How much food to you offer before calling it quits on mealtime?

Mereou12

DS has really been testing my limits lately and getting pickier and pickier. He has a nasty ear infection, so I know he doesn't feel good...so I'm not about to say "meal time's over" as soon as he starts refusing food or throwing it on the floor.

But how many offers is too many offers?

Some meals he scarfs down everything in front of him, while at others he refuses EVERYTHING. I don't want to cater to his pickiness, but I also want to make sure he's getting enough to eat. Do you call it quits when the first option is refused? Or do you have a back-up?

Since he's been sick, I've been giving him two, three, sometimes four options. And I think he's picking up on that. "If I don't eat this sandwich, then Mom will give me crackers."

 

Melanie.Brown

I'm having the same problem with DD, minus any illness.  Anxiously awaiting responses!

erinjcianciolo

i make one dinner for me, DH and DD most nights.  many times she will refuse to eat what i have made, so i tell her she needs to sit at the table until dinner is over.  sometimes she will eat her dinner, other times not.  if she doesn't eat any of it, i try feeding it to her while she's playing after dinner.  if that doesn't work, i give her a cup full of cheerios, cut up cheese, or something that she can eat on the fly.

i really try not to offer multiple options as she will choose all of them and not eat any of them!   i have learned over that she will eat when she gets hungry, and to just offer her healthy stuff.....

JDMC1112

If DS decides he doesnt want to eat what is made for him he will generally pick up his plate and say "all done"  I will take his plate away but still offer his plate back to him a few times before taking him out of his seat at the table. If he continues to refuse his dinner, thats the end of dinnertime for him. He will eat when he is hungry, I know what he does and doesnt like and I dont give him things he really doesnt like - so I know whenever he is refusing his food he isnt hungry or doesnt feel like eating. Yes, sometimes he wakes up a very hungry little boy in the morning but he also knows if he doesnt eat what is made for him then he doesnt get other options and he doesnt get a treat.

ChicNotGeek

I tend to stick with foods that she likes.  If she rejects a new food, then I give her something that I know she likes.  But I still try the new food a few more times just in case she was just being fussy that first time.

karakel

JDMC1112:

If DS decides he doesnt want to eat what is made for him he will generally pick up his plate and say "all done"  I will take his plate away but still offer his plate back to him a few times before taking him out of his seat at the table. If he continues to refuse his dinner, thats the end of dinnertime for him. He will eat when he is hungry, I know what he does and doesnt like and I dont give him things he really doesnt like - so I know whenever he is refusing his food he isnt hungry or doesnt feel like eating. Yes, sometimes he wakes up a very hungry little boy in the morning but he also knows if he doesnt eat what is made for him then he doesnt get other options and he doesnt get a treat.

This!  DS gets what is offered and that's it.  He usually eats something, but if he refuses the rest he gets down and when he asks for more I give him his same plate back.  The only time I will offer something different is if he hasn't eaten anything and it is getting close to bedtime.  I know that he will eat if he is hungry.  Some days he doesn't eat much for dinner and other days he scarfs it down.

KateLouise

I'm still pretty strict with LO when she's sick around, "well obviously you're not hungry." and call an end to mealtime, but I will offer her more food again sooner than normal.

I also increase her access to fluid often alternating milk and water.

When she's sick, I do give her her favourites first up which for her is yoghurt, fruit and tuna. But those things are also cool, juicy and probably feel nicer on her throat then crackers.

So I still stick to, "a hungry baby will eat" but add in, "a sick baby needs lots of fluids and a bit more spoiling." and give her more frequent opportunities to eat.

benkari

They eat what is served or go without.  We always have 3-4 things (meat, starch, veg, sometimes fruit) on their plates so usually they will eat at least something but if they don't then so be it but I will save their plates if they eat none of it to offer later if they are acting hungry.