DD nearly 2yrs, refusing to eat her dinners. Any tips??!!

[goodcatholicgirl]

During the last month we have been trying to get DD (21 mths) to eat proper 'seperates' dinners, as until then I had been giving her mashed dinners in a bowl. She eats v healthily, and since weaing has had a good variety of food, roughly about 10-15 different dinners. We've always given her what we have mashed up. I decided that as she was nearly 2, we should do dinners on a plate, and as separate food. She is refusing to eat anything. She eats whatever the childminder gives her for dinner, this is only once a week. I guess cos the other kids are all eating the same.
We have tried giving her what she's had mashed but separately (i.e. fish, pot, broc). She just will not even TRY anything that LOOKS UNFAMILIAR.

We have tried sitting and eating the same with her, although hard cos DH works shifts so we tend to eat after she has gone to bed.

I have tried making smiley faces, letting her watch me cook and join in a bit (stirring, putting things in saucepan).

We bought her a new plate, new 'princess' cutlery. Call it a 'big girls dinner'.

I expected it not to go smoothly straight away, but it's 4 weeks now and I am starting to get to the end of my tether.

If she doesn't eat, we get her down form table and refuse to give her anything else AT ALL until bedtime milk, so she's not getting any food at dinner time.

Any suggestions. At least she eats for CM, but it annoys me that she does it for her but not me.

I am expecting baby no.2 in 2 months, and really wanna nail this before baby no. 2 arrives.

HELP!!

[Washersaurus]

DS1 (2.7) goes through stages of picky eating (not as fussy as your DD admittedly). We can usually coax him into eating by making up and singing comedy songs about each particular item of food that he manages to eat (stole the idea from another MNer). That does remove a lot of the tension from the situation too.

When I am too tired to coax and entertain, he usually goes to bed with nothing but his bedtime milk (or sometimes a piece of fruit)

[goodcatholicgirl]

Hmmm, will try singing, might help me not lose my temper, which I don't usually do, but did today, due to being 7 mths pg and all that goes with that basically!!

[Washersaurus]

I can totally understand, I was in a similar situation last year; it is such hard work keeping up with a toddler whilst pregnant.

It is great fun putting DH on the spot by telling DS that daddy will sing him 'the song' if he manages to eat a mouthful or more

[colditz]

It doesn't matter.

give it to her mashed up, if that's how she likes it.

Some things are worth making an iddue of. Eating a meal 'seperatly, not mashed up' is not one of those things.

[mazzystar]

its only once a week
there's a new baby due and i'd guess that she's twigged there is Something Afoot
she's not even two

Why not carry on mashing?
It will come in time, no point stressing about it and making it an issue

ps have you tried involving her in making her meals at all, hard work at 21 months but often helps round here

[AitchTwoOh]

i totally agree with colditz. what's the problem, really? does she eat sandwiches etc? try to up the finger food that goes along with her mash, but no pressure.

[rookiemater]

Gosh DS is on a completely limited diet, I'd be delighted if he ate normal meals mashed rather than the odd selection of random food items that he will deign to allow in his mouth.

Agree with everyone else, mash it, don't sweat it.

[nobodysfool]

goodcathgirl At least she is eating.Even if it is mashed.
I would do anything to get my ds to eat a 'hot dinner'.Totall refusal every night!
Just as well he likes breakfast(cereal) and lunch (sarnie) and any type of fruit.
It gets beyond a joke and totally frustrating isn't it?

[colditz]

I have a 4yo and a 22 month old. I have to hide bananas and the word is banned, or ds2will eat NOTHING until he gets one, and will pout and flail and wave his fists most beguilingly "Noooo mama, Na na na na na na na nanananananananananaaaa!!"

[nobodysfool]

Why do we beat ourselves up about this?
we know, if they were that hungry they would eat it.Didn't stop me from nearly blubbing tonight though.HHHMMMMM what nutrious meal shall i cook for the bin tom night then?

[goodcatholicgirl]

Ahhh, thanks everyone. Yes, I think I am a little hard on myself sometimes and expect too much of both me and DD.

Like you say, at least she is eating!!

Good old MN to bring me to my senses!!