Help! What do I do?

august06mom

DS is refusing to eat his dinner, and DH and I are trying to take a stand. It's pasta, which he eats regularly, so it's not like it's something new or something he doesn't like. He's just being stubborn. I told him he can't have anything else, and now he's playing, and every 10 minutes or so tells me that he wants something else. I'm trying to hold my ground, but I'm scared it's going to hit bedtime and he still won't have eaten. I know he won't go to sleep on an empty stomach.

Do I hold my ground? Give it until a certain time?

DevonPow

How old is he?

DS has refused dinner on many, many occassions (and sometimes he will ask for "snacks" or "crackers" in lieu of dinner). I hold my ground, have him sit at the table with us even though he won't eat (he can have a toy or soemething if he wants), and make sure he drinks milk. Thus far it has always been OK - he either eventually eats some of what we offer (and I make sure there are several things on his plate, at least one of which he usually eats), or skips entirely and is fine until breakfast.

 

august06mom

DevonPow:

How old is he?

DS has refused dinner on many, many occassions (and sometimes he will ask for "snacks" or "crackers" in lieu of dinner). I hold my ground, have him sit at the table with us even though he won't eat (he can have a toy or soemething if he wants), and make sure he drinks milk. Thus far it has always been OK - he either eventually eats some of what we offer (and I make sure there are several things on his plate, at least one of which he usually eats), or skips entirely and is fine until breakfast.

He's 2 years, 5 months. He sat with us, but it's been lately that 9 times out of 10 he won't eat what we're eating because he wants crackers or something else. I'm getting sick of him not eating what we make for dinner, so I'm trying to be firm. He's even refusing to take one bite and try it.

CubbyMama

I tried that twice.  Never again.  It ended up being a battle of wills, and guess what?  Toddlers have unlimited time, energy, and willpower, whereas I do not...so she wins every time.  It was really useless and just an exercise in frustration for DH, DD, and me, and I just decided that's not something I'm willing to fight her over on a daily basis.  Sorry if that doesn't help, but my stress level went way down when I decided to give up on that issue!

korr04

Depending on his age, I would hold your ground.  DS1 is a notoriously lousy eater and we have had issues since he was about 1.  If he does not eat what is on his plate, he gets nothing else.  I leave his plate in the fridge until he goes to bed and each time he asks, I offer him his dinner.  If I give in, I know I will end up like the moms on SuperNanny that make a different dinner for each kid.