Help with 4 year old not eating

[Alea123]

My four year old is such a fussy eater. All she wants to eat is yogurts or Ella’s banana pouches. It’s a constant fight every night with dinner. I dread this time every night as it’s a nightmare. Tonight I made her pasta which I know she’s ate before. Started screaming she doesn’t like it and refused to eat it. I really don’t know what to do as she’s the same with breakfast, lunch and dinner. I feel I’m going insane.

Can you try milk based meals like weetabix or porridge for breakfast?

No idea generally sorry OP.

She starting school in sept? Maybe peer pressure at lunch may help? Does she go to a nursery? Does she eat there?

I’ve tried cereal told me she doesn’t like it. She starts school in September so I’m hoping that will help. Although she does go to nursery at the moment and eats there most times or just had a ham sandwich as refused lunch. I’m starting to feel stressed as I’m like you need to eat!!

A constant fight with dinner really jumped out at me there. This really can be made so much worse by making it an issue Put a little selection of food infront of her and walk away. Go busy yourself. Take no notice make no mention to it atall. When you return she may just have eaten something. Repeat for every meal remove the unwanted food after 20 mins or so with no comment about it atall. Try and relax about it. No child has ever starved themselves but You can unknowingly make it a lot worse !

Provide the food, make sure there is something she likes at each meal, don’t say anything about what she does or doesn’t eat.

No child has ever starved themselves

That isn’t true. Some children will starve themselves sadly

I feel sometimes I do make it worse I’m just like oh my god will you eat. There is times she just pushed her plate away and walked away. Then cry’s for a yogurt and I do cave in sometimes as I’m like you’ve not eaten anything. I know I should but it’s so hard and draining

I don’t think you’re doing the wrong thing actually. It sounds stressful.

I think food aside you’re totally within your rights to have a zero tolerance approach to shouting. She may say ‘no thank you’ but she does not scream it! That’s just rude!

Id probably try to go down a praise based route. Is there a toy or similar she’d be willing to ‘work’ towards - star chart for every new food she tries?

Yeah I could try a star chat with a new toy. That’s a good idea, thanks

Have a look at Charlotte Stirling-Reed's blog... she is also on facebook (has a group which is very helpful - might be worth posting on there) and instagram. She has so many posts on all things to do with feeding young children, encouraging interest etc. Also have a look at ARFID and see if it matches your DD. Good luck!

I have a 3 year old who "doesn't like it" or "it's too hot". Even food he ate the day before, I've now stopped arguing with him. I make the meal, he eats it or doesn't, end of meal time. If he tells me he is hungry he is the offered a try of the meal, if by supper time he still hasn't tried it then he is offered toast with butter (which he finds boring) before bed. All I ask is he tries it, then if he doesn't like it then I will offer an alternative. I have found offering a desert works well getting him to eat, ice lollies are a fave at the moment so he picks them when we do the shopping so is eager to have one after his meal.

What is she like at nursery now?does she eat diff food there?
My DS was always awkward at home but would eat anything nursery gave him, salmon , fish cakes curry etc.

I’d imagine school will sort her out OP as she either eats or she wil be hungry.
It sorts most kids out…. Don’t pander to her and give her pack lunches at school let her try new things.