What CAN your toddler eat?

[newmamalizzy]

I'm considering starting Early Intervention for my 18 month old, but first I wanted to check in here and see how our situation compares to others her age.  I feel like her biting and chewing skills are really underdeveloped for her age.  There are lots of foods that she simply can't (won't?) eat, even though she seems to like the taste of them.  Anything with a skin (blueberries, grapes, beans, etc.), anything crispy (crackers, pita chips), anything remotely hard (any raw veggie, some cooked veggies, some firmer fruits), and most other things that don't squish with the tongue (rice, tortillas, lots of other things).  Her little friend ate a granola bar at playdate last week.  I can't imagine Bea ever being able to eat a granola bar.  So...I'm curious.  Does this sound within normal range? Are there foods your toddler simply cannot physically eat yet? 

[bluedaisy]

At 18 months my DD was pretty much eating everything, with the exception of very hard things like almonds or other hard nuts.  She was definitely eating all kinds of fruits and crackers.

It sounds like there might be an issue with her biting or chewing skills.  For me, it seems like your dd's diet is more limited than a typical 18 month old.  I think it would be worth it to get it checked out

[Adaline'sMama]

DD's normal diet consist of things like:

granola bars
fruit- apple slices, peach slices, grapes, blueberries, watermelon, orange slices
milk and cereal (which she eats with her hands)
cheese
hard boiled eggs
cookies, crackers, chips (she can eat them, but I dont often let her)
graham crackers
yogurt and granola with a spoon


she doesnt really eat raw veggies, but she can eat them cooked. I would say that at months she eats just about everything. Very occasionally we will come accross something that is too hard for her (sliced of raw bell pepper). I would talk to the ped about it, it may just be that everyone is different. DD has always been super excited about food, some babies get started eating later than others.

[MommyofNRM]

I agree with PP. I'd get it checked out. At 18 months, my ds was eating basically everything we were. Crackers and granola bars were a favorite. Good luck! 

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Yep here too. DS can eat most anything, although I do try to avoid the traditional choking hazards (but he has swiped those too on occasion and had no problem with them). I'd consider getting it checked out - even if it turns out she's just a late bloomer in that department (most kids are at something), better to catch a problem early :)

[newmamalizzy]

Thanks for the input, everyone.  EI is going to get back to me next week, and I think it seems right to get her evaluated.  She's always been a little slow to take to solids, but I think she'd be happier and less frustrated with food if she felt like she could eat the things she wanted to eat.  Hopefully EI will be able to help us.

[northerngirl]

Does she have any molars yet? Or is she teething?

My dd is 19 months and she has a pretty limited diet due to food intolerances, but the hardest thing I have given her is a rice cake. Even then she really just sucked on it and maybe nibbled bits off the side but never really chomped down and ate it. She is just now starting to get one molar, it just barely popped through. I do not think she is ready for raw veggies or things like raw apple or whole nuts. Not only a choking hazard, but how would she really chew it without molars? 

I would think if she is growing/hitting milestones fine she's probably getting enough food. Did she start solids later?

My older dd didn't really start eating lots of different things until she was 2. 

[ellemenope]

My DD could not eat fruit or raw veggies until she was closer to 2.5.  She still spits out chicken if it is dryer white meat.  She still will not eat a sandwich or piece of pizza right.  She is a picker.  We never had her evaluated because our pediatrician was not concerned with her weight and overall development, and she continues to make steady improvements.  She can now eat a whole apple and grapes.  She can nibble on a raw carrot.  She is three.  I think a lot of it was pickyness and is all in her head.  For example, she will not eat applesauce in any other form except when it is in those squeezers.  Then she loves it,  She still won't drink chocolate milk.  Who won't eat chocolate milk?  She has trouble with chicken and then eats whole sushi rolls.  We have had to be very inventive the past couple of years, and persistent.

Good luck with the evaluation.  I am interested in what they say.

[lovepickles]

DD is still on fairly soft foods. She is 22 months and started solids about a year ago. Long strips of baby broccoli and zucchini are her favorite things to chew on, but only if they are overcooked. I usually cook them on in a cast iron skillet with a lid with some olive oil and salt and pepper. The zucchini just mushes in her mouth after she picks it up but the broccoli is a little more of a side bite. Tofu is also a favorite, but only if I put a little soy sauce on it.

Her first set of molars aren't finished coming in yet so I don't even think twice about not chewing more solid things. I think it is totally fine to still be on softer stuff until they are in and don't hurt from teething. Oh and DD HATES skin (apples, grapes, etc)  but just spits it out. She's curious enough to bite into it but it just winds up on her chin, shirt or back on her plate once she has eaten the part she likes.

New food abilities happen very slowly in our house. Since getting her bottom molars in she has slowly become more adventurous. Corn on the cob really got her into a "hey let's bite this and see what it tastes like" phase.

Good luck.

[Honey693]

My 13 month old eats everything.  Tonight she had raw apples, chicken, raisins, cheerios and applesauce.

[Ginger Bean]

My 13mo will eat raw apple (cut into thin sticks) and other things that require some chewing, but he has a real hard time with anything dry and grainy. He won't eat cheerios, cookies, bread, puffs, etc. He sometimes will suck on a pizza crust.

[sk8boarder15]

My 13mo old seems to be an exceptionally good chewer and eats everything we let him. He only has 6 teeth but we pretty much let him eat everything but nuts and sweets and he gladly eats it all. Right now he is eating some black beans and string cheese. He also eats all types of fruits, crackers, most veggies (some raw ones he cant really eat without molars, but he tries) eggs, hummus, lots of things. 

Is your child is breastfeeding? If so at least it is filling any nutritional gaps. I know lots of kids that weren't big eaters for a long time. She may gain interest as she gains teeth...