To hate spending time with my almost two year old because he WON’T EAT?

[Hatemealtimes]

I know people will make suggestions and I don’t think there’s one I haven’t tried, making meal times relaxed and sociable, trying a variety of foods, even giving up on meal times and just a variety of healthy snacks. Booster seat, own table and chairs, high chair.

Nope. Getting nowhere. The mystery continues when he seems to eat really well at nursery.

He is looking rather thin.

I don’t know what to do.

Also you could trying asking someone to film the meal time and watch it back if you can face it. You may learn from watching yourself. Observe wether you are talking about food; good, bad or neutral. Remember I strongly advise NOT to make any mention food or anything that has been or not eaten. I do sympathise with you. There are no quick fixes and patience is needed. I personally struggle with this and I know the frustrations.

That’s a good idea @Bishbashboss so you can see what he eats

Is there any way you can just not be around for meal time for a bit ? A bit like when you’re trying to get them to stop wanting boob at night so you send dad in? Could you serve him something like a cut up banana and literally turn your back and do the washing up or something in the morning, offer a snack in the buggy for lunch on the go, and dad or someone else do tea time ? So you’re distancing yourself from the association with food?

The filming how excruciating it could be would be more to watch what the adults are doing. I have worked with educational psychologists In previous roles and learnt so much from them. They would definitely say in this situation the child is picking up the stress from the parents. I do not say this in a criticising way as it is extremely common, And there is not a parent out there whose child hasn’t picked up on their stress at some point. But sometimes situations can escalates. The good news is it is much much easier to turn situations around in the early years than in the teenage years by a country mile. The other good news is he is fine Nursery so not a massive hill to climb. I’m sure this can be rectified with low key approach to food.

We had a similar problem with one of my granddaughters. Mum was getting very uptight at home and granddaughter was eating less and less till virtually nothing.
It helped when she came to me and we made a teddy bears picnic on a rug in front of the telly with “nibbles” on toy plates.
Gradually more got eaten but Mum stayed away the first couple of times and then sat quietly on the sofa without saying anything. Eventually she became part of the picnic and now things are much more relaxed and improved at home.
I really do believe it is a control issue and children pick up on tension.
it’s a real worry though and not easy - good luck.