Ok so my 3 yo is doing the typical 'I don't like this' and not eating at dinner, whatever it is he fidgets, talks, does anything but eat. Up till now we've done the coaxing, getting cross, making him eat so many mouthfuls etc. It's just getting beyond a joke - dinner takes an hour or more and it's just painful. The HV suggested to me today to IGNORE his behaviour and she said hers did that and after a night or two he realised he wasn't getting any attention and started eating. So I thought I'd give it a whirl tonight. I remained calm and ignored him. First he said he didn't like it as it was too spicy. It did have some mild spice in so I gave him a blander version I had on the side anyway and said 'fine eat this then' and we had the same fidgeting and delaying and him saying stuff and I ignored it all. My eldest meanwhile had pudding and was allowed to watch tv. My 3 yo asked if he could eat and watch tv, but he still wouldn't eat so I've put him upstairs where he had a major meltdown.
What do I do now? I'm prepared for him not to finish his dinner and go to bed without tv but this is hideous. I'm assuming it has to get worse before it gets better??
any other tips/ideas would be most appreciated!!