My daughter (19 months old) refuses to be fed, but recently I will give her something to eat and she will take two bites and then give it back to me. Then she will ask for more food (in baby sign, she isn't talking much) so I will give her the food back. She gives it back, so I decide to try and feed her. First she will turn her head away and when I say PLEASE she will turn her head towards me with her eyes closed. She will stick her tongue out and lick the food first and then open her mouth and eat it. Each bite is the same, eyes closed, tongue out, lick and then eat. It is weird, did your toddler do this?
Funny too! LOL!
2006-08-27 16:24:35 · 19 answers · asked by Crazy Mama 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
My daughter is very independent, I haven't been able to feed her since she was 9 months old. This is a first in 10 months.
2006-08-27 18:32:38 · update #1
Toddler's do all kinds of things - she's learning about "cause and effect" - and you can play along, but you may end up with a problem when she doesn't stop playing and you're at a restaurant. If you give it to her, she takes two bites and gives it back, you can decide that it gets put away (she'll probably scream), and then you can tell her that the food stays on the table as long as she's eating - then she'll learn early what the "rules" are, you'll have less problems in the long run. Just because she can't talk doesn't mean she can't understand you.
2006-08-27 16:29:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a two yr old boy who is a very picky eater. There's days he will eat things and then next time tell me he doesn't like it. He's just now getting to where he actually eats very good. When he was about the age of your daughter I had a hard time getting him to eat. All he wanted was milk, but I later found out that the milk was keeping him full when I would give it to him. So when I took that he started eating better, but still picky and 9 times out of 10 me and his daddy have to force him to sit down and eat. But I have a 10 mth old daughter that will absolutely eat anything I put in front of her. So kids do weird things. Good Luck
2006-08-27 23:32:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also have a 19 month and he does not like to be feed. he will not eat his food the first time and I tell him eat or you are done. If he wont eat then I put his food in the fridge and I don't feed him. If he screams and wants is i don't give it to him. I wait about 10 to 15 minute when he is done crying and i say OK it is time to eat. Then he know that he has to eat now or he will have to wait for snack.
2006-08-29 12:03:27 · answer #3 · answered by Lori K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like she is playing a game with you mommy! I have a 14 month old and sometimes he refuses to let me feed him. With him it's an independence issue. He wants to do it himself. Each meal I try to offer him at least one finger food so he has the satisfaction of feeding himself. They are ready to learn and very persistent at it! As for the giving it back, all babies will give you a gift and then try to get it back and vice-versa. She is just communicating with you in her own little way. Very cute. Enjoy this age, it doesn't last long mom!!
2006-08-27 23:29:30 · answer #4 · answered by mom_of_geniuses 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, my girl didn't do that. But she thought that when it was time to eat, it was another play time. You have to put your foot down about this now. Or she will go on acting like this, even out in public. If she starts to act like that, tell her it's not time to play, it's time to eat. If she doesn't listen, ( she probably won't), put her plate back in the fridge untill she comes back. Then try it all over again. It may take a couple of days, but don't give up. And don't worry, she won't starve. When she realizes that she is hungry and you aren't playing with her when it's time to eat, she will listen. And eat without playing...Good luck..
2006-08-27 23:33:05 · answer #5 · answered by luv him 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when my 4 year old was little like that the first bite was always the hardest. he would fight and scream and kick and everything he could do to keep the food out of his mouth. once we talked him into that first bite we could give him the spoon or fork and he would eat the rest no prob. it was just that first bite (even with stuff we knew he had ate and liked before)
(and i always know when hes sick cause its the only time he refuses to take medicine)
2006-08-27 23:31:40 · answer #6 · answered by naightengale 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Toddlers have very little control over what happens in their little world. Eating and potty habits are about the only thing they do have absolute control over. When my son was two he would only eat if he was faced towards the wall! The good news is he made it to 23 and is a wonderful guy!
2006-08-28 01:27:24 · answer #7 · answered by Hidisar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Awww...how cute! This is totally normal. My daughter went through the same thing as a toddler. At one point, she didn't eat for like a week! Just give her time. If shes hungry she'll eat.
2006-08-27 23:31:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son did that when he was a little bit younger (he just turned 2). I just quit trying to feed him and let him feed himself. It was messy, but he really liked to do it himself- it was his way of beginning to show me his independence. I was told by my pediatrician that when my son was hungry he would eat.
Your daughter is just trying to show you that she wants to get some independence... i say hand her the spoon, make sure there is a towel or mess mat under her highchair and let her go at it!
She sounds like a normal, wonderful toddler!
2006-08-27 23:34:35 · answer #9 · answered by glorymomof3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She is giving the food back for you to take a bite out of. And just think you were just as "weird" as you seem to think your daughter is when you were her age.
2006-08-29 03:21:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋