Teaching a 2 Year Old to Eat on His Own

I agree with Julie, you need to leave him his food, a fork and spoon and walk away. If a long time goes by and he does not eat the food, don't feed him. Take him out, the meal is over. He will not go days and days and starve himself to death. Also, at two, he should understand spoken directions. You can tell him that he needs to eat his food and you will not be feeding him. This doesn't work if you walk away and in 10 minutes when he has not eaten, you feed him. No feeding.

I have a boy in my daycare that has obviously been coddled in this way. He's 2 and a half and when I try and hand him a snack he opens his mouth like a bird. He does the same thing with drinks. I can't tell you how I've struggled to just make him hold a cup and do it himself.

I absolutely refuse to feed that child. You need to do the same. Your boy is only refusing because he knows you'll so something about it. For Pete's sake mom.. Let him go hungry for a couple of meals. He'll get hungry and eat.

You really do need to leave food on his plate and walk away. You then need to wait until he is hungry enough that he feeds himself. You can't just give in and then feed him. He may skip a meal or two, but you need to explain that he isn't a baby anymore, but a big boy, and it's time for him to take responsibility for his body.

everything julie said. ditto! M., a two year old WILL eat when they are hungry. he has discovered that he doesn't have to, he can be lazy and you will do it for him. you have, every time! so of course he doesn't see a need to. you haven't really tried leaving him alone with his food- because you always come back and end up doing it for him. let him get a little hungry and realize, oh, i DO have to do this or i am not going to get fed....he's learned that this is something he has total control over, manipulating you to feed him. change gears on him and make the control he has about whether he eats or not, and i bet it won't take more than one skipped meal for him to figure it out. take the power back into YOUR hands. you're the mother- not his servant!

Unless he's having some odd texture issues, I don't see any reason he cannot feed himself, and use his utensils to do it. My 21 month old isn't the neatest eater, but she feeds herself, even eats cereal with a spoon. I actually have the problem of her getting too physical with her food and when she's done, I have to take it away or she'll start thowing it. It's actually good for your son to "play" a little with his food. He needs the tactile stimulation. Does he play with Playdoh, in the sand, get muddy, jump in puddles? If he's also avoiding these things, then I would get him checked out. Two year olds should LOVE doing these things, and they should be learning to feed themselves properly too. Good luck!

To make the transition to him feeding himself a little easier, try buying a really colorful children's fork with metal tines that really works for stabbing food. You could also even let him try chopsticks. I think that if he sees the challenge of using silverware it will be more interesting to him.

At his age he really should be eating on his own. I would probably talk to him about it - tell him that he is a very wonderful big boy and can do it all by himself! Then I would sit down next to him at the table and eat my own dinner. Teach by example rather than walking away and leaving the table. Just calmly act like eating by yourself is the normal and only acceptable way to eat. I would not feed him again. Yes, he may refuse to eat a time or two. But that is NOT the end of the world. He's old enough now to have teaching moments like this. Let him learn on his own that if he wants food in his belly, HE needs to put it in his mouth. He will come around, it just takes a mom with some consistency and determination not to give in. Remember, if he goes without a meal or two (NO snacks if he doesn't finish his meal!!) it will be OK. and he will learn. Good luck!

I honestly can't believe that someone would say I'm a bad nanny. I don't treat the kids like they are in boot camp. The child requested something and I gave it to her. She did not want it after she requested it. I actually did go to Culinary college, so I don't think I cook bad.

Children will eat if they are hungry or not. I said everything that every other mother said on here. I appalled to find that person said I am a bad nanny. My kids love me and so do the parents...but oh well people have their own thoughts even though they never met the person. You don't need to be rude on here. As I stated; I said everything my mother and other mothers have mentioned. Was not like a big shock!!!!

I hope other mothers agree with this.