HELP! Really fussy 18 month DS refuses to eat - should I give in???!

[KirstyandDarcy]

I am getting really fed up... DS (generally a happy little chap) has become extremely fussy with his food. Should I continue to pamper to him or should I place dinner infront of him, leave it for a bit and then take it away from him after he doesn't eat it? I have tried this before and endured a 40 minute tantrum. If I give in (and give him something like fishfingers) aren't I just making it worse? Don't know what to do and getting really upset by it all!

Hey, I know it's hard but really I think toddlers are meant to be 'fussy' . It's not your fault at all, it's a developmental thing. IMO let him have as much control as poss - let him choose what to eat first and how much to eat etc. Try not to stress about how much he eats - my little one hardly eats anything sometimes but sometimes eats loads, I personally don't give alternatives for dinner but I will give something an hour later or so (an apple/breadsticks) if she seems hungry.

Do you eat together? It;s easier then to not stress about making food they don't eat I think. Cos dinnertime is just dinnertime - and you can just chat and enjoy it together rather than focusing on making them eat. If he doesn't eat anything/much at dinner so be it.

Easier said than done I know! But a good toddler diet is what they eat over a week not a day apparently (and fishfingers occasionally is good too - but you can guarantee he wont eat them on the day you give them )