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Children's health

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Original poster

6 year old refuses breakfast

41 replies

wobblymum1 · 07/03/2023 19:29

Title says it all
really!
She won’t eat before school ☹️I’ve offered everything and anything and she flat out refuses. She naturally isn’t hungry first thing and at weekends doesn’t tend to eat until she’s played and pottered for a good while. I wouldn’t mind except she’s pretty tiny for her age and it feels a long few hours until Break at school (she normally has an apple
and breadsticks and then a carton of milk). She eats well rest of the day.
just feels a looooong fast from supper before bed at 7:45 to 10:20am next
morning. Anyone else have this? All her friends seem
to gobble breakfast! thank you

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

wobblymum1 · 07/03/2023 22:38

she weighs 20kg at nearly 7 so is on the small side 😢but it’s not for want of me trying to feed her up!

OP posts:

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 07/03/2023 22:59

There's a few kids at DDs school who have breakfast to go and eat it in the playground before class. Those wheat-a-bix to go milkshake drink things seem popular, or a pain au chocolat.

I have the opposite problem, my DD eats her meals upside down, she wants a huge breakfast and then a teeny tiny dinner, she just can't seem to tolerate a full belly in the evening.

Original poster

wobblymum1 · 07/03/2023 23:06

Oh that makes me feel better, thank you!

OP posts:

LemonSwan · 07/03/2023 23:11

I never ate breakfast. Still don’t.

It’s good she’s self regulating and not eating for the sake of it. I wouldn’t disrupt that as it’s such an important skill for health that most have lost and it’s really difficult if not impossible to relearn.

Just make sure you send her with plenty of nice snacks for when she does get hungry. I used to take a fruit salad, croissant or breakfast bar for break time when at school.

Dartmoorcheffy · 07/03/2023 23:11

I'm 53 and have never woken up feeling hungry. As a kid I would be expected to eat breakfast but I did struggle to eat it as i just didn't feel ready to eat. The only time I can manage it is when I'm on holiday and there a buffet breakfast, I turn into a gannet then!

OP, Would your daughter have a chocolate or banana milkshake maybe?

GoChasingWaterfalls · 07/03/2023 23:12

My 10 year old is the same. He won't eat before mid - late morning. It's the only time of day when he's not trying to stuff his face with food so he definitely makes up for it.

LemonSwan · 07/03/2023 23:13

Dartmoorcheffy · 07/03/2023 23:11

OP, Would your daughter have a chocolate or banana milkshake maybe?

Haha yes! What is it with a buffet holiday breakfast. I am the same 🤣

Original poster

wobblymum1 · 07/03/2023 23:17

She hates milkshakes otherwise great idea! I think I’ll try and focus on the reassuring comments about people being different and trusting her knowing when she wants / needs to eat. I like the idea of making her breaktime snack more substantial and carb based rather than her beloved bird like mini breadsticks and apple slices 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:

Jellybean23 · 07/03/2023 23:23

My daughter was the skinniest kid in the school and didn't feel hungry at breakfast. Even leggings were baggy in her.

But without much coaxing, she would eat rice pudding, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, buttered fruit scones, pain au chocolat and pancakes. You just plug away and do what you can.

GentlemanJay · 07/03/2023 23:27

Sounds like me as a child. Not a problem.

Magenta82 · 07/03/2023 23:29

It is fine to keep offering food but please try not to force it or food will become "A Thing".

If she isn't hungry she isn't hungry, she knows her body best. Forcing kids to eat when they don't want to, can be just as harmful as restricting food when they are hungry. Both can lead to eating disorders.

She eats well the rest of the day, try not to sweat it.

Original poster

wobblymum1 · 07/03/2023 23:37

thank you, all of you. Really realty needed this tonight and you’ve actually stopped me worrying 🌹

OP posts:

mrsfollowill · 07/03/2023 23:48

Really don't force anything - I can't eat til maybe 10 ish despite being up and about at 6.30am. I live on cups of tea! DS is a young adult who still lives at home he was always the same (but was hot chocolate for him!)
DS has autism but actually has 2 toasted crumpets and cheese every day now he has a physical job and goes out to work everyday. He went through school having nothing but has survived.
My mum, sister and DH all wake up 'starving' and cook up eggs etc- blergh! not for me. I make up for it later though as does DS - we are both night owls though and snack a lot in the evening.

Enko · 07/03/2023 23:50

Op i am another one who doesn't do breakfast straight after waking up. It makes me feel sick. Worse still when I have eaten. Breakfast as I felt i had to for different reasons it makes me so hungry the entire day. I can eat to I feel sick but I am still hungry.

I suffer badly from IBS and I've noticed as an adult when I eat within the first hour of waking up. Or eat anything substantial within the first 2 I have very bad IBS days. As an adult I've taught myself to listen to my body and its needs.
I do drink about 1 liter of tea in the morning as u am thirsty first thing. I drink little at night. I've just learned to do what my body needs.

Try the smoothie if she liked them great but elsewise try not to make it a battle.

You are not a bad mum for hearing your child and her needs and wishes.

Enko · 07/03/2023 23:53

@mrsfollowill. I feel for you my dh is another "cook up eggs for breakfast daily guy" every day he offeres me.some. we have been together 28 years he still doesn't get eggs for breakfast makes me feel awful first thing. (Give me 2 hours I'm up for it)

mrsfollowill · 08/03/2023 00:01

@Enko Oh it's awful isn't it! some of us just are not that way inclined- I think people just don't get it. I well and truly make up for it as the day goes on- my weight will testify that but first thing - just no leave me alone! I understand the worry particularly with young children but everyone had their balance and what works for them.

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