16 month old wont eat!

[janjas]

She used to be such a good eater, would eat anything I tried her with. Now, every mealtime is a battle,and she has also stopped drinking her milk before bed too. Luckily she does drink quite a bit of water throughout the day. She's still a happy little girl and has boundless energy, although I don't know where she is getting it from! Its starting to get me down now and I dread mealtimes. Please please can I have some tips on how to get her eating again? Thankyou x

[ArmadilloDaMan]

SOunds like ds was at that age - he gave up on the milk too. He's never really taken to food.

I got some good advice from my hv (who was fab). And some things I jsut discovered for myself.

Firstly give one meal a day that they will eat even if it's only toast or a packet of raisins. Then you know they've had something.

Secondly - be calm around food. If she doesn't eat then pretend you couldn't care less.

Thirdly - if there is something that she focuses her hatred on (ds used to get hysterical at the sight of a highchair) then get rid of it. If she hates cutlery don't give it to her IYSWIM.

Fourthly - don't read books, play with toys etc at the dinner table. Just leave her to it and only say something if she eats (e.g. loads and loads of praise).

Fifthly - multivitamins. IF she is not eating much, she may not be getting much iron which in itself can cause a lack of appetite. YOu can get liquid ones for los from supermarkets.

HOw long has it been going on?

IF she has plenty of energy then healthwise she's prob fine so no need to worry on that front. The only time I would start to worry is if she starts fainting or being constantly exhausted.

It's a pain but they come throuhg it eventually.

[ArrietyClock]

Mine's only 10 months and we seem to be slipping down a slope in this direction too.... Can't offer much advice except that given to me - kids tend not to starve themselves (though it's soul destroying for the parents!). My niece used to live on fresh air and little else apparently, but she was, and is, fine. Now a healthy, happy 5 year old with a love for all things vegetable. I think the key is to not let it become a battle and just roll with it. Easy to say, less easy to do. I'll let you know how I get on......

[janjas]

Thankyou for your comment. Its only been going on for about a week but feels like a lifetime! I think because she has always enjoyed her food, it makes me more concerned. If we are eating a snack, she will try and take it off our plate but sit her down to eat something and she just shakes her head or tries to throw it on the floor. Major tantrum. As soon as she gets down from her highchair, she happily carries on playing. Its as though she doesn't have time to eat.

[ArmadilloDaMan]

lots of kids do that at around this age.
She sounds as if it isn't a prob with food - she jsut has better things to do than eat.

She will grow out of it.

[callmeoverchristmas]

DD is 15m and until she mastered a spoon she would throw awful tantrums, perhaps she needs more independance with how she eats? I.e no highchair?

Also if it has only been a week she could be teething. DD would not eat at all for nearly 2 weeks and I was starting to worry, then I felt in her mouth and she had 4 new teeth, poor little thing, don't think I would have been eating either!