Hunger strikes!!!
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6546
Printed Date: 29 June 2025 at 12:17pm
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Topic: Hunger strikes!!!
Posted By: caraMel
Subject: Hunger strikes!!!
Date Posted: 04 April 2007 at 9:44am
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I am so over the food battles with Ella.
She eats really well at every other meal but she just will not eat her dinner! Even foods she once loved, she takes one look at and turns up her nose. I've stopped any snacks or drinks (except a little water if she's really nagging for a drink) between afternoon tea and dinner, I almost always try to include one thing that I know she likes and we've tried so many different disciplinary approaches quite consistently over the last year with her, to no avail. We've tried: Eat your dinner and you can have pudding Eat your dinner or you'll go straight to bed Alright don't eat, but you'll get nothing else until its all gone. Eat up because you're a big girl now, Pepper (her cool big cousin) eats up her dinner! Eat up RIGHT NOW!!! Dinner for lunch and lunch for dinner I'm sure there have been other approaches but I can't think of then at the moment. She is so stubborn, and at the risk of being slammed for starving my child, she has been on a hunger strike, refusing to eat her dinner from last night since 7pm. It is food I know she likes, but I think it has become a battle of wills more than anything else now. I'm at a loss. I know she is not going to starve herself forever but surely its not good that this happens just about every night? Its not just for us either, she does for everyone. This is more of a rant than anything, but if any of you have been through this or similar and have any ideas I would greatly appreciate it! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Replies:
Posted By: Gracielou
Date Posted: 04 April 2007 at 10:16am
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Sounds like you could be describing Jasmine! Don't have any suggestions that work, but at least you know that you're not the only one sending your child to bed 'starving'. She does have an impressive breakfast to make up for though. ------------- 
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 04 April 2007 at 10:29am
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Does she still have a sleep every day? I find my Ella gets tired and won't eat her dinner.
Otherwise, try these: Give her dinner for lunch. I did this when Ella was younger and would sometimes skip naps (but hadn't given up on sleeps all together). Save part of your dinner from the night before and serve it up for lunch. That way if she eats sandwiches for dinner, who cares.. you know that she's had her veges during the day 
Or you could try what I did last night lol 
Ella was mucking around with her dinner so I put her dessert in front of her on the table so she could look it at but not touch it. I praised her every time she took a bite and she ate it all up while looking at her dessert lol! I often wonder how I would cope having a baby too as I often have to sit with Ella to make sure she eats! It would be nice sometimes to have a child who just eats without needing so much attention lol ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 04 April 2007 at 11:59am
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I had that quite a bit with this one. Even to the point that I forcefed her a spoonfull because I just had enough. Put her in a time-out ect. It just doesnt work.
I wont really worry about supper to be quite honest. I posted in another thread about how much toddlers are suppose to eat during the day. See how much of that she eats during the day. If she gets that in before supper I really would not stress. They are trying to have control over their lifes and they do it through food. The more we are going to try and force the more they are going to resist. Just back off totally. You can either have the one taste rule. Just taste one bit of each food group. Or you can have the: Sit down while we finished our food. Take her plate afterwards and put it in the fridge. Can give her water but no other food. So no snacks and no desert. If she says she is hungry get her food out. If she isnt hungry dont worry about it. McKayla is eating heaps now that I totally backed off from her about it and she is now even stealing pumpkin and food of her Dads plate. However if she doesnt get in what she should in 24 hours I will actually put out more snacks. Many toddlers dont eat supper as they eat loads during the day. Hope it helps. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 04 April 2007 at 12:01pm
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McKayla doesnt get desert at all anyway after meals. I dont want her to get into the thing of having to eat all your food to get desert. In my opinion it teaches them to overeat.
I give a treat as a snack way after eating times. Usually at about 10 in the morning about twice a week. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 04 April 2007 at 12:35pm
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Shirena, I don't force Ella to eat her dinner.. I give her tiny portions and most of the time she doesn't have dessert either. I know what you are meaning but there is no way this kid will overeat, she is very stubborn. Most of the time she is only in her chair for a few mins, then she wants to get out.
Oh another thing is that when they are tired, they are still hungry more often than not.. I can guarantee that if Ella is tired and won't eat dinner, that an hour or so later when she is going to bed she will want something to eat. That's why it's important for her to eat enough dinner.. it just isn't practical to offer her the same dinner again when she's sitting down on her little couch reading a book
It is definately harder when they are 2 and don't have a nap during the day!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 04 April 2007 at 12:37pm
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Doh! Mel.. just realised you've already tried the dinner for lunch thing! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 04 April 2007 at 1:24pm
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I think Hannah is quite tired by dinner time as well, leading to not eating much. What I've found is that at dinner time, Briona eats big and at lunchtime, Hannah eats big... lol
I decided right from the outset that I wasn't going to make a big deal about food. My parents did and I have completely gone off certain foods that I was force-fed in some way or another. It's been a big thing for me as an adult. So, my suggestion would be to serve up a small portion, once she has had all she wants for dinner (even if nothing), she can get down from the table. When you clear the table after everyone has finished, put it in the fridge if you want to offer it (but not insist) for lunch the next day, or just tip it straight out (that's why you don't dish too much  .
I wouldn't offer more snacks during the day if she doesn't have it, she'll either eat big the next dinner (if she was really hungry but just being stubborn) or keep on pecking (in which case she's either not hungry or too tired). Giving snacks just makes the problem worse IMO, she soon gets the idea that she can eat dinner or snacks! -------------  |
Posted By: jamesmum
Date Posted: 05 April 2007 at 8:44pm
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I have found this topic very interesting
James is 21months and has just started not eating dinner in the last week, he use to eat everything and anything!! I think I will not have to make a big deal out of it and hopefully he goes back to eating dinner in his own time. |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 05 April 2007 at 10:00pm
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in our house if the boys dont eat, they dont eat. the only rule i have at the dinner table is that everyone stays at the table till we have all finished. it is very disheartening tho when i cook dinner and it doesnt get eaten. i only occasionally do dessert and the boys still get it if they dont eat dinner. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 06 April 2007 at 9:16am
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Thanks for all the replies and advice everyone!
Its always helpful to hear other people's approaches. Looks like I'll just have to try and stay relaxed about it and keep trying. I guess its something that we'll just have to keep riding out until she decides to change it. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and:
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Posted By: jamesmum
Date Posted: 06 April 2007 at 7:40pm
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James ate his dinner tonight
Although he would not eat in his highchair, he had to be sitting on Grandads knee. Maybe he thinks he's a big boy now and should be sitting at the table with everyone else 
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