Testing times with DD - any advice?!

[loftyjen]

I've got feeding issues with my 17mth old - isn't even that it's particular foods she's funny with , getting half way through a meal is a huge achievement (yogurts/smoothies are never refused).

Her latest thing is wanting to feed me instead of feeding herself/me helping a bit. Only managed 2 or 3 spoons of stew/couscous tonight & she was mucking about so much that I'm not giving her a yogurt which hasn't worried her (is she too young to realise consequence?!)

She was ill over the w/e with a fever & has a bit of a cough but got a feeling this is as much to do with testing us than loss of appetite any tips welcomed!!

...is it really only my DD who does/has done this?!

This too shall pass. I really wouldn't worry & I certainly wouldn't withold food when you are concerned about intake. The more you make an issue of mealtime behaviour, the more she will play up for the reward of attention. I would ignore as much as you can, allow her to feed you a bit (she's imitating you - if you react badly to being fed that sends the wrong message) and just clear away what she doesn't eat.

Yes, she's too young to understand consequences imho. When I've been poorly I just fance easy food, she's regressed a bit maybe. I would give her the yoghurts/smoothies with extra fruit. Then you know she's getting nourishment and filling her tummy.

Thank you - she did end up eating a bit more (pulling me out to the kitchen and pointing at it!) so did then get a yogurt. Few days on & she's still being a pickle .
Does feel recently like days she eats well are the novelty rather than the norm!

A friend who's a speech & language therapist has interestingly told me that so long as the equivalent size of DD's fist in food is eaten during a meal then that's adequate which is also reassuring.