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Original poster

Help ! My 21mth DS is refusing to eat

12 replies

ptmum · 17/12/2006 17:49

Hes never been a great eater but was getting much better until hr was ill with a stomach bug at the nend of October - since then he will eat ' finger food' toast, cheese , fruit etc but nothing else. We have tried, no main meal - no pud and are currently trying one bite of food ( bens/pasta whayever) for a piece of his fav tangerine, but its not really working - anyone any suggestions? Id be V. grateful
Thanks

OP posts:

Original poster

ptmum · 17/12/2006 17:58

Please, feeling desperate here. Dinners been going on for 30 mins and only 1 bean has been eaten - do we stop and give her nothing or keep going ? Help

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Original poster

ptmum · 17/12/2006 17:59

Sorry meant give him, nothing

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TinsellyRhino · 17/12/2006 18:01

I think te important thing is that dinnertime doesn't become a stressfull situation, which is easier said than done I know

I think you should just say tea is over now and then offer him a snack in an hour or so (if he asks before then just say 'in a while' or something

TinsellyRhino · 17/12/2006 18:04

on the other hand if he is eating fruit and cheese and bread you could just serve him other stuff aloingside something you know he will eat and have a certain time limit fro meals and then do not even mentiuon the other food and he may just start to eat them in his own time. I guess I think that because it was sparked off by a bug that he really needs to be just left to relax around food again perhaps.

fruit and cheese and bread is no bad diet and even though it seems awful and like forever he will probably just start eating again soon

Original poster

ptmum · 17/12/2006 18:04

Have just ended tea time. He has had nothing else, but seems to be surviving on fresh air

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TinsellyRhino · 17/12/2006 18:09

I seem to remember someone saying that in there second year it seems as though they eat hardly anything because the difference in the amount that there bodies need now compared to the first year is huge

dd2 (20 months) has had 2 yoghurts and a handful of chips today and thats it. I try desperately not to worry because I think my dd1's fussy eating which has never really eased and she is now 6 was caused by me almost tryring to force food on her at about this age and turnng the whole thing into a nightmare

They will never stare themselves, you just have to make sure plaenty of healthy opportunities are there for them to eat

babble babble sorry

Original poster

ptmum · 17/12/2006 18:16

Thanks, its good to hear hes not alone in surviving on nothing, hes on the 1st percentile so is monitored by the hv for his weight so it makes you more anxious. i am trying not to turn into a mad woman at teatime as agree it needs to stey stress free but this great plan doesnt always work. Will try to forget about food for today and try again tomorrow.
Thanks for your help

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Original poster

ptmum · 18/12/2006 17:26

Hi, it must be tea time again, hes eaten no lunch at nursery and has managed one piece of sweetcorn for tea AAARRRHHHHHHHHH!

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Tanktop · 18/12/2006 17:41

God ur certainly not alone. We have tried everthing possible to try and encourage our dd to eat happily and without fuss. If she does decide she is going to eat it can take her over an hour per meal. I try never to make a fuss over mealtime as I honestly find this makes her worse. Just now we are allowing her to watch TV while eating which seems to be working so far. Probably not the best solution but if it make both our lives easier I really don't care.

merrylissiemas · 18/12/2006 17:44

ds has always had a voracious appetite but the last few days he won't even eat macaroni cheese. have you seen the gp about this?

Original poster

ptmum · 18/12/2006 17:54

I agree tanktop no fuss certainly makes for better mealtimes - am now giving him the chance to eat and if , after 30 mins or so there is no joy we end mealtimes - but he seems quite happy to live on fresh air! Ive been to see the hv as his weight is checked every 6 mths, he is on the 1-2nd percentile, but is tracking that line so she is not tooo woried - she recommended supplements - minadex for iron which we have used - has anyone else used this?

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NannyL · 18/12/2006 19:53

feed him what u want him to eat... he can eta it... or starve

do above for each meal offering NOTHING at all (except water) in between...

he will sooon be hungry enouggh to eat what you feed him

it will work.... nio child has ever satrved them selves through refusal to eat food offered!

btw my 15 month old charge is tryong to eb fussy 9and failing) on thurs / fri he went 23.5 hours without eating.... had tea...

norning refused any breakfast (not unusual)

refused any lunch at all(rare consdeiring no breakfast) at 12pm

went to bed for nap

re offered lunch when awake at 2.... refused it again

had tea at 4.30 ate the lot.... (lunch was chicken casserole, veg and rice, tea jack pots with cheese)... i could tell ehr was very hungruy so he had both meals together... ie chicken casserole, rice and peas + jack pot and cheese and he ate the lot!.... because he was hungry

he also watched his brother eat raisens at 3pm and really wanted some... but didnt get any!... was told "w ate lunch nicely so W gets raisens... you didnt u can have ur lunch.... oh u dont want it, be hungry then!"

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