months Friday. He wouldn't eat baby foods. Gag. Spit them out. Pull the mush out of his mouth with his hands. Our Pedi said at his 9 month well check, except for certain choking foods that kids shouldn't have until 3/4 years old regardless (depends on the food), he could eat whatever I ate. It just has to be tender. And he only started getting in teeth two weeks ago.

That kid eats pasta like there's no tomorrow. All kinds of breads. Peaches, pears, gerber graduate apples, loves carrots, potatoes, fish (loves fish), banana slices/chunks. Just anything he can put in his mouth himself (except green beans--hates those & I don't blame him) he chows on.

Aw, our little ones will be one on the same day! Happy birthday to your DS!! Not to hijack the thread but you feed him fish. I hadn't tried that yet!

 

[puffkin]

No help for the OP as my son is 5 1/2 months and is still on baby foods (and likes absolutely everything we have given him so far ).

However, everything I have read about table foods has apples (along with nuts, popcorn, raisens, hotdogs, etc) is on the list of high choking foods that should be avoided until 4 years old. Just wanted to agree with the previous poster that mentioned it.

 

[abcboys]

My youngest is 13 mo. and pretty much eats what we do within reason. I have been a bad mommy and given him 2 of the things on the do not eat list. Last night he had apples (I just cut them into small paper thin slices) and he has had popcorn (I usually try to bite the kernel out of it and give him the puffy part but several times he has grabbed the whole pieces and ate it, he is fast!!!) Pretty well he eats anything torn up into small pieces. Most soft fruits, cooked veggies, bread, pasta, etc. I tried several times to give him bites of salad but he thinks it's yucky!!

 

[sharlon]

Just took my DS (turned 1 7/19) to WDW the first week of August. We were on DDP, so he would eat his sisters' applesauce from their counter service lunches, some of my meat (hamburger, chicken, whatever) and some fries. I packed the single servings of Dole peaches in light syrup (he LOVES those), so he could have some fruit. For breakfast, he would eat pancakes, little tiny bites of bacon, and a banana or some freeze-dried apples. These are the Gerber (also available in Parents Choice brand at Walmart) freeze-dried apples that come in a bag with the baby food. They are very small and are completely dried. When they get wet, via saliva or any other liquid (or humidity if not sealed), they get VERY soft and are very easy to eat. There is no added sugar or anything, so it is still just apples, but it is safe for babies. We also buy the corn, which is actually pretty good (yes I tasted it), and he was able to eat this with meals in the parks.
As for Table service, I would either give him some of my food, cut into little pieces, some of his sisters' food (if they would share), or order him a kid's meal and pay OP. At the buffets, I just fixed him a plate. He really liked the chicken at Boma, which I tore into little pieces.
I hope this helps.