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Toddler refusing food

4 replies

Elizabeth209 · 08/11/2020 17:22

My 21 month old is at that stage where he will refuse everything put in front of him. I'm at my wits end now. I can't remember the last time he ate a meal. I give him the same thing we do everyday but just dips his finger in, possibly taste a bit and then passes the plate back. Obviously I'm not going to send him to bed hungry so he's ending up with weetabix, fruit and yogurt and breadsticks and hummus etc. I'm making sure he doesn't have anything 'fun' when he doesn't eat his dinner like sweet yogurts and biscuits.

It's just so frustrating I'm worried he's not getting all the nutrition he needs as he won't touch vegetables. He's got the healthy start vitamins with his morning milk but I'm just worried this isn't enough.

Does anyone have any advice?

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LeGrandBleu · 08/11/2020 18:10

Sorry, but even if the alternatives you offer do not belong to your "fun" definition, they are sweeter alternatives. Fruit, yoghurt, weetbix, breadstick have all the common taste factor.
The more you keep this, the less he will eat real food, and will only want snacks,
Have the meals together as a family, have him seated in his high chair, while you eat the same meal, offer the plate, and if he refuses it, remove the plate, but leave him in his chair, while you keep chatting as if nothing happened. Do not jump and offer something else, the second he pushes the plate.

My advice is to have him next to you when. you cook, either in his high chair so he can see , and let him participate in the preparation, handing you the carrot or whatever, maybe teaching him how to brush a zucchini before putting it in the oven, sprinkle rosemary over a chicken breast, turning on the blender for the soup and so on.
Cooking starts at the supermarket when he helps you pick vegetables, give him the bag and ask him to fill it with green beans, then at home wash them in a bowl , and so on.

Eat together. At the table. The same meal. Don;t talk about the food "don't you like? You don't want it? " talk about the plans for the afternoons, the books you are going to read. before bed, even bring one and read it

Alldayeveryday200 · 08/11/2020 22:25

I would also think that perhaps he is holding out for the Weetabix and fruit etc. Google the division of responsibility. It is your job to decide when, where and what they eat and it is their responsibility to decide how much they eat. (Within reason unless there were serious concerns) is he following the curve generally?

GrumpyHoonMain · 08/11/2020 22:40

DS is only 11 months but he will hold out for his favourite foods and textures. Best thing to do is eat together, and maybe pair 1 familiar thing with 1 new taste.

So if he likes fruit serve it with chicken. If he likes weetabix in milk then serve it with chicken soup etc. If he doesn’t eat a single meal then he doesn’t eat - but if you’re consistant like that across the whole day he’ll eat enough.

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LeGrandBleu · 09/11/2020 00:40

Weetabix in chicken soup Confused.
My French taste buds gasp in horror.

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