I have an 18 month old boy who gives me a hard time when it is time to eat, all he wants is a cup of milk Help

Answer 1

You cannot force a child to eat when they don't want to and toddlers are notorious for having the strongest disposition when they are in opposition.

However, you can control YOU. And, by 18 months he's beginning to get some idea of boundaries and will test each and every one to find out where the lines are.

If he refuses to eat, then you can let him down, but refuse to feed him anything until the next snack/mealtime. (I promise he won't starve, but he may scream.)

If he refuses food offered by throwing it on the floor, calmly take his food away from him and let him know that he cannot eat with you and take him away from the table.

You can't let your toddler dictate the menu all the time either. So, if milk isn't on the menu, don't give it to him. If he drinks all his milk tell him he can't have more until he eats. He may not understand everything, but he will quickly learn that mealtimes are for eating and that's what he should do.

Stay calm, stay firm.

Mealtimes aren't meant to be stressful and full of power struggles. So don't do that. Stay firm, stay loving, stay in charge.

Oh, and offer simple foods that he can easily feed himself. Small cut up pieces of food that he can hand feed himself might make him feel more independent and willing to eat.

Good luck. That battle feels like it will last a lifetime, but it really doesn't.

Answer 2

Don't force him to eat!!!! And I would NEVER leave my son in a high chair until he fell asleep! He will resent that chair for a long time. Try feeding him in a different room, and don't offer him his cup until after he's done eating. If he won't eat, take him out of the chair for a while (an hour or so) then try again. On parenting.com it is said that a toddler that eats as little as 10 good meals a week can be perfectly healthy. Skipping a few days of good meals will not hurt him at all!
Good Luck :)

Answer 3

Toddlers are really tricky creatures! My son went through a phase where the only thing he would eat was chicken nuggets. No matter what else you tried to entice him with. We tried a lot of different things, but toddlers can be very stubborn. It is normal for them to try to control certain aspects of their lives. Most popular are eating and toilet training! Anyhow, don't stress the eating strike. Keep offering food and when he's hungry enough he will eat. Good luck!

Answer 4

Have you ever taken him out to mom and toddler groups where he can see other children eating? That might help.

What food are you trying to give him? Do you think you are offering too much and he is overwhelmed by what is in front of him?
Do you have the telly on, is he distracted by it and rather than eat, he wants to play/watch telly?

Is he teething? When they teethe, they don't want food, only liquids.

It might be just a phase. Relax. He won't let himself starve!

Answer 5

i've been going thru the same thing don't give him milk give him water instead my sons dr told me to put my son in the highchair/booster set and keep him straped in until his done eating no matter how much he wines even if he falls asleep he is to stay in the highchair he'll take the hint and start eating