DS seems to be on hunger strike..........

[Northerner]

He is 19 months old and never been a fantastic eater, but things have got much worse over the past few weeks. A recent typical day he has his milk in the morning, about 2 mouthfuls of cornflakes (will wolf down 2 hardboiled eggs but don't want to give him this every day) he will not touch lunch or dinner if it is a hot meal, he is only interested in bits of ham, cheese or bread. If I give him a proper meal he hands me his bowl saying NO. He is still eating fruit and stuff so I am making sure he is getting lots of healthy snacks but I want him to eat a meal. Any advice?

DD went on hunger strike each time she was ready to learn a new "eating skill". The first hunger strike was when she wouldn't be spoon fed - once I realised all her food had to be finger food it was ok. Took 3 weeks or so to reintroduce spoonfeeding! Then she went on strike till I realised that she wanted to feed herself with a spoon - so no finger food and only stodgy mush for a few weeks while she mastered that. Could it be something like that? Or maybe he's in a highchair and wants to sit at the table like you (on a booster seat)? Or would he eat in one of those little chairs at a little table? Or if you sit down and eat with him (same food). That kind of thing works for dd.

The other thing that works is being mean . All the meals in the highchair. Cut down on the milk, offer a plate of food at every meal, take it away without comment if she doesn't eat it. Very tiny healthy snack halfway between meals. This works after a day or so - then once she is eating better I relax a bit and offer nice puddings and biscuits as snacks again, or tea in the living room. Although have to do it again every time she is sick or we go on holiday.

For a while I had to consciously "not worry" - just plan the meals, offer her the meal, and say oh well, never mind if it was rejected. Some days she eats next to nothing but she is happy, energetic, looks healthy and is putting on weight so I just let her get on with it. And I'm not stressing about offering her lots of different options and worrying about vitamins like I used to.

Oops, waffling now. Will stop!

Zerub, he is still in a highchair, maybe I should try a booster, Hmm.... I will try to be more strict I think.

Just thought - how long has this hunger strike lasted? Whenever dd seems to be eating really badly, and I start being really strict about puddings and treats, then she goes down with some illness or cuts a new tooth. And I feel really bad! If its only been a week or so, check his mouth for little pointy molar tips!

My Ds is very difficult too.
he started off very well , we experimented with lots of different foods and flavours now he
Only eats small amounts of anything at home , and takes a long time. Though he eats perfectly well at the childminders. Dont let her know it bothers you,
no pressure.
give vitamins drops during periods of hunger strikes-at least you know there getting nutrional requirements.
its probably just a phase and will staring eating some new soon

Ummm, bits of cheese, ham and bread, esp with fruit IS a proper meal, isn't it? 19 months is still v young, I think I would tend to give predominantly finger food if this is his preference for the time being. Does he eat yogurt etc with a spoon? Lots of good finger food, chicken drumsticks, 'healthy' pizza, corn-on-cob, sandwiches galore (could be lightly toasted), hot-dogs, things to dip in hoummous or guacamole made simply by mashing avocado, a little bowl of warm soup to dip bread in? Cheese on toast....

Yes Blu - you're right he is still v young. Maybe I'm expecting too much. And yes he eats yoghurt with a spoon perfectly.

i was lucky i never had that prob my oldest was the other way and i could never fill him even as a baby he was taking 12 fluid oz every couple of hours (i had to put him on bottels) thankfaly hes calmed down now