Refusing to Eat Dinner

[TwinkleofArabia]

My 5 year old has suddenly started refusing to eat his dinner and saying I'm started to get frustrated is an understatement. He is a middle child, I have 2 other boys aged 3 and 8, so none of this is new to me. However, no amount of threats i.e. taking immediate privelages away, work. His 3 year brother began copying his behaviour but I think I have that sorted by bringing back the sticker chart. Help, I need some advice from other mums. What do I do withmy 5 year old?

Why threaten him? Does it matter if he doesn't eat his dinner? No one threatens me if I don't want my dinner.

If he's hungry he'll eat. If he doesn't eat his dinner he'll be hungry for breakfast.

Agree with Missus84. Leave him to get on with it, he'll soon start eating again if he's hungry. Threats etc. will only turn this into a battle of wills and I wouldn't fancy your chances Take away the pressure and I'm sure it will settle down soon.

Missus is right - if he is hungry, he will eat.

If he sees that he's getting nothing (no attention, even negative attention) and the others are getting attention/approval because they've eaten up, that might help.

It might also be worth getting them to help with the cooking - perhaps get some pizza bases and a selection of toppings, and let them assemble their own pizzas, or do some baking ('and you can eat one of your cupcakes for pudding if you eat up enough dinner, ds2').

I meant to suggest tortillas too - with a selection of fillings like chicken, grated cheese, mayo, salad, guacamole etc, so they can make what my dses used to call Rollyups. It can be a bit messy, but gets them involved.

I think I have got sucked into the battle too far as you say. I guess I just needed someone to say let him be and he won't starve. My worry is his other brothers will rebel and do the same. Thanks

Even if they all hunger strike, the only people they're bothering is themselves. Let it wash over you!

With DS

I put dinner down

He has 10 minutes

If he doesn't eat I just remove the plate without saying a word to him

DD gets praise for eating hers.

I don't acknowledge his refusal at all.

Most times he comes and asks for it and asks me to it with him as he eat it.

It's really foolproof for us - but all children are different of course.

Thanks for all the advice. I'll involve him in the cooking and see how it goes. Happy New Year to you all.

My 2.4yo rarely eats dinner. And most days he pushes his lunch plate off the table too so only really eats breakfast! I've been struggling on what to do about it too really. I've had lots of different advice, some say the same as BadRomance and to just not even acknowledge it and give fruit puddings etc as normal. Others say to tell him there's nothing to eat until the next meal.
I've tried the no you can't have a biscuit because you didn't eat your lunch thing, but then feel really guilty like I'm starving him.
BadRomance Do you still give your ds any fruit or anything after dinner if he hasn't eaten it?
I know there's an age gap, and 2 is still young isn't it?

Dont worry thats the worse thing you can do, I know that its hard, my dd 2.9 is a dreaful eater, she will eat a few forkfulls before i have to spoon in the rest, i think when she is a little older i will have to give that up, but she is so skinny that i worry. If she refuses i just put her dinner to one side or lunch and no treats in between. If she does not eat dinner they sure will be hungry as someone said on here for breakfast. I never used to be a big eater it was a wonder that i eat one meal a day as a lo, now look at me a size 16 and still eating

I stayed calm and barely acknowledge the tantrum and whining at lunch today and after 30 minutes he actually finished his lunch! Hurrah. I'm sure it had something to do with him being hungry from the day before but I probably worry about him more because there is nothing of him.

Piglet, I have to spoon/fork feed my 3.10 ds sometimes and I put that down to him being lazy. I tell him he has so many spoonfuls left and let him count on his hand how many he has eaten until it's all gone. He thinks it's a game.