4 year old making herself sick

[Casperelli]

Help! I have a 4 year old girl - who up until 2 weeks ago din't have too many problems with food - although she has never been a good eater.

However, over the last week or so - if she has food put in front of her (particularly at her day care nursery), she won't eat it - or if she does, says she feels sick, and then throws up.

We have the same thing before her swimming classes - says she doesn't want to go, and then throws up.

I am trying to carry on as normal - ie ignoring the behaviour, and not making a big fuss, but this is not normal.

I don't want to make this into a bigger issue than it is - and I hope that by just taking little steps at a time, with little bits of food, and praise if she eats it, that I am doing the right thing.

With regard to the swimming lessons, I clear the sick up, and she goes to the pool (even though she is still crying) Swimming teacher has told me to carry on.

Does anyone have any advice please - I am quite worried by the whole thing.

Thanks

I have no experience of this but I remember a particular one of supernannys programs where the child was doing the same thing to get attention and she made the parents do exactly what you are doing by ignoring it to the point of where they don't even react at all just clean it up without a word. The child soon stopped when it no longer got a reation.

My dd used to do exactly this - especially with unfamiliar food. We once had a very stressful holiday where dd refused to eat because nothing was familier.

We tried encouragement, shouting, giving her options and nothing really worked - to be honest she just grew out of it.

Dd is nearly 9 now and whilst she still turns her nose up at somethings she has a caried diet and will eat most things. I think it is their way or trying to take control of the situation.

We decided that dd would eat when she was hungry and that I was not preparing special meals for her all the time. It was hard but worth it in the end.

Please don't panic - she WILL eat when she's hungry. Just don't rise to her vomiting or she'll do it even more.

also, at 4 years old she's very unlikely to have a real food issue in terms of eating disorders. Children of that age don't know how to starve themselves.

Thanks - I know it has only been going on for a couple of weeks, but I need to nip it in the bud now.

I have asked the nursery to behave the same as me, so it is consistent.

Good to know that she is not alone in this behaviour tho!!!!!!!