Would you genuinely not offer more food to your toddler? AIBU?

[dottytablecloth]

Toddlers and food is a minefield on mumsnet.

My toddler (21 months)has been with the childminder today.

His food diary says he has a roast chicken dinner, swissroll, grapes, banana, yoghurt and toast during the course of the day.

I've made a chicken/broccoli/pasta bake thing for tea. He's taken 3 spoonfuls and is totally refusing any more.

AIBU to send him to bed at 7 with just his milk?

Do people offer alternatives? I find it very tiresome trying to fuss about what he will eat when he refuses dinner and get irritated.


He had porridge this morning also.

[SaucyJackOLantern]

Would he normally eat the pasta bake?

If he would, then I'd just assume he wasn't hungry and send him off to bed with a clear conscience,

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

It sounds like he has had plenty and is simply not wanting food he doesn't need, so yes I'd just give him his milk!

[arethereanyleftatall]

Sounds like he's had loads, so I wouldn't offer anything else.
I found with my dc at that age that they would eat two good sized meals a day (it changed which two) and then pick at the third.

[dottytablecloth]

Would normally eat a small portion.

I never put much broccoli in it as he can just about tolerate one piece!

[Quenna]

Agree that my DC at that age had '2 meals and a snack' kind of capacity. I wouldn't offer an alternative, just let him/her okay for a bit and then offer a few more mouthfuls. Otherwise, yes, milk and bed.

[yellowsnownoteatwillyou]

My ds who is 15 months, had a big breakfast, normal sized lunch and has picked at his dinner barely eaten a thing. I have left it on the table and dh has been warned not to eat it yet, ds will climb back up if he wants it. Otherwise he is getting milk before bed and that's it.
No guilt here.

[Quenna]

Play! Not 'okay'

[KittyandTeal]

If my 2yo ate that she's not eat much for dinner either.

Toddlers are funny creatures, some days my dd will eat tons and some days she just doesn't seem hungry.

I'd assume he's not hungry and not offer an alternative unless he seemed upset at getting down from the table or otherwise showing/telling you he's hungry.

Btw your cm sounds great at feeding a good diet, wish it could get dd to eat all that :)

[HerrenaHarridan]

In our house unbeaten dinner remains available till bed time, drink of milk available at bed time.

Definitely no alternatives. Hungry children eat their dinner.
I don't insist she eats anything she really doesn't like but I do generally provide a meal with choices so the must be something she likes enough to eat

[Gileswithachainsaw]

We all have not hungry days. He's had plenty. Let him leave it

[FreeButtonBee]

I would do one piece of toast or a banana with milk at bedtime but my DS wakes early if he is hungry and I have limited patience for 5am!

[ClawHandsIfYouBelieveInFreaks]

I definitely wouldn't offer more.

[callamia]

I think it's fine. You offered, he doesn't want it. He's eaten a full and varied diet all day - I'd accept that he might not be very hungry. He's getting milk before bed too.

It's more of a trial for us when they don't want what we've cooked. I'm having to learn to be ok with a few barely touched meals. DS hasn't starved yet.

[redexpat]

I think I'd struggle to eat a pasta bake after all that!

[NoraRobertsismyguiltypleasure]

It sounds like he's just not hungry now. If he likes bananas I would offer one of those just before bed with the cup of milk, but otherwise the milk will be fine until breakfast.

[Aeroflotgirl]

He's eaten quite a lot at the childminder, he might not be hungry. If he's not, don't force just offer milk. Tgey still have very small stomach at that age.

[IdaClair]

It is your job to put food in front of him. Good food, preferably, with options.

It is his job to decide if, what, when and how much he eats.

I haven't a clue how much my toddler ate today. Food was provided.

[Kundry]

If I'd had roast chicken for lunch, I wouldn't have more than a sandwich for dinner. I think he's trying to tell you, he isn't hungry.

[greenfolder]

sounds similar to the lovely food dd3 had at nursery at the same age. she would just have cheese on toast, beans on toast, soup that kind of thing of an evening

[EhricLovesTheBhrothers]

What Ida said. wish I could put it into practice myself

Don't start offering alternatives. That way madness lies. Trust me.

[socially]

I would presume DS wasn't hungry, but try him with a piece of toast with his milk before bed.

[Iggly]

Pasta bake after a roast!? Madness.

[erin99]

As a toddler my DS averaged about 1.5 meals a day. It was quite normal for him not to touch a meal. I just took it that he was genuinely not hungry. He slept through fine.

[Foxbiscuitselection]

Yep he'd eat it if hungry. So he's fine and actually he's had loads to eat already today!! Milk and bed at 7 is great.

[toomuchtooold]

I might offer one more thing, like yoghurt or a bit of fruit or something, but wouldn't stress about it.
One of mine can easily last out the day with half a banana, a piece of fish and half a pound of blueberries. We do offer her more than that