Please help us! Dinner time at our house is horrible! I know some things I have done and things I haven't done have got us to here. My 4 yr old (just turned 4) is a horrible eater. Breakfast and lunch times are reasonably good, but dinner is the worst. He just won't eat! He is fussy for a start, doesn't go much on meat and I struggle to get him to try anything new. But we can have dinner ready and he is likely to not start eating anything for half an hour. He doesn't like hot food so I always give it to him warm but by the time he actually eats (or gets fed), it's cold and I guess harder to chew (taking minutes to chew 1 mouthful). He is easily distracted (always has been). We've tried rewards, setting timers, sitting/eating with him but he quite likes to eat alone as other food smells (at all meals). Hubby works long hours so we rarely eat together as a family. He won't sit still and is up and down off the chair. How long should I give him to eat?
I think I've got everything but the last week or so he's had a viral cold and says he's too tired to eat and has gone to bed without any dinner, quite a few times!! I've tried early dinner but is he not hungry and later but then he's too tired. Any advice welcome!! Please and thank you! Sorry for the long question.
4 yr old bad eater
4 yr old bad eater
Posted in:
Parenthood Guilt, Food, Health & Wellbeing
2 Replies
A couple of things to keep in mind. Most kids can only eat about the size of their fist in one meal. So make sure your not dishing up to much. Too much food can be overwhelming. If he is eating a lot during the day he may not need to eat that much at dinner, after all he probably goes to bed and you don't burn much energy while your sleeping. Try introducing new foods at lunch when he is less tired and everyone is feeling less stressed. Once he is used to them then intro at dinner. Practice sitting together (you and him) at breakfast and lunch so it becomes a real habit. Also meat like patties, sausages etc are easier to eat so maybe explore that area and then build to chewier meats.
My children are the same, ere are some things that worked for is-
1. Regular vitamins (like pentavite)
2. Small afternoon tea snack 3pm so hungry by dinner.
3. Ensure drinking enough water
4. See 'tucker tools' for fun plates
5. Reward chart for finishing dinner (where 5 stamps = special prize, or something) or more play time before bed incentive
6. Give a 'prison dinner' (dry toast, apple, water) for a missed meal.