DD's eating habits have me at my wits end

[Lulu]

What on earth can I do to get her to eat? Tonight, its the 'well thats all there is, so eat it.' Sure shes whinging and carrying on, but I just deal with it anymore. Im over it.

Do that and keep it up!

and I don't do dinner time battles, it does my head in. Never regretted it for a second.

[Spring Angel]

I second lulu. My eldest is almost exactly the same age as you DD and we have you eat what you're given rule. The only time I make an exception is if it's a totally new food or a spicy food, then he can have fruit or yoghurt but he has to at least try it first.

[beansbeans!]

Thank you Lulu and Spring Angel;

Im just wondering though, what do you do if they dont eat dinner? Do you give them something else before bed? or let them go to sleep without anything? Also how long do you reckon it will take to get her used to the idea and start eating again?

Cheers
Justine

[Lulu]

depends on the tenacity of the child! It might only take 2 days - or as soon as they realise you are serious.

It's hard to know if to give something else...cos it's sort of like giving in again but haaard to do. I gave mine a piece of buttered bread (i'm not sure how to make gruel ) but nothing else.

One thing that is BRILLO (imo) is that she will eat everything otherwise.
Another good tip - Nelle gives her boys dinner at lunch time so she knows they have had a good hearty meal at least once a day.

GL

[minimatron]

I had this issue tonight with dd1.... although we had the screaming, the grabbing the food in her hands and squeezing it... so we sent her to her room and she continued to scream.

I kept her food in the fridge until she was hungry again and heated it up. She ate it finally.

Thats the first time I have done this... usually I give it to the dog and she will get a banana or custard later on. I am over cooking for nothing, so now this is how it will be. I hope it works!

[onthefly]

Yeah, filling her up earlier in the day when she's more amenable might be a good idea. What time do you have dinner? Maybe she's too tired to eat properly? My DS is younger, but we find we have to feed him early or he just can't eat.
We do offer him a supper plate before bed to fill the gaps. It's hard to find that balance between getting them to eat properly and getting them fed so they'll (hopefully) sleep.

[Spring Angel]

We don't give him anything else. Perhaps a cup of milk but that's it. Dinner goes in the fridge and he is hungry I can reheat it for him. Sometimes he goes to bed without eating but sometimes I just don't feel like dinner either. I also second filling them up with good stuff during the day so you don't have to stress if they don't have a great tea.