20 month old and eating schedules..PLEASE HELP

my dd is not only picky ..but she has been an on demand feeding child since birth..she was never really on a strict schedule..and i dealt with it as a newborn but now that she is about 20 months..its so draining..especially since i have a 2 month old..i cant have her run my house like this any more..i need to know when she should eat..not conveniently when im feeding the baby..any suggestions? it breaks my heart to see her haning on the fridge saying please.but i go to feed her an she throws the food..i know now she is playing me. does anyone elses dc do this? thanks so much

Re: 20 month old and eating schedules..PLEASE HELP

I was an on demand feeding mommy always with my both my girls. I have to say that stopped though after 1 years old. My oldest is 22 months and my youngest 8 months, i so know what you mean!

I have 1 rule in my house-all meals she needs eat at the table, no exceptions, whether she chooses to eat or not, she has to sit with us when we eat.

Only thing i let her eat at her little seat on the go is puffs (only started eating these again cause her little sister does), and goldfish.

Here's our sched, i hope it helps you


Wake 7:30am-8oz cup of milk
within 1/2 to hour of waking-Breakfast
11-11:30-Snack
Nap By 12 pm (i only get an hour a day)
Lunch when she wakes up
3:30-4pm-Snack
5:30pm Dinner
7pm 8oz cup of milk
7:30-7:45pm BED

In between if she's hungry and asks for a snack, and it's not snack time, she can have a Gerber Fruit bar, some fresh fruit, a cracker or some puffs or goldfish.

We also make sure when we feed her, its our feeding time too. It makes it easier if she sees us eating for her to sit and eat. I have a very picky eater, some days she drives me up the wall, some days she's eats faster than i can give her food! It's also a crap shoot with her.

GL and HTH's

Message edited 2/29/2008 2:40:16 PM.

Re: 20 month old and eating schedules..PLEASE HELP

Posted by sweetness

I was an on demand feeding mommy always with my both my girls. I have to say that stopped though after 1 years old. My oldest is 22 months and my youngest 8 months, i so know what you mean!

I have 1 rule in my house-all meals she needs eat at the table, no exceptions, whether she chooses to eat or not, she has to sit with us when we eat.

Only thing i let her eat at her little seat on the go is puffs (only started eating these again cause her little sister does), and goldfish.

Here's our sched, i hope it helps you


Wake 7:30am-8oz cup of milk
within 1/2 to hour of waking-Breakfast
11-11:30-Snack
Nap By 12 pm (i only get an hour a day)
Lunch when she wakes up
3:30-4pm-Snack
5:30pm Dinner
7pm 8oz cup of milk
7:30-7:45pm BED

In between if she's hungry and asks for a snack, and it's not snack time, she can have a Gerber Fruit bar, some fresh fruit, a cracker or some puffs or goldfish.

We also make sure when we feed her, its our feeding time too. It makes it easier if she sees us eating for her to sit and eat. I have a very picky eater, some days she drives me up the wall, some days she's eats faster than i can give her food! It's also a crap shoot with her.

GL and HTH's

Re: 20 month old and eating schedules..PLEASE HELP

Posted by alex7-2

OMG thank you..im so glad that im not the only one. i just started the same rule as you..no eating unless at the table. its so hard.because when she is hungry(at her convenience) she is relentless with her screaming..does your dd do that? thanks so much for your reply..im def going to start tomorrow!