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AIBU?

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Original poster

To let my 2 year old go to bed with no dinner?

70 replies

LittleMG · 26/04/2021 18:55

My little boy will hardly eat any foods that are not cake and chocolate. Tonight I tried to give him a pasta and sauce type dinner and he’s having non of it. He’s is very even tempered and hardly ever has tantrums but he is really digging his heels on and will not eat it. He want a fruit pot (healthy but does this just show him he can pick and choose what he eats??)

I’m trying to be strong my family have told me he’ll eat when he’s hungry but he’s hardly had anything for lunch and I know he’s hungry 😢

I’ve just put him in the bath and he’s stopped crying and is playing. I’m sitting here I could cry I don’t know what to do I want to do right for my son.

Please can I have some advice x

OP posts:
Maltay · 26/04/2021 18:59

Keep going he's just testing you x

FelicityPike · 26/04/2021 19:00

Let him away from the table for say 30 minutes, then offer the fruit or a slice of toast or a couple of crackers.

FelicityPike · 26/04/2021 19:01

Sorry....that way he won’t feel rewarded as such for refusing dinner, but he’ll still have eaten something. (Or a bowl of cereal)

Shipwrecked2019 · 26/04/2021 19:02

I struggle with this too, my 2y/o is the same, loves toast and doesn't really eat anything else. If I don't give him the toast, then he goes to bed hungry and then wakes up crying and starving in the night 😩

Pinkbrush · 26/04/2021 19:03

You’re not doing anything wrong, kids go through these phases sometimes unfortunately. Have you tried cooking with him? You could go shopping with him, letting him pick stuff and then cook something fun... rainbow pasta, pizza, mashed potato (get him to mash it) etc.

PinkCookie11 · 26/04/2021 19:04

Take him away from the food and offer supper after his bath. This way he’ll know if he tantrums he’s not getting anything else till later.
I personally couldn’t send him to bed on an empty stomach so something is better than nothing.
My LO is also fussy it’s hard work

Howyoudoingirl · 26/04/2021 19:07

He's 2, a baby. Give him some milk & toast before bed. Please don't send a baby to bed hungry.

Ostryga · 26/04/2021 19:09

I would make sure there’s no cake or chocolate in the house from now on so there’s no chance of him spotting it, or you giving in. Kids don’t need it.

I have an incredibly fussy Dd, and if she knew there was anything nicer than dinner in the house she wouldn’t eat a single thing.

I used to give her half an hour, chat with her not about the food (basically ignore the dinner) and if she still didn’t eat we’d do bath/bed routine and then I’d offer her a healthy snack (veggies and crackers with cheese for eg) which 9 times out of 10 she’s eat.

She’s 4 now and coming out the other side, but I still have to be extremely strict with sweet stuff and cheesy pasta so she doesn’t get back into bad habits!

Kittykat93 · 26/04/2021 19:12

I wouldn't let a 2 year old go to bed on an empty stomach no

rainbowthoughts · 26/04/2021 19:13

I’m trying to be strong my family have told me he’ll eat when he’s hungry but he’s hardly had anything for lunch and I know he’s hungry 😢**

Read this a few times over until it sinks in OP.

Then feed your child.

N4ish · 26/04/2021 19:16

He’s only tiny! Let him have the fruit pot or some toast. Don’t get into a pointless battle about food.

Ellpellwood · 26/04/2021 19:18

Mine's had 2 Weetabix and a fruit pot for dinner! I pick my battles, and he had veg curry at nursery. Mine just doesn't really like warm savoury food. He eats a lot of sandwiches.

twinkletoesfairynose · 26/04/2021 19:19

I agree porridge or weetabix and a bit of honey before bed time.

Or how about a quick scrambled egg would he eat that?

Ihaveoflate · 26/04/2021 19:19

I would always offer fruit and yogurt even if my toddler has non of the main meal, or a peice of plain toast if I think she's really hungry. I would never let her go to bed hungry.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 26/04/2021 19:20

At that age I wouldn’t let go hungry. I had some default meals I knew my LO would eat, so some nights I gave up on the couscous and gave her beans on toast, or crackers cheese and fruit. No puddings or sweets but definitely fed at 2. Once communication and understanding improves I would withhold food when needed

Catlitter1 · 26/04/2021 19:20

@Ostryga

I would make sure there’s no cake or chocolate in the house from now on so there’s no chance of him spotting it, or you giving in. Kids don’t need it.

I have an incredibly fussy Dd, and if she knew there was anything nicer than dinner in the house she wouldn’t eat a single thing.

I used to give her half an hour, chat with her not about the food (basically ignore the dinner) and if she still didn’t eat we’d do bath/bed routine and then I’d offer her a healthy snack (veggies and crackers with cheese for eg) which 9 times out of 10 she’s eat.

She’s 4 now and coming out the other side, but I still have to be extremely strict with sweet stuff and cheesy pasta so she doesn’t get back into bad habits!

This
YouJustDoYou · 26/04/2021 19:21

okay. I have a now almost 8 year old who, despite YEARS of repeatedly offering the foods we eat, still won't eat them. There are certain things I cannot have in the house, and haven't for years ( that he can see anyway) because that's all he'll want, so as a family we work together and just sacrifice those (very yummy but not very good health-wise) foods for the sake of his health.

When he was 2, we sent him to bed hungry often, simply because we had no choice - no, he can't have haribo for dinner. no, he can't have crisps and biscuits for dinner (and no, he doesn't have food SEN issues). We'd wrap up his dinner, and when he woke at 2am he got offered his dinner, or fruit/veg. We simply couldn't afford to cook endless meals for him, and it wasn't acceptable.to just give him cake. It worked, to a degree - he ended up realising he actually.liked a heap of foods that way. it's still a struggle, but we never have cake in the house for dessert, stuff like that.

Some children DO have SEN issues with food though so I would advise taking him to the doctors just in case for professional advise.

Dddccc · 26/04/2021 19:22

If he does not eat his tea bath then dry food like toast with butter, crackers with butter dont let him have the fruit pot as it means he won his little game every time he refuses to eat only offer dry plain food basically nothing sweet or with flavour

Moelwynbach · 26/04/2021 19:23

Pick your battles.

lancslass17 · 26/04/2021 19:23

I'd try grating a bit of cheese in a bowl andgetting him to put some on his pasta.

My 2 year old will eat pasta with no sauce so I give him 2 dishes. Or is he better eating in the morning? You could give him pasta for breakfast and something like cereal or toast before bed.

Or I'd put a selection like cheese crackers fruit etc on a plate and leave it there if he don't eat it then he's not hungry.

DeciduousPerennial · 26/04/2021 19:24

For some children, no they wont eat when they’re hungry. They’re are myriad reasons why that might be the case.

You know he’s hungry.

Feed him.

He’s 2.

Northernmum100 · 26/04/2021 19:25

I would offer one thing e.g. piece of toast or a weetabix and if it isn't eaten then yes, bed with nothing else.

Been there and done that, both survived and now tower over me (one still a bit picky the other is like a binSmile.

Hold your nerve, it will pass.

Boph · 26/04/2021 19:25

He's a baby. Don't listen to anyone who suggests letting a 2 year old go to bed without food. Just give him milk and toast or similar and tell him its not a cake or chocolate day.

Original poster
LittleMG · 26/04/2021 19:26

Thank you so so so much for these comments. He calmed down in the bath and I’ve bought him downstairs and given him
some marmite on toast. He’s happily eating it.
I’ve read your comments and taken all on board. My fear is that he will become unhealthy and have a bad relationship with food. He’s such a daring little boy and I really don’t want to fail him.

But this has given me a bit of perspective, and he’s so tiny still. Thank you those who commented you were here when I really needed some advice. X

OP posts:
Original poster
LittleMG · 26/04/2021 19:27

@Shipwrecked2019

I struggle with this too, my 2y/o is the same, loves toast and doesn't really eat anything else. If I don't give him the toast, then he goes to bed hungry and then wakes up crying and starving in the night 😩
I know he would have woken up crying. Exactly this.
OP posts: