Why won't he eat breakfast like a normal human being?

[yagayagayo]

Unnecessarily dramatic title lol but DS is 19 months and is good with his lunch and dinner but at breakfast after a few bites he starts to whinge as he wants to get out of his high chair and play.

DH and I tend to give in and let him play, and then try feeding him breakfast while he plays, it’s a lengthy impractical process esp. as we have DC2 is on the way and we would really like DS to eat all his breakfast before playing/starting his day.

For info, it’s usually cereal, toast and fruit for breakfast, the toys are stored in boxes in the corner of the room that we don’t get out until it’s playtime, and we usually have the radio on. We try to eat breakfast at the same time as DS but that doesn’t always happen.

I don’t understand why he’s fine with lunch and dinner but breakfast is a whinge fest. Any hints, tips, advice most welcome. Thanks

What happens if you let him play first, and try breakfast an hour or so later?

I wouldn’t bother trying to chase him around feeding him while he plays. I’d just let him eat the little he does and get down to play. If he was hungry, rest assured he’d eat more. Leave some chopped grapes and other fruit out to graze on if you like.
Wouldn’t stress it. Nothing bad will come of him preferring a small breakfast...means he’ll enjoy his lunch.

Or give him breakfast later like the pp suggests.
Go with the flow.

Maybe he's not hungry yet, just offer him something small then let him get on with his day. Dd2 isn't so keen on breakfast either. I found giving her snack stuff like breadstick, cucumber and humous or crackers and cheese helped slightly

Dd has never eaten breakfast, even as a baby she wasnt keen.
18yrs later, still nope, she just can't eat first thing.
She'll maybe have a fruit tea and take a cereal bar to college, but that's it.

Maybe he's not hungry?
Does he need to sit in the high chair? Mine sits at his little table and just gets up when he's done. He can play while I drink my tea in peace.

He's obviously not hungry enough. Just give him water in case he is filling up on milk or juice? Either delay breakfast or just pop a plate in an accessible place with some toast and fruit or whatever on it.

On school days, dd hardly eats any breakfast. On weekends, she devours it all. The difference is she eats soon after waking and on weekends ts later. Clearly, like her mother, she doesn't like eating first thing. They a later breakfast or snack.

Don't stress too much OP. It sounds like he's a good eater overall which is great. Maybe breakfast isn't his thing.

He 'll tell you when hes hungry. I really dont think trying to force him to eat while playing is going to foster a great relationship to food tbh, teach him to eat when hungry

He's not hungry. There's nothing wrong with that. 🤷🏻‍♀️

My DS has always wolfed down his breakfast and eats loads. My 2 year old DD barely eats anything. I’ve given up stressing about it and just give her a cup of milk and a bit of toast that she usually nibbles, and then she basically has breakfast about an hour or so later.

Weirdly when we were on holiday with grandparents she ate loads for breakfast. I do think it’s timing and she doesn’t like to eat first thing

He isn't hungry, I think.

Let him eat a little, then get down, lunch etc as normal. Small snack if he really needs it.

Does he have milk in the morning?

If he's not grumpy or upset after a small breakfast, then he's not hungry.

Thanks for the replies. There's some good thoughts and suggestions there, think I might try leaving breakfast on his little table and chair set and see what he does.

I should have said he's has breakfast about 30mins after he's woken, he comes over and whinges and that's when I know he wants it (I say 'breakfast' and he nods his head 'yes'). After a few spoonfuls he whinges again to go down. I think he does have the appetite for it as he always ends up finishing his breakfast but it's just over the course of an hour-ish. And when we then go to playgroup you'd think I'd not given him anything as he wolfs up the snacks they give (then often whinging for more).

Mine has some milk and a bit of fruit first thing but then doesn’t actually eat breakfast until about another hour later. I’d give him a bit to start, take him out when he’s done and then offer more breakfast later when he asks, or just a more filling snack.

Ugh my mother forced breakfast down me for years. Some people just aren't hungry first thing! My DS eats breakfast now but didn't until he was about 12.