Help - I Can't Get My Daughter to Eat!

Hi H., here is the difference between you and the other caregivers. You put her in then take her out and you sit with her then you sit her on your lap. You are right !! Don't make it a big deal. You are the mom.....
Where do you want her to sit. Portable chair is good and safe. Next , when it is time to eat, set her up and that is the only chance she gets. So if she throws a fit tell her nothing to drink until she is a good girl to eat at the table.. Good luck

I never did the short-order cook thing. You ate what you were offered. If you didn't, you were hungry. It only took a time or two to be hungry. You have to by-pass snacks to make it work. Also, have you offered her the choice to sit (on her knees) in a big chair or in the high chair. Our rule was you had to sit politely either way. We had a little guy who preferred his knees for a few months at about 18 months. That got really old really fast and he went back to the high chair, his choice, and is still there at almost 2 1/2, his choice. I wouldn't stress and just stick to the rules with what you would like her to behave like. Since she's been getting away with stuff, it will take some time. Our other rule, was once you leave the table, you are done. Same with throwing, etc. When manners ended, so did mealtime. If you stick to your guns, you'll have a beautiful little lady joining you for meals in no time. GL!

Are the meals you're making for yourself different from hers? If so, why? Just as Deb said, I too refuse to be a short order chef. I make what pleases my palate and expect my kids to eat it too. To date my 2 & 4 yos love nearly everything put in front of them: broccoli and salmon, brussel sprouts, french fries, salads, chicken with dumplings, curried chicken, etc. Some things they don't care for and they make up for it at the next meal.

It bears repeating: mealtimes are always in the same place at roughly the same time. She doesn't want to sit n eat at the table, fine. Let her play and remind her when the next meal or snack is scheduled. Stick to it, stick to it, stick to it.

All you can do is decide how you want mealtimes to go (location, manners, type of food served) . Only she can decide what she'll eat. As you've discovered you can't make her eat so don't try.

It is called a power struggle and sounds like she is winning!
She will not starve herself, she is finding out she has choices sometimes, which is fine, but you are not a short order cook and she should sit at the table and eat off her own plate. ALl you can do is offer it, if she refuses it, take it away and don't listen to her five seconds later asking for it. Tell her she chose to get down so meal is over with! Maybe ten minutes later try again, but pull out the same thing you offered before!!!
Do not allow choices at the meals, do not just serve her favorites.
I am a huge believer we set our kids up for eating habits and she needs to figure out she has the choice to eat or not but needs to eat whatever anyone else does.
My friend has a three year old that was just like your daughter and at almost four she is still very picky and hard to please because my friend was so paranoid about her starving allowed her to eat only her favorites and at all times and places in the house. Don't do it!
I believe kids can have a few things they just do not like, I give my kids that, however they had to try it and truly not like it after a few tries.
My son HATED SALMON or so he thought. Everytime I made it for my daughter and I he refused, fine that he ate the sidedishes but I didn't fix him anything seperate.
Last night, I fixed it, he asked for some and ate it and told me how yummy it was!!!!!!!
So you can change their behavior, you just have to stand tough, be consistent and keep trying.
She is testing you, so just don't cave.
Just take the meal away and tell her that the table is for dinner and only place meals need to be served. Sit down with her and eat too with each meal, my kids LOVE that.

Let her scream and pitch a fit, but she will not starve herself, promise.

all the other posts are great...At my house you can eat what is front of you or get a yogurt. That gives them a bit of a choice without you having to cook a bunch of different things.

here's just another idea. My daughter had reflux and eating hurt since she always burped up a bit and burned her esophagus. We were able to get her some meds, elevated her crib at one end, and eventually put her on zinc to increase her appetite. Something to at least ask your pediatrician about.