He's not fussy. He will eat anything, even things he doesn't like. If I feed him. If I don't, he eats 1-2 mouthfuls. He will eat cake etc with more enthusiasm, but he still won't have much. He is 3y 7m. But I cannot feed him all the time. I have a baby to feed, and even he is trying to feed himself.
I think I've caused this. He was always a poor feeder, and was tiny at birth, so I've stressed over it. And I'm impatient so feeding him has been quicker.
I've tried stickers, bribes, shouting, leaving him to eat alone, sitting with him, eating with him, letting him chose and prepare the meal. Putting a time limit on it. Small portions, large portions, helping himself from a serving dish. Just now at lunch today he sat for an hour with his favourite meal, which he chose: a small portion of pasta with tomato sauce mixed with cream cheese. By small I mean a small handful, about 1oz before cooking. He ate about 1/4. I sent him to bed for his nap without in the end. He cried and said he was hungry. I said he could have supper early, but nothing till then.
He is an active child, goes to kindergarten 5 mornings a week, sleeps well and is average for height and weight (going by his peers, I haven't had him weighed or measured).
And how to avoid this with DS2? I'm trying to avoid spoon feeding all his meals, and stop offering food once he starts refusing it.