to wish my toddler would eat!

[florencerusty]

Thats it really. She isnt particularly fussy, just cant be bothered to waste time eating.

Half a breakfast, drink of milk (not keen on juice) about 3 mouthfuls of lunch is all so far today

and thats about usual

Do you have a routine around food? i.e. three set mealtimes and two snacktimes inbetween?

The only reason I ask is because we recently saw some friends and they said their DD was going through a 'fussy' eating phase and would only pick at her food. In their case, am not surprised - she gets so much attention when not eating and then is fed on pretty much whim, of course she isnt going to eat at the main mealtimes. Looking from the outside in, it is so easy to see why she doesnt eat, the parents however are saying they are at their wits end.

Mine is the same.

I'm pretty much ignoring it tbh. She's not wasting away, I give her multivit syrup and she manages about 4 of her 5 a day most days.

She tends to not eat anything much all day then eats weetabix before bed.

Florence sorry, being nosey and looked at your profile. What's a rainbow baby?

My DD is the same. Some days she'll eat well, others barely a mouthful. We just keep putting the food in front of her (small portions so not too off-putting) and then leave it to her. If it helps, she didn't even touch her lunch, so your DD is three mouthfuls ahead so far today!

YANBU
today DS had about 4 baked beans and a bite of apple for lunch, oh and 2 pieces of satsuma. He's little and hasn't gained weight in ages, though he's not underweight or anything, just seems to burn it all with none left over for growing. We do resort to lots of yoghurt and cheese sadly, to make sure he's getting calories. Won't eat proper meals at all, only toddler food, and only when he feels like it. Compared to my giant nephew who is 6 months younger, bigger, and eats literally everything...:(

Absolutely set meal times and she never eats alone - always with the family - even breakfast with her big sister or me sat eating too.

She's not wasting away either - is just about right for her age weightwise (although taller so perhaps a little slimmer) Certainly not thin though. I am wondering if her back teeth are on their way too in fairnness but some days its soul destroying.

walker a rainbow baby is the baby that puts some beauty/smiles into the dark life of babyloss. My DS was born sleeping in 2007 at fullterm :( Our Little Man Jacob. DD taught us how to smile again

I think a few mouthfuls of a meal is very very normal for most toddlers whose stomachs are so tiny.
I'd suggest keeping a food diary; you will probably find that she is eating more than you think; and I believe they say that you should look at what a toddler eats over a week rather than just a day; many will have feast and famine days.
But I think often toddlers need a lot less than you think they do.
In fact I've just bought different sized plates for DH, me and DS - my ds is 8 but it's so easy to get into giving them adult portions! I'd look into the issue of what they actually NEED in the hope that it will reassure you.

Been there, done that, bought two t-shirts. Toddlers really can survive on thin air you know. Honestly. In all seriousness don't worry about it. You will drive yourself dmented and you cannot physically hold them down and force food into their mouths and make them swallow. They really will eat when they are hungry. Much sympathy on the frustration though, it's so wearing.

Sounds very normal to me. DD2 was a nightmare between 18months-2.5yrs, she has now just turned 3 and does not stop asking for food!

I know it's infuriating but honestly think the less fuss you make about it the better, just don't give junk in a bid to make her eat. WE just gave meals at set times and set snack times and she either ate or didn't, they were not replaced by sweets/crisps.