Won't Eat at home - Eat at nursery

[OuiOui]

My 11 month old dd goes to nursery 3 days a week and she eats everything she's given. She has always had a good appetite but the past 2 weeks she's been refusing the spoon at home. She likes her ham and rice cakes (I give this AFTER the puree) but will only have a few tsp of food/puree. I tried giving her bkfast at the nursery today but she wasn't really interested and then when one of thw nannies came along, she opened her nmouth wide - can anyone explain what's going on?

I love your nickname! But that aside I think your problem is very common. Your dd knows she can wind you up, whereas the nanny at the nursery is still a stranger and so your dd is more likely to behave for her - for now. She is asserting her independence already, telling you that she doesn't have to do what you say all the time. I wouldn't overly worry about it, so long as she is eating finger-food. My dd went through a phase of only wanting finger-food. We're quite strict with her at food-times though so often if she didn't eat what was on the plate she got nothing, that soon changed her tune! It is hard to do, but the way I saw it, it would save a lot of aggro later on. If your dd spots a weakness now she will work on it in the future. Food is always a focus point for their little assertiveness trials, that and sleep. Just be patient and pretend that it doesn't worry you. Don't scold her or cajole her, if she refuses just say "Ok then, mummy will take it away" and do that, then after five minutes ask her if she would like to try it now. If you get the same reaction then leave it ten minutes and so on. If she sees that you are not bothered, it takes away her pleasure of seeing you all wound up and she will realise that actually she is quite hungry and wouldn't mind eating her breakfast!

Thanks Rhubarb. DD is eating with me again but no doubt her independence will resurface again very shortly - probably today at lunchtime!!!