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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

What do I do when she just screams through meal times?

2 replies

SavoirFaire · 21/02/2013 17:43

16 mo DD really stressing me out. Since Christmas she has found her sweet tooth and makes a massive fuss about getting hold of sweet food (could be fruit, or biscuits or whatever) and she does get hold of sweet food as she has older siblings. Starting to be very fussy about her main meal. I have always been of the principle that I don't offer an alternative option (but a plate of food usually has some variety on it). For the last week she has basically not eaten any protein or vegetables. When I put her plate down she screams and screams and screams. She is obviously hungry and will point to the fruit bowl or anything else that I know she'd prefer.

I am really struggling with this. Tonight she has been screaming now for over an hour, to the extent I have given her calpol in case she's teething (although I'm almost certain she isn't). She has a horrible piercing scream which is torturous and making me feel terrible. I have a 4 year old boy who won't stop talking and is feeling very left out as well and the two together have my blood at boiling point.

What do I do? Give in and give her sweet stuff, in the knowledge that she is just going to get more and more fixated on sweet things (and this seems so early to be getting so fussy). Ignore her - which is impossible to do? I really don't know.

My older one would sometimes refuse at this age but never made such a fuss about it so I would just let him down to play if he didn't fancy eating. This is completely different.

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/02/2013 21:56

It's not too early to be fussy, she clearly s being fussy. If you are sure she's well just ignore, ignore and ignore some more. If DS is doing well and is feeling left out, could you just engage with him? "Oh DS, aren't you being a really good boy eating up" etc

Is she having much milk too? Roughly how much does she have in a day and what type?

Have you read My Child Won't Eat by Carlos Gonzalez? It might help.

TwelveLeggedWalk · 21/02/2013 22:04

I have one of these, the screaming is accompanied by head banging. Unfortunately he's also a twin so I can't normally just end the meal either. It's bloody horrific. No answers, lots of empathy.
I tend to make sure every dinner ends with yoghurt, so they've had something to sleep through the night

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