My 18 month old has recently begun not wanting to eat anything. We sit her down and give her her most favorite foods - such as fruit - and she pushes it away and screams. Is this normal?? We don't know what to do or how to console her, so we just have to give her space until she settles down. Do any other mom's out there have this problem?
Hi L.,
How frustrating... You know, I bought the book, "What To Expect: The Toddler Years" and I tell you what; It has been the best book ever! If you don't have it already, go get it. It can help you with problems before you pull your hair out!!! lol
Good luck! ls
L., my son is 2 1/2 and it seems to me our biggest tantrum moments come when he can't explain exactly what he wants....like he tells me he wants a cracker but when i hand him one he falls out because he actually wants to hold the entire package and get them out himself...silly stuff! depending on how good she's talking it may not be so easy, but try alternative choices, like, "do you want something else to eat? a cracker? some rice?" does she want to use a different plate, a different bib? my son sometimes gets in his head that instead of his seat he wants to sit at the table like a big person, and that can cause some problems. it may not be that she doesn't want the fruit, it may be a million other things. talk to her as much as you can and maybe you can hit upon something that's setting her off. i'm sorry there's no easy answer! good luck! toddlers are great! :)
Is she teething? My daughter did the sale thing when she was getting her molars. If not, welcome to terrible two's stage! It seems frustrating but you really have to wait and let them pass this phase. You can try what works best, leaving her alone or consoling her, maybe distracting her. Also, try some new things, make her sit on the table when you are having dinner yourself, let her choose from whatever is on the table.
Goodluck!
Hi L.....she'll eat when she is hungry!! And fits at 18 months....do everything you can to ignore them! She spreading those tiny little wings and trying to figure out "what works", some children just "love" attention even if its bad attention!!! Of coarse, you can't let her hurt herself! And if in a store or public, start just leaving what you are doing and going to the car....but no extra attention, just an explaination of "why" you are leaving!! It is so hard as a parent to not show how frustrated being a parent during "experimenting phases" is....but you gotta work on it! Most kids under 3 are just trying to figure out "everything" and mostly how they can get their way!! They go through phases every other week and can definitely push a parents buttons and worry a parent sick! But they WILL eat when they get hungry and most will quit throwing fits when it is ignored. Just remember to be the parent, love 'em like crazy, but realize you can't be their best friend and they definitely aren't going to like you at times....even when they are little! But they will love you like crazy when they grow up and they realize that it was YOU that helped them realize "taking responsibility for their actions"....just make sure when they are little that the responsibility fits the action...doesn't take much...I don't believe in "yelling" at the top of your lungs at your kids, but I also don't believe in today's methodology of "never raising your voice"!!! Lots of kids don't have a clue as to what is right or wrong, voice tones tell a story whether you are 2 or you are 52!!! By the way, I'm 57, a mom of 3, a grandma of 5! The one thing I can tell you with CERTAINITY is that what works with one child doesn't always work with another! So when they are spreading their little, big, and bigger wings....sometimes parents have to try different things as well! I do truly believe that we have an extreme control issue going on in today's society due to the battling (controlled) of coarse over "control"...a parent is definitely a parent and needs to act like a parent...but be careful in too much control over things that simply don't matter!! The "things" that don't really matter are where children learn good from bad through consequences...you gotta let 'em get that on their own, you can't do it for them or anyone else for that matter!! Mom's are the worst as being enablers...cuz' we just love so deeply and want so much for our children! and grandkids!! Enjoy every day with your child/children and realize each phase will pass, probably to only be replaced with another phase...loads of wonderful memories and loads of worry and pain.....BUT all of it worth it! There is no gift like a child!! I'm 57, mom of 3, grandma of 5...so had lots of experience and 10 years of it as a single Mom!! So wore 2 hats...both Mom and Dad...love your kids, do what you think is right, but don't expect perfection from your kids or yourself!!! Good Luck and heck she might be eating her fruit by the time you read this!! And maybe now, not drinking her milk.....teehee....live, laugh, & love to your full potential!
I totally understand your fustration! my daughter is 13 months and is walking so now she doesn't want to sit still or sit in her carseat or sit to eat her food. she wants to move all the time and throws screaming fits at bedtime cause she wants to keep playing! whats worse is the fact she doesn't really talk just babbles with a few words so I'm never really sure exactly what she wants. other than behavior it could be she has changed tastes or she is getting to much fruit at one time and upsets her tummy. so all i can say is try your best to figure it out and if you can't then just realize in time things will change.
Have you looked inside her mouth to see if maybe she has a sore or something? Ruling that out try different foods. Kids taste change and it's good to introduce new foods anyway.
God Bless,
L.
