How Do You Go About Dinner-advice Needed

Both my boys transitioned from adventuresome eaters with huge appetites to toddlers with a more limited taste and appetite at right around that age. I read somewhere that one should average a toddler's food intake over a week before getting worried about it, so I just tried to relax.

I know that dinner is kind of an institution in the US and that we all want to teach our kids to eat a family meal in the evening, but I think that it's healthier for dinner not to be the central, biggest meal of the day. I've tried to back off the eating part of our dinner routine and focus on the social part. That way, I have no 'food agenda' and I am more likely to not be stressed by my kids grazing all evening (on healthy foods) rather than sitting down to an evening meal.

And, I second the opinion that he probably wants some independence. My kids were self-feeding by about 15 months. I put down a plastic tablecloth on the floor, high chair on top of that and let them go nuts. They love playing and exploring with their food. And enough actually gets in their tummies! Remember that his stomach is only as big as his fist.

Hope this helps.

I agree with the advice these moms have written so far. Try to work with him....

I have a little girl who goes to daycare 5 days a week from 7:30 to 4:30 and she refuses to take a good solid nap there (not for their lack of trying and she is very happy & comfortable there - she is just to busy with everything else to sleep lol) so by the time I pick her up - she gets in the car and before we leave the parking lot - she is sound asleep! Most nights she isnt even awake when I cook dinner.... but she eats extremely healthy at daycare and has an excellent breakfast and still gets breastmilk at bed time, so I try not to stress as long as she is happy and healthy and gains a little weight.

I would let him feed himself though. It takes a long time but if you let them sit there long enough (sometimes my lil girl stands up in her chair but eventually sits back down and eats). I let my daughter have her own bowl & cup with a kids fork & spoon (cause one always ends up on the floor). I let her feed herself for a while and then I step in and help her.

5:30 is not too early for dinner, but if he gets a snack at 3:30 he might not be that hungry, especially if they give him milk with his snack instead of juice. I think you have a great evening schedule set up ( I go by the same thing) but he is 2 and they now know that they have choices ie: to eat or not to eat.....

Good Luck :)

At his age he will become more interested in the social part of dinner rather than the food. If he is gagging you need to stop feeding him. He will associate the gagging with all food and then you'll be in a bigger mess.

Finger foods, grilled cheese sandwiches cut into sticks, carrot sticks, celery sticks, slices of meatloaf in easy to pick up shapes, even Cherrios, pieces of banana, apples.....I'm sure you know what he likes just back off a bit on making sure he gets enough. He will make up for it when he becomes a teenager.

Two is pretty unpredictable but he might be telling you he's one of the big kids now! Does he self-feed at daycare? Maybe he's asserting his independence & wants to keep going with it? My two year old nephew has days where he hardly eats - and days where he doesn't stop eating. Is it possible for you to sit down and eat too? Then he could mirror you & it would take the focus off his eating. If you're stressed at dinnertime he might be picking up on that.

Children do go through stages, perhaps this is one for him. Also he is 2 years old so I suggest you let him feed himself. At this age children are so independent and know and want choices. Also maybe move dinner to a later time such as 6:00. I hope this helps. : )

My now three year old went throught the same phase at that age. I did two things one was to not give a snack after nap time (which usually went until 3:30.) I understand that you child is in daycare so that may not be possible. The other option is to push dinner time until 6:00. Keeping in mind this is only a phase, and you have a good routine inplace so don't drive yourself nuts. Children will eat when they are hungry, at least that's what my pedatrition says - and it's true. Keep your chin up and pat yourself on the back.

RJ:

Another thing to consider is to not give him a cup of milk right before bedtime. With potty training around the corner for you, getting him into the habit of having something to drink right before bedtime will make it difficult to potty train at bedtime. Depending on your reasoning for giving him a cup of milk before bedtime, you might consider just giving him a little bit of water (water, so he does not consume as much liquid as if it was milk if he is a milk-lover) or nothing at all. As you mentioned it is only 2 hours b/w dinner and bedtime, he should be okay without drinking anything right before bed. As part of potty training, they recommend to not give the child anything to drink after dinner.

Just something to think about...:)

C.