Won't eat proper meals

[rachdent]

Hiya everyone

DS (18 months) eats toast, fruit, cereal, sultanas, cheese sticks, yoghurt and of course cake and bikkies when allowed, but he refused to eat at meal times. We all sit down to eat together, him in the high chair, us next to him at the table and we all use 'proper' cutlery - he didn't like the baby stuff. But whatever I serve him, whether it's baby food from a recipe, our dinner, something I've seen for toddlers in a book/magazine or tinned food, he refuses to eat. He's the worst at dinner time but lunch isn't much better. Anyone in the same boat or with suggestions or recipes that he won't be able to resist!!!?

Thanks for your help,

[Elfin]

It must be a phase thing. My 2.5 dd is just the same. She was a fantastic eater at mealtimes now she will eat some tomato sauce if I am lucky. She will only eat minute amounts of other things on the plate but it really looks like she hasn't touched her meal, I don't like throwing food away but I don't want to make a big deal about food IYKWIM. I just give her the smallest portions possible. She seems to make up for it by eating lots of healthy snacks, I never give her junk. I think it is quite normal for toddlers to prefer snacks to 3 square meals.

I have come to the conclusion that provided she is eating healthy snacks she will be ok. Most days I don't worry about lunch too much if she has had a lot of snacks. She always has a bit of breakfast and I always provide dinner. Even if she is not eating the food, I feel sitting down with the family while we are eating is important social interaction time for her. My son who is 7 and my other daughter 3 did the same thing to a lesser degree and now eat like horses at dinner. So :fingerscrossed: it is a stage.

[kiwibird27]

Might sound harsh but stop feeding him except at mealtimes, also get rid of any fruit juice, cordial out of his diet and make sure he isn't having milk during the day - give him breakfast, small morning tea ( fruit, cheese , ) Lunch, small afternoon tea, and dinner - thats it!!!!

Sugar is an appetite supressant (any kind of sugar) and milk fills him up, if he doesn't eat, no pressure, he'll just have to wait until the next meal!!!! Toddlers will never starve themselves, so even if he doesn't eat for a whole day, don't worry!!!


Trust me this works

Try plain finger food, pasta, rice, sausage, or just a smaller portion of whatever your having!!!

[Harry&Max's Mummy]

Hi
My three year old son is exactly the same, He goes through phases of different foods at the moment all it is for breakfast and lunch is 2 cheese and tomato sauce sandwiches. I am not worried as he eats vegies every night and has healthy snacks its just an age thing....

[Chickadee]

If you're happy with him having lots of healthy snacks instead of meals then that's fine. Toddlers won't starve and will eat if they're hungry. But if you want him to eat the meals then you should look at how many snacks he's having and when he's having them. Try cutting down the amount of snacks and avoid any snacks for 2 hours before meal time.

As an example, on daycare days DD who is 2 has snack @ 9:30 am, lunch 11:30-12, snack after their nap so say 2 or 2:30pm, and then is hungry for somethng when I pick her up at 5:30. If I give her a snack then there is no way she is going to eat her dinner with us at 6:30 so I try to have her dinner ready for when she gets home & then DH & I eat later. Or if I haven't been organised then she gets a large snack & I just accept that she will only pick at dinner when she sits down with us.

[rachdent]

Hi girls and thanks for all your help

Today I just gave DS a small serving of beans, some brown bread toast, a piece of apple and yoghurt for dinner and he gobbled it all up. Maybe it was just a coinkydink or maybe he liked the simplicity of it all. Needless to say, we'll just keep charging onwards...

[Chickadee]

That's great Rach! I hope it continues :)

I found this information page awhile ago about appetite slump in toddlers (http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article.asp?articleID=1702)and have posted it before. Not sure it applies to your little guy really, but there are some tips there that I found helpful when I was getting stressed about Chloe not eatting much (when she was around 14 months). One tip is to serve small portions, which you seem to have figured out already :D

[vanillabean]

Any ideas on how to get a fussy 3 1/2 year old to again start eating vegies? It has been so long. I have tried various methods of disguising them to no avail!!

Jo

[ladybug]

Might sound harsh but stop feeding him except at mealtimes, also get rid of any fruit juice, cordial out of his diet and make sure he isn't having milk during the day - give him breakfast, small morning tea ( fruit, cheese , ) Lunch, small afternoon tea, and dinner - thats it!!!!

Sugar is an appetite supressant (any kind of sugar) and milk fills him up, if he doesn't eat, no pressure, he'll just have to wait until the next meal!!!! Toddlers will never starve themselves, so even if he doesn't eat for a whole day, don't worry!!!


Trust me this works

Try plain finger food, pasta, rice, sausage, or just a smaller portion of whatever your having!!!


Yep I agree with you on. It has been 10 days since I didn't give my DD any fruit juice, and she is eating very well now. Before that she didn't want to eat main meals.

I gave her breakfast, then lunch. After that she takes a nap and before nap she drinks 200 ml milk. When she wakes up she eats a helthy snack. Then around 6:30 she eats her dinner. I cook the same thing for us.

I offer her water during day too.

Cheers

[ladybug]

Any ideas on how to get a fussy 3 1/2 year old to again start eating vegies? It has been so long. I have tried various methods of disguising them to no avail!!

Jo

I make pasta with veggi sauce with whatever I have in the fridge. She likes it. I hope it helps.

I also cook minestrone soup and brokoli soup. She loves them too.

I hope these helps.

Cheers