What do you do when your toddler refuses to eat dinner?

[ElleDubloo]

Toddler woke up late from her nap, and we went for a walk into town. While out, she became really hot and bothered, so I got her a little box of mixed fruits - this was about 6 pm. We got home and I cooked, and food is now ready but she's refusing to eat - it's past 7 pm, which is much later than our usual dinner time. She goes to bed at 8 pm. She's off playing now, but I don't know what to do because it has literally never happened before that she's refused all parts of her dinner. Do I sit her down and make her eat? Or give her something more attractive like a biscuit? Or get her ready for bed with the risk that she might wake up hungry in the middle of the night?

I'd give a biggish cup of milk to see her through the night

Slice of toast with jam and then bed.

In situations like that, I've just given weetabix before bed.
I didn't want them to wake up in the night hungry.

Yes I'd do some nice warm milk too. Sounds like she just got overtired.

Tbh you can't really make her eat can you? Offer weetabix and banana if you're worried she will wake up hungry in the night. Otherwise forget about it and plan for a hearty breakfast. Toddlers often refuse food - it's part of what makes them so delightful
Best not to let it become a source ot tension/ power struggle as it's not one you're likely to win!

Toast. It's gonna happen from now on. You have to roll with it. Sometimes they just don't fancy dinner.

I offer toast and milk

X-post...

Thanks guys. I don't have any bread but I'll give her some cherrios and a big cup of milk.

When DD (16 months) refuses dinner and starts to throw it I take it away from her and I don't offer anything else. We have dinner about 5.30 and she has her milk at 7.30. If by 6.30 she is hungry then I give a piece of toast- no favourite treats like fruit etc

Yeah that sounds like a good strategy. I was struggling to think of other foods I can give her without making it seem like a treat and thereby encouraging her to skip dinner more in the future. I need to buy some bread.

If you're not a big bread eater keep a half pan in the freezer. You can toast from frozen.

Personally, I always give my bird appetite toddler a bit of supper anyway. Cheese on toast works very well for her.

Another vote here for weetabix. Don't worry too much, toddlers won't starve themselves.

My kids would see toast as a treat! Weetabix is not exciting enough to skip a meal for. Plus it's quick to eat when they're tired and neesd to go bed.

Mine would see toast as a treat too! He'd live off it if he could...

If she doesn't want it she's not hungry. Just put her to bed.

Thanks everyone. I gave her some cheerios (low sugar variety) and a cup of diluted orange juice and a cup of milk. She's happily in bed now.

Putting the bread machine on for tomorrow. Will slice up and freeze, as per PP's very helpful suggestion.

i usually give my DS (just turned 2) weetabix, toast or plain yoghurt in these situations. And extra milk if he drinks all his cup.

Sounds like she's just not hungry cos her routine is a bit out, rather than her refusing to eat just to be stubborn, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. She'll prob have a big breakfast tomorrow to make up for it!

My ds is 2 and a quarter. I try not to make too much of an issue when he doesn't eat his dinner, don't offer something "nice". I will tell him that's ok but your not getting anything else. Sometimes I will leave it an hour and try the dinner again and he usually eats it or if I did have an hour I wait a while and then offer weetabix or shreddies so that he is not directly associating the dinner refusal with getting an alternative.