My Toddler Won't Eat a Lot for Me and Wants the Bottle Again

She is needing your attention. Don't cater to her whims during meals or allow her to manipulate you. Tighten up your discipline as to what and how she eats. But find ways to shower more attention and fun and closeness on her during your other time with her. Also,while she is secured in her high chair eating, it's a perfect time to read to her or do fun flashcards so she doesn't feel ignored and isn't "focusing" on eating/not eating. She'll be having fun with you and eat better.

Absolutely do not give your child a bottle. You have to keep telling yourself that you are the parent here, do not let your child decide what you will do. Nighttime bottles are linked to dental caries and can rot teeth! I would stop standing on your head to get her to eat. She knows she is getting this reaction from you and it is attention seeking behavior. Have the same basic routine every night and she will eat when she is hungry. Try not to appear overly concerned with the amount she eats. I have two kids who go to daycare two days a week. I have found that they get snacks there around 4:00! When I give them dinner at 5:30, nobody is hungry. You might want to check with your sitter and also watch on weekends to see if she eats more. As long as she is eating SOMETHING, and gaining weight, don't worry! But don't let her manipulate you!

I agree-she will eat if and when she's hungry. Just keep offering stuff throughout the day. I wouldn't give her the bottle back. UNLESS you just want to give her a bottle of water to take to bed with her at night.

Hi M.! Just a couple ideas/suggestions for you. First DO NOT FEEL GUILTY BECAUSE YOU WORK!! Then pack away or throw away the bottles. If she has been off of them don't backslide or cave into her demands. Put dinner on the table in the chair of your choice. If she doesn't eat then she's hungry. It won't hurt her. She is testing you and you need to stand your ground and be firm. Stucture, rules, consquences that's what every child needs and wants. Keep it simple. Your her parent, not her entertainment director or friend. If you don't stand your ground and enforce your house rules now you'll regret it latter! Hang in there it will get better.

Could her 2 year molars be coming in?

Hi M. M.I would find out what your sitter is feeding her and how much. Maybe she is eating too much during the day and therefore she is not hungry at night.Are you giving her too much on her plate? I would also make sure your sitter is not giving her a bottle. If she has been off the bottle for a couple of months I would not go back. Well good luck I am sure she will be fine. If you are really concerned ask your daughters doctor.

I wouldn't give the child a bottle. I would get ride of them so they aren't any in the house. She may be using the eating as a form of getting something she wants from you. Have you tried giving more 1 on 1 time. I haven't been through this with any of my 3 kids but she needs more than a bootle can give her so I wouldn't go backwards. May be a faze she is going through. I have never had a child starve themselves, let her eat then when she is done take the plate away.

M.
If your daughter has had a few months off of the bottle, then whatever you do, DON'T cave in and give her a bottle! It would be better on you to get rid of them or put them in a bag and hide them....tell her you had to throw them out since she is such a big girl now, and bottles are only for babies. I also used to stress about my kids not having enough to eat and refusing meals.....my Dr. told me that the child will not starve his or her self! They can get by with just a talbespoon of food a day. Which, thank God, it never came to that! Just try your hardest to be persistant with meals, and if she won't eat, cover it up and put it away in the fridge for later. When she is complaining of being hungry? pull out the meal again! Also, make sure that your sitter isn't giving her any bottles under any circumstances! and maybe she is eating too much while at the sitters? and is not very hungry for you when she gets home at night? Do a little investigating. You are the boss....and lay it down for the sitter of when you want her fed and how much. Some sitters just let the kids eat snacks all day, and then at meal time, the parents have to suffer! Hang in there....this is more of a power stuggle than anything else. Good luck!