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Infant feeding

18 month old won't eat!!!

8 replies

charlotte2129 · 20/12/2020 22:27

Hello, I need some help/advice on what I can try with my 18 month old daughter!!!

For the past 2 months my little girl has gone from eating anything and everything we make for her... to just point blank refusing food. I've tried everything you can think of and every food you can think of. I've tried her with all flavours and textures of food but she won't eat until she is so hungry that she devours her food in the evening (which isn't daily btw). We've been to the doctors who did a full check over on her and she is healthy in every way (thankyou god!). She isn't lethargic, moody or seeming unwell. And I make sure she has a small snack in between meals (not enough that she's too full for meals, and I've tried no snacks between but still no difference).

But I'm finding myself IMMENSELY stressed and dreading mealtimes from the moment she wakes up, to when she goes to sleep, and that's really taking a toll on me mentally. It's exhausting! The ONLY thing she will definitely always have is her milk before nap time and bed time.

Has anyone else been through this and when did it get better?!?! Please let me know as I'm at my wits end😭

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FortunesFave · 20/12/2020 22:29

She will be sensing that stress you're feeling. It will affect her.

What's going to happen to her if she doesn't eat her lunch? Nothing. She won't starve to death.

Eat with her at breakfast and lunch. See if she'll sit at the table with you....put food in front of her and then talk about other things as YOU eat.

Don't mention her eating...don't encourage her or praise her. It's not life or death because she's fine.

She'll eventually begin to eat.

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charlotte2129 · 20/12/2020 22:36

@FortunesFave

She will be sensing that stress you're feeling. It will affect her.

What's going to happen to her if she doesn't eat her lunch? Nothing. She won't starve to death.

Eat with her at breakfast and lunch. See if she'll sit at the table with you....put food in front of her and then talk about other things as YOU eat.

Don't mention her eating...don't encourage her or praise her. It's not life or death because she's fine.

She'll eventually begin to eat.

You're right, thankyou I'll try not to let myself get too stressed about it. And I'll try what you mentioned about me leaving her to eat while I eat my own food next to her, thankyou :)
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dillydallydollydaydream7 · 20/12/2020 22:53

Hi OP fortunes has some good ideas there! Our DD is 19 months and she's very similar in terms of one minute she wants everything and the next she won't eat it and would rather throw it on the floor for the dog! (Who obviously loves this phase...!)
I sit her in her chair and put her food in front of her and then either sit and eat my own or potter about in the kitchen where she is and let her get on with it. We have an echo dot in the kitchen and I find that having that on for background noise works a treat - DD loves music so usually shuffles about while eating. When I look over to her I can see her concentrating looking at her plate using her fork etc and usually get a big grin from her! So that might be worth a try. We've also just got a booster seat for the kitchen table so she can sit with us properly

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charlotte2129 · 20/12/2020 23:12

@dillydallydollydaydream7

Hi OP fortunes has some good ideas there! Our DD is 19 months and she's very similar in terms of one minute she wants everything and the next she won't eat it and would rather throw it on the floor for the dog! (Who obviously loves this phase...!)
I sit her in her chair and put her food in front of her and then either sit and eat my own or potter about in the kitchen where she is and let her get on with it. We have an echo dot in the kitchen and I find that having that on for background noise works a treat - DD loves music so usually shuffles about while eating. When I look over to her I can see her concentrating looking at her plate using her fork etc and usually get a big grin from her! So that might be worth a try. We've also just got a booster seat for the kitchen table so she can sit with us properly

@dillydallydollydaydream7 Thankyou so much for your response!! I have an echo dot too and my little girl sounds very similar to yours, she loves a boogie as well lol. I will give what you said a go, fingers crossed 🤞🏻.
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dillydallydollydaydream7 · 20/12/2020 23:20

@charlotte2129 no problem and good luck!

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HotButteredRumPaPumPum · 21/12/2020 12:10

charlotte we are going through exactly the same thing. My 17mo DS used to eat and eat, sometimes till he would puke, he just didn't have an off switch!!
Now I can get about 2 spoonfuls in until he refuses.
I find it easier when theres stuff to watch like other people at the table, or someone else pottering round the kitchen, or just chatting and pointing at different stuff. I dont worry too much if he doesn't have much, he's still got rolls on his legs so hes not wasting away!!

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OverTheRainbow88 · 21/12/2020 12:17

Mine has always been quite fussy but he ate about 20 things, we are now down to 4. I’m hoping it’s a shitty, annoying, frustrating phase and hell one day eat like a champ... or I may lower my expectations and hope one day he’ll eat one veg and one fruit. We can hope

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WankPuffins · 23/12/2020 13:25

Ignore!!!

I've had this with my older two. First one, I was a wreck. He would honestly go a whole day eating half a slice of toast and a yogurt if that.

I just kept putting food in front of them. I didn't get stressed. I didn't argue. If they didn't eat it, they didn't eat it. I didn't offer an alternative.

They never said they were hungry - if they did I would have offered a piece of fruit or the next meal a little earlier.

Both got over it by the time they were two.

I know it's bloody hard to do though.

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