22 month old refusing to eat - making me so frustrated...

[yipeeforthesun]

DS used to be good at eating and was getting pretty good at feeding himself but we went on holiday 2 weeks ago and his eating was a bit erratic while we were away. Anyway now we are home and back into his old routine he is refusing to eat - I cook him things and he just bats my hand away, he totally refuses to feed himself and it is turning into a major battle. It's making me soooooooooooooo frustrated when he clamps his mouth shut and pushes me away. Any ideas on what I can do?

[slowreadingprogress]

relax and chill about it unless he is taking literally NOTHING in for days.

I think it's quite common at this age that kids start to eat less. The first year of their lives is the biggest growth curve they EVER have and they need the fuel for that of course. Growth by 2 is really slowing down and so is appetite imo. My ds certainly ate less at two than he did at one or so it seemed to me.

Also the hot weather has a lot to do with it, imo. DS always had a big dip in appetite in the heat.

Just keep offering it and try to keep calm about it, though I do know it's hard when stuff is rejected. However as a parent imo our job is to offer what we want them to eat; we simply can't do any more; you can't make him.

[slowreadingprogress]

oh if it helps I recommend a book called Yummy by the nutrionist Jane Clarke. Tells you exactly what they need and is very good at reassuring you that some odd toddler eating habits are normal