Can't Eat Won't Eat
The Boy doesn't eat enough to feed a sparrow. I'm having so many problems getting food down him - the dinner table is turning into a battle ground. Unless he's presented with a bowl of plain pasta he picks and fusses until everything on his plate is stone cold. Then half an hour later he complains he's hungry, asking for biscuits, toast or cakes.
I don't give in, and offer him any of this rubbish, but then I feel guilty that he's starving.
I've never really worried about The Boy's diet before. He's not the biggest eater in the world, but he's always been a half decent weight and eaten something that resembles a balanced diet. Now he seems all elbows and knees, he's difficult to get out of bed in the morning and he has moods to rival a child twice his age.
We've tried forcing the issue: "You will sit there until you've eaten at least one potato". Two hours later and he attempted to gulp said tayto then promptly vomited it back up all over the table. We've tried ignoring it. He ends up eating virtually nothing - certainly nothing healthy anyway.
I know he needs to eat, but think about it. You wouldn't give an adult a plate of food you know dam well they hate then demand they eat it.
Is forcing a child to eat bordering on abuse? Or is it best in the long run to insist on healthy eating habits?
Older/Newer
3 Comments
Leave a comment
Profile
Laura Yates - Brummie mum Laura Yates is a 27 year old mother of two from Kings Heath. She gives her take on family life in the city.
I watched a programme about children who wont eat recently, we have had similar problems with Zak, and it said that as long as they get the calories that they need thats the most important thing, I go with feed them what they like and have nice meal times!
That sounds like such a nice, easy way to do things!
Do you end up cooking a different dinner for Zak though? I wanted to avoid having two sets of food, but that's the way I'm scared it's going. Do you just give Zak a small amount of what you eat and lots of what you know he will eat?
Did the programme say that these fussy eaters will end up eating a balanced diet, or is The Boy destined to survive on Pasta for the rest of his years?
try allowing the boy to see his dad, as usually fathers have a good bareing on these matters.The boys father is desperate for a relationship with his son. lee