3 year old picky eater - oh my gosh

bawoodsmall wrote: My daughter is 3 almost four and she has become an extremely bad eater. When I make a meal she says she doesn't like it and wont eat. Trust me I try not to make anything funky and I dont make stuff I know she doesnt like. She has always been a very good eater. Do you think it is just a stage and I should ignore it? It drives me crazy that I work all day and then try to make a good meal and she is like oh I dont like that. I have been lately telling her that fine she can be done but she wont get any snacks or anything else to eat. She is a smart little thing though cuz then she just drinks her way to being full. Any ideas?

My3LilMonkeys replied: My mom always said we had to eat it or we couldn't leave the table. I remember a few long nights of sitting at the table for 2 or 3 hours because I didn't want to eat.

If one of my girls says they won't eat something, I make them take at least a bite to try it. If they don't like it, that's fine, but they have to try it. And if they just don't want to eat when I know it's something they like and they really haven't eaten enough, then they are required 3 bites.

Good luck!!

luvmykids replied: I've adopted the "This is for dinner, you will eat it" attitude when I KNOW it's food they liked yesterday And if they don't, they don't get more milk either.

My 3yo has been testing me with food lately too, we've had a few rough nights but we're getting where she either eats it, or is ravenous at breakfast

A&A'smommy replied: OHHH i fully understand what your going through my 3 year old (nearly 4) is extremely picky, I have also adopted this is what I made and this is what you will get theory and basicly she is learning to try more things and eat what is on her plate because she doesn't want to be hungry! It gets better!!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Wil has to take a few bites of whatever it is he doesn't want before leaving the table. If it takes me feeding him myself, I'll do it. And it usually works, because then he even eats more than the few bites I offer. No juice in the evening. Milk is half a small cup before bed. No treats if he doesn't get through most of the meal. I think it really is a phase and how their tastebuds sorta change as they grow. But at the same time, the more you let it slide, I think the more they get into the habit of not wanting something without even trying it. That's my opinion anyway.

Oh, I try not to ever call anything "gross" myself. Kids pickup on that. We eat just about anything at our home. Healthy stuff that is and I want my kids to be open to trying new things even if it looks different.

luvmykids replied:
Same here. And if we're at someone elses house, the kids aren't supposed to say "I don't like that" or whatever. If asked if they want something they're to say, "No thank you"; if someone has already served it to them, they're supposed to take one bite.

I think we're making progress in the "Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it will kill you" department

gr33n3y3z replied: My kids tried that also around that age I ignored them
Dont make the mistake of making them or her another dinner just so they eat you eat whats on the table or dont eat thats it.

My GF did that and now she is having a hard time with her 3 girls

bawoodsmall replied:
Thanks for all your help. It is so good to get everyones advice. I honestly never thought about the gross food thing. We do it for so many other things I have no idea why we never realized that. I def do not cook her something else. Not happening. I have been trying to make her eat some but it is a battle. Stubborn. Do I make her sit there until she does? What if she refuses?

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
Oh gosh, no, don't start that, you'll never be done.

For my kids, it's "you eat what is for dinner, that's it that's all."

If they aren't hungry, fine they don't have to eat it, but they don't get anything else, and they can only have 1\2 a glass of water.

They usually come around and eat it.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
If she refuses, then give options. I say "you don't have to finish your dinner, but you DO need to stay seated until mom and dad are done". And then no treats when she gets up. Or no TV before bed. Or "your choices are to take three bites of ___ or go to your room hungry". They typically choose to eat.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Yep, definitly a stage. Just make sure you don't "play restaurant". Meaning, if you make something, do not go and make something else just because she wont eat it. The rules at our house are as follows: if it's a new food, you must try it, if it's a food you like you must eat a certain portion, if it's a food you really do not like you don't have to eat it but mom is not a restaurant and you will have to wait til the next meal to eat. Also, I will not play the "I like it this day, but not the next" game. If you ate it last week, there is no reason you can not eat it today. Desserts, when we occassionaly have them, are also not offered unless you eat all your food.

I agree with making her wait until the meal is all over. That is a general rule here too. Nobody gets up until everyone is done, is just general table manners.

moped replied: If he doesn't eat what I cook he has to wait for the next meal and so on - I am not a short order cook!

They will eat when they get hungry!