fussy eater

[lucy1978]

hi not sure were to post this, can anyone give me some advice? i ahve a 2 and 1/2 year old son who has always been a fussy eater and never wants to try anything new and will stick to what he knows which is pasta, nuggets or burger! is even refusing potatos chips etc. all he asks for is chocolate spread sandwiches! i feel guilty putting him to bed if he has not eaten, any ideas?

DOn't feel guilty.

Most kids will eat eventually if they ar ehungry.

Keep up serving him meals with a smile on your face adn taking them away with a smile on your face if he won't eat them (even if the smile is rather forced).

Don't make it an issue.

Kids of that age can live on the equilvilent of a boiled egg a day without starving.

Sympathies though - mine (3.1) is refusing to eat anything but fruit, toast with marmite, cucumber and broccoli - but it's mostly cucumber (90% water isn't it?). I ain't boasting. He won't eat protein based food or anything with bulk (apart from the toast).

Surprisingly he's much better than he used to be.

Hi there - now I'm no expert, but I can appreciate how hard it can be to get toddlers to eat ( i have a 2.9 yr old DD). Couple of suggestions though which have worked for us..

*we always eat together as a family and all eat the same so DD knows that what we are eating is the only option.

*we NEVER force her to eat. If she doesnt want it I just say "ok, no problem, just sit there quietly until we have finished" this often results in her changing her mind and eating a couple of bites. I think kids need to be introduced to new foods several tyimes before they will try them.

*could your DS help you to cook something? If you dont mind the kitchen getting a bit chaotic it could be fun for you both and if he has been involved in preparing something new he is more likely to at least give it a try.

*RE the chocolate spread sandwiches - if you dont want him to eat a particular food, don't buy it. My DD went through a stage of whinging about wanting biscuits etc so I just stopped buying them. Showing her the empty tins was the only way to stop her asking and she would then give up and ask for an apple instead

good luck!