Increasingly fussy 20month old at meal times

[BobbysBeardOfWonder]

DD barely touched her lunch today (homemade tuna fish cakes). She would normally love stuff like that, but even a dollop of tomato ketchup wasn't enough to tempt her to eat.
I know I shouldn't let her see me bothered by it, but I am! Yesterday she wouldn't even eat her favourite cheese sandwich for lunch :(

She naps at 12 ish for anything up to 2 hours, then I give her lunch. I give her a mid morning snack to tie her over, but I'm now wondering if I give her too much. Normally only a banana but today she wanted hot x bun, yoghurt & had a bite of banana too.

By dinner time she's so hungry she eats loads, but I really want her to eat more for lunch, as she has a tendency to tantrum late afternoon, and I suspect hunger plays a big part.
She is also teething again which doesn't help.

Any advice?

Hi. Perhaps have early lunch before nap then snack after? Many nurseries and other child care places have lunch early and naps after.

I was thinking maybe that was the answer - my friend does this with her DD of same age. Does it make any difference to their tiredness at bedtime, having a later nap?

If she naps at 12ish, could she have her lunch at 11 or 11.30 ish then a snack when she wakes?

As for the teething have you tried a teething gel like Dentinox and some ibruprofen? Giving her cooled cucumber sticks to chew on and a clean wet flannel to chew and suck on might help too.

Yep, I would try giving her lunch at 11.30 (snack at 9.30-10am) before her sleep.

My DS is the same age, I do think teething has a lot to answer for!
He has breakfast at 8-9
Snack 10:30
Lunch 12-12:30
Nap 1-2:30
Snack 3
Tea 5

He is a picker and a picky one at that! I find little and often works for us.

I agree - lunch at 11.30, then sleep, then snack.

My 2 YO naps 1-3 (hmm, still asleep now!) and goes down to bed absolutely fine.

How are you getting on now Bobbys?

Thanks I haven't changed things around yet as we're staying with MiL for a few days. Next week I hope to implement new lunch time - will report back