Crisis of confidence dealing with fussy toddler.

[hairtwiddler]

Sigh! Have posted about DD before, up until now feeling confident that I'm doing the right thing about her eating.
She's 2.3. Was weaned on finger food mostly, ate everything in sight until gradual decline to refusing all evening meals. She's tired likely, but we really like having a family meal together (around 5pm). Bedtime is usually by 7pm.

I'm calm, I ignore, I don't offer alternative meals. I know it's a phase. The ony thing I do is offer her fruit/bread and butter if I think she's hungry. She won't tell me she's hungry or thirsty yet.

The problem is, she's now living on bananas/grapes/apples and bread and butter and tonight I am having sudden crisis that DD will end up like my older brother who was one of those supreme fussy eaters who only ate sausages and chips for ten years!

I really want meals to be relaxed, food not to be used as a threat, reward or bribe... it's just wearing me down!

Its often easier said than done - this coming from the mother of a supremely difficult toddler (3.2). She's eating fruit, try not to worry. DS has just demolished the carrots off his eveningmeal, and NOTHIGN else, even though I knwo he likes all of it.

the absolute refusal bit will pass, and DS now has certain meals he alwayd eats.

its useful to sue the favoured things as a "key" - so pasta with grated apple and cheese as always worked for us, then I start to sneak a grain or two of rice in.......

YOU"LL BE FINE.

My advice is don't give up, don't panic and don't make a big deal out of food and certainly don't force her.

As an example, my DS was a PITA for food when he was 2. DD was a fab eater and I used to think what have I done differently/wrong. He would only eat bread and sausages and fruit.

Tonight he asked me for "a big helping of those green leaves I like" - he means Savoy cabbage. He now eats every single vegetable and pretty much everything else I put in front of him. He is 6.

It is a phase, a little 2 year old's power struggle, she won't starve and I know exactly how you feel, you're failing her by her not eating a healthy balanced meal but honestly, relax, go with it, keep putting food in front of her, all types, she'll leave it but one day she will try it. Like my DS and the brocolli he refused for ages then ONE DAY, ONE DAY he ate the lot, and even said YUM!

Thanks so much, both of you, exactly the kind of advice I need to hear! Will look forward to days of cabbage munching ahead.