11 month-old refusing dinner. What time do you feed yours?

[spewgloriousspew]

He normally eats lunch no fuss, but he's increasingly refusing dinner (except puddings - nothing sweet, just yog + fruit, rice pudding etc). He'll just about eat food covered in yoghurt at that time, but not a lot else.

I'm thinking of giving him his dinner earlier, to see if that makes any difference. Does anyone else feed their older kids as early as 4pm?!

By older kids, I meant older babies.

If he's eating well the rest of the day I wouldn't worry. Two things spring to mind, he might be too tired to be bothered, my DS got very tired by late afternoon and ate a limited menu for dinner until he was about 4 or 5. But he went to Nursery and had a 2 course lunch, so it really didn't matter. Also, does he eat lots of snacks, drink lots of milk in the afternoon, which might take the edge off his appetite? DS is 9 now and happy to eat adult portions mid-evening, it is amazing how quickly it has gone.

Thanks . Yes, I think he is too tired, which is why I'm going to try him on an earlier dinner. He eats a snack at around 4pm, no problem as well as some milk. Dinner has never been as easy as breakfast or lunch, but he does eat well the rest of the day (he scoffed down two weetabix, a banana and a slice of toast this morning...). Thanks again, it's good to hear that someone else has come out the other side!

I've just given DS dinner at 4:30 as the last few days he has missed dinner as he has started going to bed at 5:30!

I always gave DD1 her dinner around 4pm - gave her plenty of time to eat it then time for a play before bathtime then milk before bed.

I'd just offer the fruit and yoghurt at the usual time

I feed 13 month old DD between 4.30pm and 5pm.

Afternoon tea at 2.30pm. Sometimes she will eat a huge amount and be happy to try new foods, other times she will just eat what she knows or one item - for example chicken. I give her yoghurt and fruit or a milky pudding and fruit and she has a breastfeed at 6pm.

I focus on quantity rather than quality and try and get the quality in at breakfast, lunch and snack times.

Thanks all, things have been a bit better dinner-wise the last week. I don't force it and if he won't eat, he won't eat. I give up trying to understand him!