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Parenting

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8 year old fussy eating argh

6 replies

Shinyandnew2022 · 09/01/2022 12:20

My DS is a sensitive sort and I could list a whole load of issues we are having with him at the moment, he has had a tricky spell at school and before Christmas he got in a bit of a state about going into school.

Start of term has been ok and school are being very helpful but there is a side issue now of him not wanting to eat breakfast - complaining of tummy aches etc.

He has always been a grazer and quite fussy but now we are nervous this is going to spiral if we don't manage it well.
Breakfast had become a battle of him sitting and barely eating until time ran out before school.
Last week I said to DH it wasn't worth the battle and sent him to school with a yoghurt pouch which he has once in (and is more relaxed and hungrier !)
Anyhow I am conscious he is getting a lot of attention around food and we are constantly nagging him to eat more at mealtimes - but my gut feeling s that this may just make things worse ?
Anyone got any experience of how we can handle this to ride it out without turning it into more of a drama ?
I am possibly overthinking it as he is showing so many signs of anxieties at the moment I feel we need to be really careful with him ...
Thanks in advance for any help !

OP posts:
AliceMcK · 09/01/2022 12:26

Maybe try getting ready for school and give him something to snack on when you set off. I certainly wouldn’t make a fuss or force him to sit there and eat something. You could also start giving him to job of making his breakfast to see if he prefers that.

Beamur · 09/01/2022 12:32

I think you're right. Fussing over him won't help.
Is his tummy ache a bit of anxiety around going to school? If so, definitely just send him in with something to eat later. Have some juice or even milkshake or similar at home for the calories before he goes.
Don't add to the things that are stressing him. Maybe see where he can catch up with missing food at another time during the day.

Fallagain · 09/01/2022 12:36

Sore tummy sounds like anxiety or he may just not be hungry in the morning. Its also normal to children who feel like they don’t have control of their lives to exert their control when it comes to food.

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Shinyandnew2022 · 09/01/2022 12:42

Thanks so much for the quick replies - yes I think the sore tummy is anxiety related.
Also when it started he got in a state about a school trip and was so nervous he was sick so I think that has made things worse.
He worries now I suppose that he will be sick again.
He has never been a big breakfast eater either which I relate to more than DH .
Sorry if my OP wasn't clear I was trying to keep it brief !

Hmmm writing it down always makes it clearer doesn't it - there is no point making it worse for him.
I think I just need to keep things simple.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 09/01/2022 12:49

When my anxiety is bad I can’t eat breakfast.

Offer him to food but make no comment on what he does or doesn’t eat. Keep relaxed - outwardly at least!

Shinyandnew2022 · 09/01/2022 16:23

Thanks @Sirzy it makes perfect sense really.

Anyhow after being at my wits end this morning and him eating almost nothing for lunch we did an LFT as we had a play date planned and wanted to rule out COVID and it was positive so I guess that was a factor on the last couple of days !
Funny how quickly you can move on to worrying about something else !

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