CM CLUB - FUSSY EATER, what to do?

[LoveMyGirls]

I've just started settling in a 2yr old (see other thread) and he is also not a big eater, so far he has eaten nothing, but has only been here 2 afternoons (for 2hrs at a time) when i started making the other children dinner i asked his grandad what he would eat and his GD said he would have a biscut - but i don't have any, i'm very big on healthy, balanced meals and my children only get biscuts/ cake if we go to toddler group and everyone else is having it, they kno i don't keep that kind of thing in the house - sometimes they have some malf loaf or fruit bread but nothing really sugary and not at any time do we have fizzy pop or sweets.

So what do i do? tbh i think i know the answer but im curious to know what all of you would do.

Would you give him whatever he likes just so he settles and eats something as this is probably what he gets at home or do you stick with your rules and say when he comes to you he does the same as the other children.

I am having trouble with a fussy eater (8 year old) at the moment, so am keen to find soluitions to getting fussy eaters to be less picky about what food they will eat.

With pre-schoolers, I find that if you offer a selection of finger food, they may be inclined to try it. 2 year old I care for will eat Carrot sticks, bread sticks, rice cakes, that sort of thing. Also children of this age love helping to make food - 2 year old yesterday helped stir tuna and tomatto together, even tasted some... but alas when it came to tea time, didn't eat it tuna pasta bake.

I would say that you should stick with your rules as much as possible. Discuss with parents so they know what the food rules are and to check that they are happy with that.

So are u only having child for 2hrs for good or is this the settling in period? If it were just 2hrs are u suppose to be giving him lunch>? IF not for lunch then dont worry if he doesnt eat - If he is for lunch cant you ask parents to supply pack lunch as he is so fussy or is that against your rules.

IF he settles ok he will be coming full time so will eat all his meals although if he doesnt eat his dinner here (because he doesnt want to then he can eat at home, i have no problem with that) but i'm concerned about the rest of the time.

my rules are that they eat what they are given and they get nothing else unless enough is eaten until next snack/ meal time. If they don't like what they are given i ask them to try it and i will try it too even if they only take one bite or even lick it then they get lots of praise but if they really don't want to then its fine and i will ask them eat the rest that is on thier plate.

i've seen programmes about fussy eaters so i know not to push it and that they will eat when they are hungry.