What am I doing wrong?!

Question

I'm so frustrated! The older my 20 month old son gets, the less and less he eats actual food and the more picky he gets too. 
Everytime I sit him in his high chair to feed him something freshly cooked, he'll look at it, MAYBE touch it and if he does he'll lick it, decide he doesn't like it, and just THROWS it!!! Not even out of anger, but for funsies!!!! He knows what he's doing too because when he's done he says "uh oh, mess?" And he'll also point to it and say "cleaning?" I dont understand!!! And then he doesn't eat half of the solid food he should be eating at his age and asks for milk. To the point where he will have a tantrum to no end and literally starve himself until he has milk. He doesn't do it everyday but enough to where he will only snack on a few fruits and drink just milk for a whole day.
I do say no when he asks for milk and try and offer him solid food but he just spits it out or plays with it.
Please dont judge me. I'm a first time stahm and I'm just looking for help because we dont have the time nor money to be buying different ingredients every other day to try and make something and see IF he'll eat it or just play with it. 
I'm DESPERATE you guys!

Answer

Sounds like normal toddler behavior. Just offer what you cooked for yourself and maybe one thing you know he likes. He'll eat when he's hungry.

Answer

Sounds like he just wants to play. Maybe try 5 minutes of craft time in his highchair before giving him food? Or give him messy food (like mashed potatoes) straight on the high chair table and let him eat with his hands.
You could also put some plastic bags on the floor around the area. Then every time he throws something you can pick it up and put it back on the table. The game will stop being fun after a while.

Answer

I found that giving him just a few pieces of food at a time helped him not throw. When he had too much he would play with it. Also you can start to teach him this then that, have a yummy banana on the counter and green beans on his plate and make him eat one first before the other even if it’s just to taste or take a tiny bite first. It took a few meals for my son to get it, one dramatic session lasted 45 minutes of crying but now several months later he doesn’t argue and knows if he wants the yummy foods I set out he better get to eating his chicken! Also, one of my friends told me that her pediatrician said as long as they get in the equivalent of one meal a day you’re good! Best of luck!

Answer

Do you eat with him? Sometimes my son doesnt want to eat as much when I'm not eating with him. Honestly I give my son a meal and if he doesnt eat it then he doesnt eat. Lol he isnt starving by any means. But its normal toddler behavior to be picky so maybe smoothies for snacks will help and you can sneak some veggies in there if you're worried about nutrition. :)

Answer

Have you heard about feedinglittles.com ? They have great resources and also offer a course in feeding both babies and toddlers (if you want to spend the money).
But it sounds pretty typical for a child around age 2. And many things can cause a change in eating habits! Teething, growth spurts, developmental changes are big ones. Also sensory is a HUGE thing with kids, from taste to the color of the food.
If babe is growing, your doctor's aren't concerned, and they do eat a bit during the day I wouldn't worry too much.
Do you offer a cup of milk with meals? Or does he get milk "free range" (a cup he carries with him)
I would sit with him and eat even just a few bites of whatever he has (from my own plate), let him make a mess and help clean up when meal time is over. That seems to be what he wants to do.
If you find a food he likes, serve it to him! Picky eating comes with a toddler. And if, for example, he likes grilled cheese then make him one every day for as long as he will eat it. That way he will eat at least one thing on his plate

Answer

It’s normal he’s testing your limits. Try introducing a no thank you bite. Say no milk until you take a no thank you bite

Answer

That’s how my son is and he’s 2. He eats his breakfast really well but comes lunch and dinner time it’s hell trying to get him to eat. So for lunch I’ll give him fruit or a muffin something that ik he’ll eat. My son also loves oatmeal he can eat that all day lol so if he refuses to eat what I cook I offer oatmeal and Pedia sure. that seems to do it. I started giving my son milk on in the morning because he wanting it all the time and I was running outta milk within a couple days or so. 
But when when go to my moms house for dinner or whatever he eats whatever she cooks 😒 and I just look at him because he doesn’t do that home for me. But like my mom told me he’s going to be picky but if it’s things that he likes offer it to him.

What am I doing wrong?!

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey