Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not let DD have a biscuit?

28 replies

LethalToddlerElbows · 10/10/2023 19:16

DD is 2, and going through a fussy phase with food (well it's been a few months).

We are trying not to make a big deal when she refuses things, she doesn't have to finish her dinner to get pudding (yoghurt which she loves).

Tonight we were having our dinner and I served up things she has eaten before and liked - chicken, potatoes, carrots, a few other vegetables. She picked at the potatoes and then said she didn't want anymore but could she have her yoghurt. I said yes and gave it to her and she ate it all. I then asked if she wanted to try some more carrots/chicken and she said no. Then DH said 'oh what about a biscuit'?

I was HmmHmmHmm and said no she doesn't have to have her dinner but she's not having anything else.

He then proceeded to accuse me of using food to reward/punish, which we said we wouldn't do (we did) but I don't see it like that. I wasn't making a big deal out of it and she never even mentioned a biscuit until he said it! Then she got upset because she didn't get one.

She's also been at nursery today where she always eats loads, usually seconds at lunch and they have plenty of snack times. And she still has bedtime milk.

So AIBU or was DH?

OP posts:
OneRingToRuleThemAll · 10/10/2023 20:32

If she has had a huge dinner and lots of snacks at nursery she probably isn't hungry for another big dinner at home.

At that age DD just had a slice of toast before bed after nursery.

Original poster
LethalToddlerElbows · 10/10/2023 20:32

zophi · 10/10/2023 19:48

The advice now is to serve all foods together. No one food is good or bad by itself.

So, veg, protein, rice, yoghurt, cheese, berries / cake etc or whatever you have all on one plate ideally with compartments. Eventually it takes the stigma out of foods and kids don’t choose sweet stuff first if they know it’s not any more special than other foods. Also lessens chance of eating disorders developing and encourages healthy relationships with food

This is really helpful, thank you.

OP posts:
JingleJanglePotato · 10/10/2023 20:42

Sorry to hear your little one is having a fussy phase. Our kids are definitely here to test us! It sounds like your little one is not eating and she knows she’ll be offered something else. She was offered a yogurt that you both agreed on but you don’t want to offer a biscuit. I get your rationale (sugary snacks.) However, your LO knows if she doesn’t want to eat something she’ll be offered something else instead. I completely get that you’re trying to build a healthy relationship with food by not forcing or rewarding but the message of what she can and can’t have seems to be confusing. To be honest even your husband sounds confused on what you should and shouldn’t offer your LO.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page