Our two year old often doesn't want to eat at dinner, she'd rather run around and play. Then she's hungry later and demands to eat when it's bedtime. We can't force her to eat at dinnertime (even if we wanted to), and we're reluctant to put her to bed hungry. What should we do?
2006-07-23 17:08:22 · 24 answers · asked by rainfingers 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
My 2 1/2 yr old daughter is the same way. Most of the time she doesnt eat supper with us and I dont make a big deal out of it. What I do is If she doesnt eat her food then, I save it and when she is hungry she has to eat what was served for supper before she has a choice of anything else. I do be realistic though. I only put a small amount of what I think she can eat( you can always go back for more or have something else with it ) and I dont make her clean her plate. I mean somedays she will not eat from lunch on untill the next day because she just isnt hungry ( everyone has those days) and I dont feel bad thinking that she might be hungry because if she was she would tell me. Let your girl do her thing, but before it is bedtime ler her know that if she is hungry to eat then because it will soon be time for bed. And if she doesnt like what is on the menu ( always be sure to have at least one thing you KNOW you child like ) then let her go to bed without worrying. She will not starve to death.... she just might eat a good breaky.
2006-07-23 17:45:47 · answer #1 · answered by fiestyroo 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What you need to do is let her know the rules.
Let her know that it is time to eat when you have the dinner at the table. Inform her that she has the choice of eating or she must remain at the table until mealtime is over. If she refuses to eat in that time, she goes hungry. She will not starve if she misses a dinner or two. I will guarantee you that she will come around, and it won't hurt her. Don't force her to eat the food, but make sure she remains at the table during that time. If you place her in a highchair, that should be sufficient. You may have a noisy mealtime for a bit, but it is something that needs to be done.
What is happening right now is she knows she can get her way with you, and she is manipulating you. She wants to continue to play, and not eat - and you are letting her. At bedtime, she is delaying going to bed by stating that she is hungry, and you are feeding her. Again, she is getting her way. Why would she change if she can get what she wants from you her way??
It is important that you establish that the rules must be followed. The dinner issue will be just the tip of the iceberg if you don't stop it now.
2006-07-23 17:21:03 · answer #2 · answered by volleyballchick (cowards block) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem here is that you let her play outside during family dinner. That is a no-no. Dinner time is a special time for families to talk and bond, not just eat. You make her sit there during dinner, even if she doesn't eat. But you tell her if she doesn't eat, there's no food later on, especially not treats. She can go to bed hungry and cry all night for all you care. This is what it will take to get her to eat at dinner time.
2006-07-23 17:51:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 3 year old son used to do this constantly and was so frustrating! What I did (and still have to do every once in a while) is offer dinner at dinner time and remind them that this is all there is to eat. If she gets hungry later tell her that if she is REALLY hungry she can have 1 piece of bread (plain) and a cup of water. I too have a hard time sending him to bed hungry. My son likes bread, but when that is all you get it gets old really fast! He now at least eats some of his dinner and only occasionally do we need to open the bread bag! Hope this helps!
2006-07-25 07:30:09 · answer #4 · answered by totspotathome 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you can't force her to eat, but you can make her sit at the table until you are done eating. Letting her run around and play is showing her that she can have her way all the time. Maybe is is just not hungry at dinner time. Try giving her an earlier lunch.
2006-07-23 17:13:45 · answer #5 · answered by mandp 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sit down as a family and have dinner. Don't make a big deal out of his power struggles put him in a highchair and make him stay there during dinner even if he will not eat. If he will not eat then put it in the fridge for later. Do not allow him to eat anything different than what was served for dinner, and don't sit there to entertain him while he eats his belated supper. Also have him put his toys away before suppertime, let him help set the table. Stick to your guns.
2006-07-23 17:23:03 · answer #6 · answered by sabina-2004@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wow, i went through the same thing. it lasted a long time cause i couldn't stand the thought of putting her to bed hungry, but then one night i decided that i was going to stick with making her go to sleep hungry. I would say, "okay, but this is the last chance to eat today. If you don't eat now, you won't eat until tomorrow morning, are you sure you don't want to eat?" and if she said no, then we really stuck with it, and it worked. I know it's bad, but another thing that helps her eat dinner is to bribe her with dessert, but I'm a diabetic, so dessert for her is like a yogurt or sugar free pudding. So, that really works too! As long as the dessert isn't really unhealthy. Good luck
2006-07-23 17:14:04 · answer #7 · answered by mamabird 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mine never wanted to eat at that age either when we did. Remember we have been programmed to eat 3 times a day. If you want to be consistent let her eat when she's hungry but make her sit at the table at dinner time whether she eats or not.
Good luck... with the terrible twos!
2006-07-23 17:15:08 · answer #8 · answered by love bn a mom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have this problem at times with our son too. Leave her plate on the table so that she can access it and eat it if she wants it. Do not offer her any other food other than what you serve for dinner, and it will not hurt her to miss a meal now and then (I asked our pediatrician). Put her to bed hungry. It is alright.
2006-07-23 17:40:52 · answer #9 · answered by connorsmom916 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I found a website with an interesting take on 2 year old eating habits. You have to scroll past the 4 year old stuff, and it's quite a ways down the page, But it's there. If all else fails ask her pediatrician
2006-07-23 17:21:28 · answer #10 · answered by rowdygirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋