Dinnertime Battles

My DD is 21 months and isn't a picky eater at all! I have yet to find something that she doesn't like or eat. With that being said, the past few weeks dinnertime has been a complete battle.

DH, myself and DD all sit down at the table and she'll take maybe 2 or 3 bites (on a good night) and then stops, throws her plate, cries, screams and whines. She wants to get down.

I'm at a loss of what to do. I don't want to force her to eat if she isn't hungry, but I feel like never eating more than a couple of bites isn't acceptable either. I don't feel like she understands what I am saying enough to reason with her (take 2 more bites and you can get down, etc.) and she has started to make dinner a miserable experience. We often give in and let her get down, but then she wants us to come with her and play or turn on the TV...it has become a nightmare!

Has anyone been through this? Have any advice??

Dinnertime Battles

DD is a good eater (22 mos), but when she has moments like you described, i let her bring a couple of her little toys to the table and in the high hair. Lately Little People princess figures have been occupying her and she "forgets" about not wanting to eat. Times it got really bad, I have wheeled her high chair so she could see the tv, and again I was able to get food in her real quick, and then let her get down

Re: Dinnertime Battles

I honestly didn't fight my DD when she wouldn't eat, my feeling is kids won't let themselves starve and when they get hungry enough..........they will eat. I didn't go crazy trying to feed her 40 different things either at mealtime, I served her dinner (which wasn't always what we ate depending on the meal) and that was that. She either ate or she didn't but I found that those times she fought eating it was always just a phase. It never lasted long and she would go back to being a good eater. I also learned that certain times of the day my DD was hungrier than others and she really has never been a big eater at night. Knowing that saves me some stress at mealtimes.

I wouldn't sweat it too much, as long as she's eating something throughout the day she's probably fine. Even now at age 4, my DD has her moments. She likes breakfast, lunch is hit or miss (sometimes she eats a lot, sometimes she just wants to graze) and by dinner she eats a very small amount. She's a healthy weight and height so I don't worry too much about it, some kids are just not big eaters and some kids prefer to eat more depending on the time of day.

Just keep serving her dinner but don't drive yourself crazy, encourage her to eat but if she only takes a few bites......so be it. Maybe see if she will eat more at other times of the day to make up for her small dinners. Good luck!

Re: Dinnertime Battles

DD is 18 months and does this also. She will take a few bites and then throws her plate. I don't push it. Soemtimes switching up what she's eating - like offering a snack or fruit pouch that's I'd normally offer after dinner - helps her get through the entire meal. Sometimes I will put her plate on her table by the tv and let her play and eat as she wants. If she's hungry she'll eat.