Two Year Old Won't Feed Himself

[HelloBabba]

Hello all, i was hoping for some advice about my two year old son and his feeding. When he was six months old we tried to wean him, I followed everything to a tee but he was just not interested. So after speaking to health visitors we left it a little while and started again. He has never shown an interest in food and every day was a struggle to feed him. As he got a bit older it was clear that he liked what we were feeding him but he couldn't be bothered to eat it or feed himself. So as a desperate attempt we would let him watch the IPad just whilst we fed him - as a result he ate everything but only of he was distracted. Now he's two he still does not feed himself. He just sits and waits. Have anyone of you experienced this before and have you got any advice. We have removed the Ipad completely but he still needs some sort of distraction like a toy etc whilst we spoon feed him. Any advice much appreciated.

I’d just stop spoon feeding him. All eat together, give him some appropriate cutlery and let him get on with it. Oddly mine ate better at that age if I put on some gentle classical music or and audio book but we discovered that pretty much by chance. But definitely stop feeding him, he’s not really a baby anymore.

I’d give him family food, chat to each other and eat yours but don’t feed him, cajole him or comment on what he is or isn’t eating. When everyone else has finished, clear away and if he says he’s hungry later, offer the food back. You might have a few tantrums and if his speech isn’t good, you might need to teach him the sign for eating but you’ll get there.

If he’s having more than 300ml of full fat cows milk a day, I’d cut it back too. Milk will suppress his hunger.