Toddler not eating well

No advice just wanted to let you know your not alone, my daughter has been like this for 6 months now! Eats breakfast and lunch, but dinner she will refuse, even her favourite foods she just won't touch anymore

We’re a mixed bag we have a really fussy eater and we’ll have weeks where she doesn’t eat well at all and other weeks she’ll eat loads of and will usually have a bit of a growth spurt then we’ve just had one so she’s eating less again and it’s half term at nursery so not as many kids to encourage her to eat

My son has decided he will eat nothing but carrot cake oat bars, ever meal is a battle, very stressful as I can see his is losing weight. GP says to persist. Just letting you know it’s the same over here, infact probably worse!

@Yasmine I feel you on this! My daughters lost weight but the dietitian referral was refused because she isn't obese and apparently parents are more paranoid over "normal" weight now! Frustrating when you know your child best and can see them loosing weight and getting no help

@Yasmine see she will still eat snacks fine most of the time, but actual meals she will have a mouthful and say she's done

@Kelsey my lg has never been a big fan of lunch which is fine because she loves breakfast and will eat dinner then just have snacks/ picky stuff for lunch. But now every meal she's just not that bothered about even things I know she likes

Kids go through lots of these phases! One minute my kids will literally eat everything in sight and I’ll have to do 2-3 top up shops in the week, other times, I’m throwing away breakfast/lunch/dinner! I wouldn’t worry, it’s all linked to growth spurts etc! They’ll eat when they’re hungry x

@Emily I just feel bad because she's living on biscuits, fruit and fruit pouches and occasionally abit of dinner

My son has never been an independent eater, he used to eat things like bananas, suckies, strawberry’s, chips, porridge. Now he will not entertain absolutely any of it, with 2 bouts of norovirus knocking 3/4 of his foods off the list I’m at a complete loss. He seems entirely distressed by food and I’m certain he’s neophobic. But then I question if it’s behavioural as he will happily eat what he specifically is asking for! It’s so hard to know 😔

@Kelsey yes my son is a good size, simply because of the milk and a natural stocky build. They take one look at him and think well he is a healthy weight but they do not see or know the distress of each meal time!

I know, and I went through this with my eldest at this age (he’s now 5.5yrs) and honestly I was contemplating going to the GP and demanding a referral to dieticians and all sorts! He refused everything at home but would eat multiple portions at nursery! I stopped putting so much pressure on him and on me, and just gave him what he asked for. Now at 5yrs old, he eats so well! It’s really really difficult, especially when you’re in the thick of it, but I promise there is an end! At this age it’s all about control and food is the only thing they can control, so that’s what they’ll do. It does get better x

@Emily I was very tempted to go to the doctors but if shes eating fine at nursery its probably not much they can do. I've been giving her what she wants or that I know she really likes but she's still something turning those down even when she's asked for it. Thank you x