How do you get a 2 year old to try new foods when she refuses to open her mouth?

[tammybear]

I just tried to give dd a cracker with dairylea spread on, but she just runs away and wont open her mouth. She is also refusing her usual favourites too. Any tips? Shes just gotten over being ill, and has lost weight and hasnt eaten properly for a while now.

[Amberlilli]

Has your little one expressed any interest in eating what's on your plate?
I have tried this ploy a couple of times ie putting her food on my plate in front of me and started to eat it and suddenly it becomes interesting.
I usually turn the telly off at meal times as I find this a terrible distraction for both my kids.
Feeding my girls has been one of my greatest stresses and challenges and have often been in tears with frustration when yet another lovingly prepared meal ends up in the bin-but someone once said to me, "a child won't starve itself- when he's hungry he'll let you know!!"

[tammybear]

Well Ive left it on her table so if she does get hungry she knows where it is, i took ate one myself in front of her and did the "mmmm yummy" noises, which sometimes sparks an interest. but she doesnt seem to bothered at the moment. i mean she may not be hungry at the moment, but i would like her to try new things and more healthier foods, rather than the junk she seems to get fed by my mum, but at the moment she wont eat anything else than nuggets and smiles potatoes

[Amberlilli]

OOh that' a tricky one!
Well meaning grandparents can do untold damage with 'treats' as I have found to my peril.
It took over a year to get my eldest daughter eating normally after exm-i-l thought it OK to give puddings when first course was refused!
She was a bright child she soon worked it out- "if i don't eat my dinner-Grandma gives me cake!!!"
I have banned chips, chocolate, chicken nuggets and white bread from the house!
That probably sounds harsh but if it's not there they can't eat it!
My youngest loves grapes, red leicester cheese, strawberries, olives even because they look pretty!

[Evesmama]

their all the same hun
dd does exactly the same..even just now with icecream!!!!, i think they'know' when your trying something and do it just to nark us off

[Yeshi]

If she has just gotten over being ill, she might not be eating properly because her system isn't quite back to normal. Try feeding her more fruits and less dairy (as it can be hard to digest- humans are supposed to be lactose intollerant after they stop breast feeding), bland foods might be a safe bet but I'd say try a wide variety, don't force her to eat anything (until you are positive she's 100% better) and don't lose hope. Stay positive and try to find something that she will eat. If this continues for another couple of days though, calling her doctor for quick phone advice might not be a bad idea.

[Tommy]

Isn't there something which says a child has to be offered a new food about 6 times before they will try it? My DS eats peas now because I put them on him plate all the time but didn't really make a fuss about them. Eventually he tried them.
It is very disheartening tammybear but at least you can be assured that you are not alone in your frustrations!

[mummylonglegs]

My 2.5 year old dd is terrible about trying new things and when she's slightly off-colour even will go off eating virtually everything. Eating in front of and with her makes no difference, neither does 'peer' encouragement - when she's at the childminder a couple of mornings a week she eats even less even though the other kids are eating around her. She does have a reasonably healthy diet though with the things she will eat and that stops me stressing about it too much. However it also gets me down that every attempt I make to broaden her horizon ends badly...

What can we do but offer stuff? It's the kids who've got to learn to eat it just like they've got to learn everything else, we just make the means available.

[samwifewithkid]

Have you tried the "oh no, don't you dare eat it game" (in a silly voice) a bit of reverse psychology works wonders on my daughter occasionally.