toddler deliberately making himself sick

[littledibbersmum]

This is a new development. DS always been a difficult eater, from weaning almost, much throwing of food refusing to eat and pickiness. Never managed to get him eating much other than brown/beige coloured food. We tried much encouragement when he was younger with some success, now he is older he has to eat some of what he is presented or else he is not allowed to get down. So three times he has managed to make himself sick, I thought he was ill at first but it only happens when he is havig his tantrums over food.

He is also incredibly clingy, generally quite difficult over many things. Very obsessive over how things are done and throws big strops if things dont happen in a certain way. Getting dressed and undressed have always been stressful. Now he wont let me help and screams if he cannot do it himself.

Is this normal. Am going a bit demented, hubby and I finding it very difficult.

What is the best thing to do over eating strops. He is 2 yrs 3 mths.

Tis normal - DS1 was fussy baby eater and turned into a fussy toddler eater. He used to hold food in his mouth - not chewing and swallowing -until it reached critical mass, gag then be sick. Its a control thing and will pass - what we found worked for us was to cut between meal snacks to just fruit, reinforce the positive (.i.e. when he ate well congratulate him- treat him with extra story at bedtime or tv time or a treat, like a biscuit after dinner) at meal times and let him feed himself and when he was messing around either give him up to 3 warnings and then naughty step for a couple of minutes if he was throwing food or end the meal. He soon learned that if he ate he was happy and full - if he doesnt eat he will be hungry and wont get extra treats. And at nearly 4 now he's a much better eater on the whole and doesnt gag.