How do I get them to eat?!

[Kpo58]

My DD and DS have pretty much been refusing all food for the last week. They are nearly 3 and 13 months respectfully.

DS has been keeping me up most of the night for the last because he won't sleep through due to feeling hungry because he won't eat.

I'm getting to the end of my tether. How the f* do I get them to eat something?

Have they said why they're not eating?

DS is too young to speak and DD is behind on talking. All I get is No or Don't want it.

Are they not eating at all or just refusing to eat what they are given?

One of mine was a nightmare as a toddler as they couldn't explain they didn't like textures. The best way to get a good meal into them was always to put the components on the table and let them help themselves. Sometimes that meant they had a plate of vegetables and a sliver of chicken, but it helped and their eating got better and better.

If it's been a week are they both under the weather? If it's illness related I'd just have some food out and let them graze. Whatever they'll eat - cheese cubes, bread, cold chicken. Little and often might help.

DS has been drinking alot of milk (only offered after I have been trying to get him to eat)

DD currently won't eat anything that she would normally eat such as bread, banana, cheese, baked beans, etc.

The only thing that I can get them to eat is a plain rice cake.

Are they normally good eaters?

If they've both hit that at the same time I'd be thinking they are incubating something.

Are you sat at the table with them?
Do a buffet finger foods dinner
Sit with them
Ignore the food other than putting some in your mouth occasionally
Play a game

Try cooking with them as well it really does help

They are normally reasonably good eaters. They seem to have had something or other most of the time since January and still are better than now.

I do sit with them, I don't make an issue out of eating.

Not sure how to make a game of it as neither understand instructions too well.

Cooking isn't easy to do with them as the kitchen is tiny and DS will scream if put him the playpen or throw anything he can reach or climb everything if left in the main room.

I know it's not ideal, and quite frowned on on MN, but what about not being at the table? Especially if it's a short-term thing. When my youngest two are under the weather I leave a couple of plates dotted about with finger foods and they graze as they play.

Or a picnic? Have a blanket, some fun music and a couple of plates of food. Have the rice cakes so that choice can be made, but put a few other fun things out as well.

Are they still drinking? What about soup in a cup?

I can't leave plates out as DS will tip them up onto the floor.

I did try on the sofa, but the food was still ignored my DD.

DS has the annoying habit of chewing food and spitting it back out and then playing with it, blowing raspberries with food in his mouth or just trying to spread it everywhere and so needs to eat in a contained area.

If they'll drink milk how about soup?

how's ds with porridge? bowl before bed might help.