Toddler on hunger strike

[jobsagudden]

My almost two year old has always been a dreadful eater, but for the past couple of weeks I am struggling to get her to eat anything at all.

She's in nursery two days a week and eats all her food there.

DD1 (4) has always been a big food lover, we sit together for meals at the table so she can see her big sister eating, but every meal time now she is just refusing to even try anything. She just cries and says she wants to get down.

She will sometimes (rarely) ask for an apple, a cracker or cheese but will eat a tiny bit and then decided she's had enough.

The only things I can get her to eat are fruit, yoghurt, cheese or crackers.

I'm getting worried about how much food she is actually eating now, have tried the HV and waiting for a call back.

Has anyone got any ideas on how to get her to enjoy food again?

Many thanks

[DinosaurDiana]

If she’s not eating, what is she taking in ? Is she still drinking milk ?

[jobsagudden]

@DinosaurDiana she is bf, had nearly weened her but has gone back to two feeds and I'm two nervous to stop now as she is will not be getting anything.

[DinosaurDiana]

But if she’s hungry she might just eat more.

[Crappyfridays7]

She’s eating at nursery 2 days so she’s not starving. Maybe just being a bit awkward as she’s eating there ok?
Find out what she eats there & how much. Has she lost weight? Sore throat? Etc?

If she’s eating loads of different things @ nursery then maybe at home she’s testing you a bit...make it a game try 5 bites of different things. I’d offer her her meal a small amount then leave her to it. Don’t swap it for an apple or crackers or she’ll know that’s what she gets for not eating dinner. Add something else to her snacks (use the things she does eat for those) and make sure she’s drinking plenty - offer milk after meals. If it continues speak to your hv (I see you’ve called her)

With my 4 I didn’t make meal times a big deal if you ate you ate if you didn’t you didn’t, sometimes at dinner they’d be tired too so I made it earlier. Honestly having kids really makes your brain hurt!!

Try not to worry, take the pressure off (if you’re worried:stressed) apparently I lived on yoghurt for a while. Just keep offering her meals. Hope things improve soon

[MaverickSnoopy]

If she eats at nursery then you know that she is eating during the week. You also know that this is a power struggle and pushing the boundaries. She's also relying on the bf to keep her going.

Personally I would reduce the bf to what they were. I would offer food at meal times and put at least one thing on there you know they'll eat. Everyone stays at the table but they don't have to eat if they don't want to. You don't encourage or cajole, you just eat. At the end you remove the plates and get down. If they complain they are hungry you offer the same plate of food back. If you are truly desperate and they haven't eaten all day and it's bedtime then offer a piece of fruit.

[jobsagudden]

@Crappyfridays7 thanks so much for this, good advice

[farandfew]

Can you get her involved in decision making and cooking? If she's headstrong she might enjoy being the chef and choosing what everybody eats, helping make it etc!

[jobsagudden]

@MaverickSnoopy definitely a power struggle she is learning the ropes from her DS. Thanks for the advice

[jobsagudden]

@farandfew good idea will give this a try tonight