18 Month old won't eat anything at all if she is not watching Hop hop the owl or Ms. Rachel

[April1928]

My little girl won't eat anything at all unless we put the iPad on and she watches something. Literally as soon as she hit the high chair she will immediately points and look for the iPad. If we don't give in she will throw a massive tantrums.

I blame myself for this habit of hers that started maybe a week or so when I let her watch something and I spoon feed her. It was automatic the moment the iPad plays she will open her mouth and eat everything. But when I the the iPad away for her to explore her food she will throw the biggest tantrums! Like wailing and throwing everything in her reach. What shall I do. We are on our wits end. Please tell me this is still reversible as I am blaming myself that we get to this point.

Ps: she is born small for her gestational age and currently on the 15th centile.

I would "lose" the iPad for a couple of weeks, ride out the tantrums and build up some more positive meal time habits and routines. Do you eat together as a family, so she sees mealtimes as a social occasion?

Hi NannyR, we eat together most of the time and when I am fasting I pretend to eat with her. Thank you! I will try to ride on her tantrums and just go cold turkey on the iPad. It kinda feels like she is playing power struggle with us 😪

It kinda feels like she is playing power struggle with us

All DC test their boundaries with you, it's natural and a very normal thing for her to do.

Definitely "lose" the IPad for a while and eat as a family. I know that you are worried about her size because she's in the small size but like adults, some are naturally small and some are bigger.

As long as she's following that centile, bright and alert at times and meeting her milestones you don't have to worry about how much she's eating. At this age they are very, very good at taking in enough calories to meet their needs.

Just wondered if you'd read the Caroline Walker Trust's guide to Eating Well for 1 to 4 yo's?

It's become a habit you need to break because she now associates eating with the programmes.

Could you break the habit by a variety of different eating places e.g. eating outdoors in the park or back garden on a blanket, or having an indoors teddy bear tea party on a blanket on the floor, with no ipad.

Or you'll just have to say no to the programmes, let her tantrum and ride out which will be very stressful for you but can be done. She's got you wrapped around her finger at the moment so you need to get back control.