My 3 year old won’t eat anything.

[Mumma626]

My 3 year old is a very picky eater!
After having a conversation with a health visitor, I believe this issue is my fault. When he was younger I had ALOT of anxiety about he eating and choking and as a result didn’t give him loads of foods to try and missed that period of time where we wanted to try new things.
Since turning 2 he has become so picky to the point where he won’t eat his dinner if it’s touching each other. He is beginning to get to the point that he doesn’t want to eat the foods I know he likes because he has them often. He also drinks so much! It’s constant all day.
What can I do? I don’t want him to not eat anything all together!
Thanks

You can buy plates that keep things seperated, or I put each item on a plate of its own

The key thing is not to let your worry show to him. Offer him safe foods, let him help with cooking (but with no pressure to eat), offer new foods but with no pressure to eat.
Don’t make a fuss about foods which are or aren’t eaten
All you can do is provide the food it’s up to him if he eats it and if it becomes a battle of wills chances are he will win!

I agree. Remove all battles, don’t react at all. He won’t starve himself.

Put a variety of things (including one or two you know he likes) on dishes to be served by himself onto his plate. Always try and make sure at least one other person eats with him. Something like lighting and blowing out candles on the table makes for a fun distraction. Let him take and eat what he wants and gradually he should try things.

This is mainly about control and a lot of it is totally normal for 2. He will get there!

@sirzy @moreismore thank you so much! I’m so glad there is something I can do that may help! Xx