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18 month old rips up food

6 replies

eclipse1808 · 01/03/2019 08:52

For the last 2 months at every meal time, my 18 month old DS just tears his food into little bits and throws them on the floor. If i’m lucky, he’ll eat a tiny bit of it before picking it apart to throw.

I’ve tried giving him one piece at a time, giving things that I don’t think he can rip up (turns out he can rip everything up) and just spoon feeding him. Sometimes he’ll allow me to feed him, the majority of the time he won’t.

This is every single meal, cereal & fruit all over the floor at breakfast, tiny bits of rice cake / baby crisps turned into powder etc for snack, whatever I give him for lunch or dinner just everywhere. It’s got to the point where i’ll be attempting to make 2-3 different meals for each meal time to keep trying him with until he eats something. Some nights he’s gone to bed with just a bottle!

DP says I should just make 1 meal if he tears it to bits and throws it on the floor he skips that meal and will eat the next one. But I know my stubborn son and I doubt it will matter that he hasn’t had anything all day- he wont eat reguardless! Need some major help / advice!

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 01/03/2019 08:56

I agree with your DP.
I also wonder if he is getting lots of attention from you by this behaviour.
At 18 months he should be capable of eating normal food.
Give him his food, allow 10 or 15 minutes max, then end the meal.
Do you all sit at the table to eat together? That is how they learn.

eclipse1808 · 01/03/2019 09:00

No we don’t as DP likes to watch tv while eating his meal. I’ll have to try family dinner at the table for a few weeks and see if that changes things. We do all eat at the same time, just in the living room. He does get given normal food, but doesn’t eat it!

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 01/03/2019 09:08

I really don't think watching tv while eating a meal is a good example to set a toddler.
It just sends mixed messages about meal times being about entertainment. Which is your problem.

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endofthelinefinally · 01/03/2019 09:11

I am old and therefore old fashioned. I did expect my dcs to sit at the table and feed themselves. They all achieved that by around 12 months. But they learn from what they see.

eclipse1808 · 01/03/2019 10:23

Didn’t even think to break from the norm of living room meals, will be having family meals around the table from today onwards. Hopefully that will help!

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 01/03/2019 12:11

It will take weeks I guess. Don't expect instant success.Smile

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