2yo refusing dinner

[trebleclef101]

My just turned 2yo DD has started refusing to eat dinner. From the way she acts you would think we are trying to feed her dirt, but we offer things we know she likes and she just refuses to eat and gets upset.

She will quite happily eat fruit, yogurt and snacky things, but put a plate of pasta in front of her and world war three ensues.

This problem has only cropped up in the last couple of weeks, prior to that she would quite happily eat pretty much anything we put in front of her, or at least give it a go.

Today she sat with a piece of pasta held in her mouth for 10 minutes refusing to chew and swallow, before I gave up and took it out.

It's turned previously pleasant family dinners into something I dread. Does anyone have any tips on getting a 2yo to eat? Or is this likely to be just a phase that we need to ride out?

I feel like she is subsisting entirely on peanut butter toast, yogurt and fruit at the moment

I have a very, very fussy eater and she started around the same age. I'd just offer whatever the family are eating, I've long ago stopped taking her preferences into consideration because even if I cook her favourite, it's doubtful if she'd eat it.

Just plonk the food down and eat yours. Don't comment on her eating or conjole. If she says she doesn't like something just say ok and change the subject and if she doesn't eat what she's been offered, don't offer any alternatives.

I'd also cut down her afternoon snack, so it's tiny and cut down the portion you are offering in the evening. My DD is more likely to refuse the more she has on her plate. If we just gave her a bit she would often ear it and ask for more.

My advice would be don't push it give her picky foods that she enjoys! Both of my children are grazers (9 yrs and 4 yrs), they both hate a full dinner in the evening. We compromise by a cooked lunch or school dinners with a picky tea. They will eat picky bits at teatime followed by another round of picky foods later in the evening.

I also eat like this so I can understand their reluctance. I pushed for a full meal with my daughter when she was smaller until we were both miserable but I figure they both eat, have plenty of energy and actually eat a really healthy diet. I don't want to make food an issue! It's tough but I would step back a little.

My son was dreadful. He still goes through periods of eating poorly completely refused meals, ate something one day then refused it the next, it was so stressful and he is 4 in November. He started at about 1. He is a healthy weight and developing fine. My biggest ever tip I can give is don't force her. Never stop offering foods, literally a few weeks ago my son was upset because I didn't put any black pudding on his plate. He always refused to try it, so I was giving a break before offering again. I put some on and he demolished the lot wanting more.. meals are not as stressful now and he will try things just on his terms. Keep going, keep smiling and I know how hard it is but don't let it beat you down. It could be a short phase but it could take a lot longer, but the more you make an issue of it the harder it can be x

Thanks for the replies. We do often do 'picky' dinners as she usually has a main meal type lunch at nursery, and they do tend to go down better.

Will also try to take the pressure off as I don't want it to become a big issue. I guess as long as she is a healthy weight and has plenty of energy (she is, and she does) then I can just stop worrying about exactly how much she eats!