Troublesome feeding

[mummynumnum]

DD has always been a good eater but has been refusing food the last few days. She has a poorly ear which could explain this but she is also throwing utensils off the table in a tantrum style manner. I would appreciate some advice on this. Shall I assume it is because of the ear and ignore, but if I just ignore will it encourage bad habits. When I said no firmly she just laughed which made me think best not to give attention. Help!!! DD is 18mths and just starting to have the odd tantrum-no advent calender is ever setting foot in this house again!

Normal for 18m. Stay calm and either replace the utensils or end the meal. Don't force her to eat. It's highly likely that it is linked to her sore ear. It might be causing her discomfort to eat and throwing her stuff off the table is her way of letting you know.
Ask her what she would like to eat. Hopefully her ear is on the mend and she will join in eating with you all again.
Odd tantrums - normal. Quite likely to increase in frequency in the coming months. Try to stay calm, talk to her about what is nice behaviour and why it's better for everyone and remember this phase will pass.
Just curious - what have advent calendars got to do with anything?

Does she have an ear infection?? Have you tried giving her paracetamol 1/2 hr before meal times, this has helped ds1 at times.

They do all seem to have phases of not eating/messing about/refusing meals. Its quite a good control thing and often provokes reactions from parents, particulaly if there is a lot going on.

good luck!!

Not being allowed to eat more than one choc caused the first tantrum!

I don't think 18m olds grasp the concept of yesterday, today, tomorrow all that well - especially when something they really want is involved.
How about an advent calendar that is just a picture behind the window. Although by next advent she will probably understand better.

Yes, I think I learnt my lesson this year.

Hardly any tea again today, but just ate lots of grapes.

Grapes are good.

Both mine have their days of not eating. If you try and look at how much she eats over a week it is easier to be less worried when a when a meal is missed. Keep offering food at regular times. If she refuses the food either with good behaviour or bad then just move on. The less fuss the better.

We also make a point of no tele on whilst dinner is on and if you do not want to eat then you either stay put quietly at the table or get down and be ignored. Do you sit down and eat at the same time?

It seems to be working at the moment, giving them motivation to stay and interact!

I would suggest you sit down with DP/DH and get an idea of what sort of behaviuor you expect and what you will do if you don't get it. Keep it relatively straightforward at first then add things on as she gets older.

Have you also thought about buying or using some more older toddler cutlery? Ikea do sime good sized toddler cutlery.

I did feel better after she ate some grapes and she has a little pear to before bed.

She has meals in the dining room without telly and always have meal with her and she uses her own cutlery. Seems from what you've said we are doing the right thinhs, so will try and ignore the throwing. She seems to enjoy it when I tell off, so think will go down the ignore route.

Making Turkey curry for tomorrow so that may go down better. MMMM!!!!

She has alot of meals at nursery-so perhaps she just hates my cooking!