One of the challenges in our apartment always happens during meal time be it breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is so difficult to keep the kids at the dining table let alone to eat their food. I know that my kids like to eat so much but to have them focused on their food at meal time is really something that can sometimes blow my head to pieces. Of course there is no one to blame but me for this. We stock a lot of snack because I am particularly always afraid that the kids may starve, although it should not be the case right? So I am making everyday’s adjustment, to try to get them sit at the table and eat. After days of paying attention to whatever they do at meal time, I can suggest the six reasons why your toddler refuses to eat.
1. Your foods taste like poop.
Okay, I am truly inspired by The Butterbottom Blog’s post that I have decided to use the word ‘poop’. I was about to use the word ‘s*cks’ or ‘sh*t’ but somehow it could not sound appropriate. So this number one reason does not mean that your toddler have tasted her own poop (although on second thought she migh have had tasted it) but to give the idea that maybe you have been over boarded with toddler’s food thing.
I mean we all know how baby food is far from delicious. It is plain, yuckie and…well, yuckie. As your baby grows to toddler she may have developed her senses of taste but you on the other hand still stuck into that baby food habit. Therefore your toddler decides she should rather refuse to eat those strange things on the table than having it and throwing it right away from her mouth.
2. It’s her play time.
Try to call her in the middle of her playing time. To get her attention is hard, let alone make her sit at the table. For this one we should play some tricks. Either to let her take one of her toy to the table or making the meal time like a playing session.
3. Her favorite tv program is on.
I let my sons watch TV. If not too much it is actually good, at least it teaches some great english to my sons. But if they are watching during meal time chances are I am not going to get them move to the dining table. If this case happens to you too, there are two things that can be done. Either move their meal schedule before the show or move it to after the show. This will give you less headache to struggle with the ignorance your toddler gives you
4. You serve the wrong food.
Yes, even toddler has their own favorite food. My first son is a rice person. He prefers rice and breads to pasta and potato. My youngest son is the opposite. He likes pasta so much. So playing smart with the menu can also contribute to ease the process of making your child sit at the table and eat.
5. You give snacks before meal time.
Snacking in the afternoon is normal. I give my sons snack all the time. This is why they sometimes don’t finish their food. They are too full with the snacks. That is why I am cutting the habit now. Sometimes giving snack is like one easy solution to stop them from whinning. But of course in the long run it is really bad for their health. Cut the snack, don’t give it to your kid before meal time so they will have space for their real food.
6. She has a situation.
If your toddler suddenly refuses to eat while she is actually a happy eater, she may have something going on in her mouth. Maybe a blister, or sore throat. Whatever it is you need to check it immediately and if needed, going to the doctor right away is better.
But above all, toddlers are not like us adult, especially women who are really conscious about what is entering their digestion. Sometimes we just need to stop before we feel totally full just to keep our weight civil and then starve the whole day. But toddlers they eat until they full. So there is now way they would starve themselves. It means when they are hungry they will eat.
I found this site when I was just virtually roaming around, it’s about how to get toddlers to sit and eat at dinner. It has great insight of the problem and may give you some ideas for your own situation.
