Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

tantrum or teething ?!!

4 replies

louinthevillage · 28/11/2011 13:25

my DD has always been good eater, but less keen to self feed than DS (her twin) just recently she has started throwing her spoon from the chair and really crying unless I get it (which I do once, then not again). It took me a while but I think it's because I ask her to feed herself with the spoon. Just today she has thrown a massive tantrum at breakfast, and then another one at lunch. She wouldn't even get in her chair at lunch and rolled around on the floor howling. I left her to it for a bit, then got her into the chair, then she had a few mouthfuls and as soon as I asked her to use the spoon she started again. I did what all the books say and calmly take the food away and carry on helping DS, so she's had no lunch. When I took her up for their nap she seemed very tired, and nuzzled into me for a cuddle. I am pretty sure this is toddler tantrum, but also worried that she's teething and I am a wicked witch for not giving her calpol! Anyone else had similar experience ?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ThatsNotMyBabyBelly · 28/11/2011 23:04

How old is she?

Sorry, but I'm not sure if I have understood. Is the problem she only wants to use her hands? Or the spoon for a while? Or she wants you to feed her?

Octaviapink · 29/11/2011 05:42

Agree with TNMBB - how old is she? I'd let her feed herself using whatever means necessary - if she's still in a high chair then presumably younger than 20 months or so. I don't think I'd enforce spoon use at such a young age.

I know it's hard but comparisons are invidious - she is not her brother so don't compare them.

wifey6 · 01/12/2011 09:45

Hi lou...how old is your LO? My DS is 16 months & when teething is inconsolable. So i can completely sympathise. He did go through a 'independent feeding' phase where he got very upset if I tried feeding him. So I made sure the food he had were either finger food or he could manage with a small spoon or small fork. It made all the difference to meal times & he is much happier.

louinthevillage · 07/12/2011 17:53

Thanks ladies, it is easy to get caught up in what they "ought" to be doing ie self feeding with spoons. They are 19mths.

She would eat off the spoon but not pick it up herself even if I loaded it. But if I give her a yoghurt she eats it herself with a spoon, so I think it's all about motivation! Wifey6 I have bought new spoons, and they are so popular now I am not allowed to load them! So funny. So hard to spot the difference between tantrum & teething...obviously try to work out which it is before handing over the calpol. mostly.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page