He's usually a pretty good eater...breakfast, lunch and snacks are usually eaten just fine. I even try to not give him snacks 2-3 hours before dinner, so maybe he'll eat. Eating dinner is really not the issue...I understand that toddlers sometimes dont feel like eating...I won't force him to eat dinner; however, he then wakes me up in the middle of the night because he's hungry...he wants 5 or 6 saltine crackers and a sip of milk and he's good for the rest of the night...I know he's going thru a growth spurt, but how in the world do I deal with him not eating at dinner but waking ME up to eat a few hours later? Any thoughts? Thanks!
My son just started doing this too. He's 2 1/2. I've started leaving a little bowl of the Goldfish crackers by his bed, along with a drink. Sometimes he still asks for more..although very rarely, and I just tell him he has to wait until the sun comes up before he can have more.
I had the same issue with my daughter and I started giving her a good, hearty snack about 1/2 hour before bedtime... cheese and crackers, peanut butter toast, fruit, something like that that would hold her through the night... it worked. I hope you find something that will work for you. Good luck!
My doctor had told me once, that if my son throws a tantrum and starts banging his head against the wall, the best thing to do is ignore it (to a point) because a child will stop if it hurts, and its done for attention. Im thinking the same may be applicable in your situation- sort of.....I mean, of course you explain as simply as possible that when dinner time rolls around, that is the time to eat, or try again after youve eaten yours, I doubt he will starve himself, but maybe be more forced to follow the program; I know toddlers are natural grazers though- meaning they should be eating small mini meals throughout the day, and not be limited to the typical 3. That might also be an option for you to try as well. Good luck to you, and happy eating!
Maybe try ketchup with the steaks or ranch dressing for the chicken. Let him pour a touch with your supervision.He just might not like the taste? Had to do that with mine
Hi! Do you give him milk or anything before he goes to bed? My daughter just turned 2 and she RARELY eats her dinnner. She eats great at breakfast and lunch, but dinner is never a success! I give her a sippy cup of milk before she goes to bed and she doesn't wake up. If you feed him in the middle of the night, it is training his stomach to wake him up at that time. Try the crackers and milk right before he goes to bed.
Good luck!
J.
Jackie,
Let him know at dinner time that if he doesn’t eat he doesn’t get to wake you up and want something later and then when he comes into your room tell him to go back to bed. He will be fine health wise but he will think twice of not eating his dinner. This will turn into a bad habit if you don’t stand by this. My son did it to me. It took two nights of dealing with it and then it stopped.
I would think that it's also, because his is in a growing stage and it should be temporary.
Good luck
L.
Nutritionist
www.Herbalmom.com
I know it seems strange but maybe if you do feed snacks and then offer less at dinner it may actually help. I found that my daughter ate less if I didn't offer snacks than if I did. I think it has something to do with maintaing a constant blood sugar level or something like that. PLus I was also going to mention a last snack before bed. Something with protein to get him through the night. Toddler portion sizes are different from adult portions. I only mention this because it was hard for me to adjust. Since i started offering her more toddler/small child sized portions she actually eats more. Another idea is to push his dinner back a half hour or so just to see if its enough to make him want to eat.
Easy solution- don't feed him in the middle of the night! He's almost 2- he dosen't need to have nighttime feedings of any kind.
It will only take a night or 2 of you not feeding him or giving him milk (unless you BF still) and he'll get that dinner is it- no more food till morning. At dinner, explain to him that he dosen't have to eat if he's not hungry, but this is the only food he's getting until breakfast. Keep his unfinished plate in the fridge and offer it to him again a half hour or so before bed. Then if he wakes up, offer him water and nothing else.
He'll catch on really quickly.
My son Caleb is also 23 months old. He can be a picky eater at dinner also. I try and get him to at least taste what I have put on his plate. He tries things sometimes and others he won't even touch. I try and put at least one thing on his plate that I am sure he will eat. We also eat dinner around 5pm. Sometimes if we wait too long he gets very cranky and won't eat a thing. I try not to give him snacks for 2 to 3 hours before dinner. If he really eats a poor dinner I offer him a snack before bedtime. I give him something like goldfish crackers or graham crackers.
