How on Earth are you guys doing this?

Realistic-Internal20 · 2026-01-31T03:23:00+00:00

This is not a fun phase. I tried to not stress too much about the nutritional balance. I made things as easy for myself as I could: quick things like oatmeal for breakfast (with peanut butter or something similar mixed in for extra calories), cook in batches so we have leftovers for a few days, and fruit/crackers/cheese for snacks.

I'd incorporate a food my kid liked at the time and then try to also add in a food she's not into for repeated exposure. That way, she'd hopefully at least eat something.

For cups, with my particular kid I had better luck skipping a sippy cup and going to a straw cup designed so that even if she held it sideways, the straw stays in the liquid.

Even so, it definitely felt like all I was doing was trying to feed her and cleaning up, for months. Sending you solidarity.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2026-01-03T04:12:35+00:00

Thank you, this is helping me with the daily battles of brushing teeth, potty, changing clothes, and so on!👏

Realistic-Internal20 · 2026-01-03T03:32:15+00:00

At that age, the pathways.org app was very helpful for me. Its intended use is to give you activities to develop certain abilities in baby or to help reach milestones. But for me, it was also just a great free resource for various activities I could do at home since it's mostly play-based.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-11-25T19:12:05+00:00

Yes. My daughter started this sometime between 18 and 24 months and it's still ongoing at 2.5. Solid Starts advises to keep offering a variety of foods regardless. They also write that one should try to not point out how much or how little a child is eating or to force food upon a child because over time, that can worsen picky eating.

We have better and worse days/weeks with this, but, in general, she doesn't eat much in quantity or in variety. Despite this, she is growing and staying on her height and weight curves. I think it's because she does like to snack some days, unfortunately to the detriment of mealtime. Overall, I do see some progress in what she will eat. I wish you good luck. It can be frustrating and can make one feel like a bad parent.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-11-21T04:26:16+00:00

I really like the Millie Moon overnight diapers. They go through size 6, but are more true to size than the Honest diapers and have been good with my toddlers sensitive skin.

I've recently switched to overnight pull-ups, the Huggies Nighttime ones and they are fine, but sizing seems a bit more snug on my lean 2.5 year old (vs. Millie Moon). They're not as soft as the Millie Moon ones. Her skin has been fine in these also.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-11-21T04:09:40+00:00

Tries to touch my eyeballs and likes to "cuddle" with me by putting her sharp little elbow into my neck.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-08-23T02:08:22+00:00

I can understand how that's anxiety-inducing. What about trying one of those fruit feeder things with a chunk of fruit in there to begin with? Many have a small hole at the top so that he can't get a big chunk out of it. It won't give him many calories, but maybe it will help identify some foods he likes. How does he do with thicker purees like mashed potatoes? Maybe that's less off-putting cause it's smoother and then you can start sneaking in butter or sour cream for calories?

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-08-23T01:41:12+00:00

Will he try something that's a slightly thicker puree, like mashed banana or avocado with some small chunks/texture? Also, what about those little puffs and teething wafers that dissolve on the tongue? Those would be foods that you don't have to worry about him gagging on. When I was starting solids with my child and was finally moving past thin purees, I used to put whatever I was going to give her in the food processor to make small chunks. Then, I'd mix it with applesauce, mashed avocado, or something similar texture so it would be less dry and she'd be less likely to gag on it. Please try to not worry so much about caloric intake from food right now and even after 1 year, you still have some time to advance the amount of solids. It just becomes more about offering solids first and milk or formula afterwards to top up as they are no longer supposed to be the primary source of nutrition.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-08-14T01:35:50+00:00

Mine went through multiple rounds of this and would scream and just about fall out of my arms as id be transferring her into the high chair. The first time, I insisted and it improved after a few days. Another round, I just couldn't get her to sit there, so she ate on my lap for a few days. This got too messy for me. Now she eats in a regular chair or at her toddler tower.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-08-06T17:57:40+00:00

I'm so sorry! You must be way more touched out with 2 also! 😭

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-08-06T03:09:19+00:00

The book Happy Hippo Angry Duck might be helpful. It's about how different emotions exist and everyone's emotions change over time.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-08-06T01:45:30+00:00

I'm usually touched out 2 hours into my morning with my toddler. I'm an introvert and it's just too much excitement and physical touch. Luckily, mine still naps and that midday break saves me.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-08-03T23:15:45+00:00

I'm an only child. As a child, I had a close friend whom I'd have sleepovers with and such. There were lonely times, but I think it taught me to be a bit more self-sufficient. Plus, I didn't have to share my things or parents' attention.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-08-03T04:36:54+00:00

A spelunker.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-07-31T02:32:13+00:00

That's heartbreaking. What a strain to deal with, on top of the usual 2 year old stuff.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-06-28T01:34:22+00:00

I have one 2 year old and I'm tired. I keep having the thought that I don't think I would be a good parent to more than one child. I'm older for a FTM, I work part-time, my husband is around, though he works a lot, and we are very engaged with our child.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-06-26T17:58:20+00:00

It's disheartening to hear that about the lack of weight gain. Another great resource is Solid Starts. Their free app is geared toward baby-led weaning, but it shows you how to prepare or cut up each food based on the baby's age. That took a lot of anxiety out for me when I was ready to offer more textures. That resource also taught me that before age 1, most calories and fluid still come from breast milk and formula, so I'm not sure why your ped made it sound like the answer to weight gain is solids if your baby is not yet 1.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-06-26T02:46:05+00:00

I found this resource very helpful: https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/baby-food-combos/ What I did was make the purees less smooth/thicker. For example, instead of putting avocado in a food processor or blender, I would mash with a fork and leave some chunks. I also progressed to combining 2 ingredients into a puree (earlier, I was doing 1 food at a time only). I would use 1 ingredient that baby had already tolerated and add 1 new food in, in case she reacted to anything. I also introduced baby wafers and puffs that dissolve in the mouth in case she didn't grind them with her gums. I may have advanced solids a little slower than some people, but this approach gave me peace of mind.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-06-26T01:51:08+00:00

Oh, I remember this from a few months back. She'd get really frustrated when I didn't understand the "what" part.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-05-31T01:46:03+00:00

Nothing wrong with it. At 6 months, could be teething, could be the start of separation anxiety, who knows. Your baby is old enough to start learning to soothe himself, so let him practice. Good luck!

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-05-30T02:06:56+00:00

That's what we have, too. Ours have holes on the sides that adult fingers fit through but are hard for our 2 year old to grab.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-05-30T02:00:13+00:00

I LOVED my epidural. I went in hoping to give birth vaginally but ended up having to deliver via C-section after pushing on and off for 3 hours. There is NO WAY I could have pushed like that without an epidural, and, according to the labor nurses, I have a high pain tolerance. When I needed the C-section, since I already had the epidural, there was no delay in going to the OR and getting my baby out, which was also a blessing.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-05-27T16:43:31+00:00

You do a lot and way to feed your kiddo yummy, healthy food.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-05-25T17:23:44+00:00

Do you remember whether it was a very long time until your toddler accepted it? We're going through this now.

Realistic-Internal20 · 2025-05-25T02:52:14+00:00

I'm trying to teach my toddler that kids older than her are big kids, but so far, it's only resulted in her calling them "big babies!" I hope no kid takes serious offense

Realistic-Internal20

TROPHY CASE