Toddler struggles with food

Does she normally run around whilst eating? I feel like having the TV on & allowing her to just walk around & play whilst she's eating is just distracting her from chewing the food. Have you tried sitting her down at a table?

We had exactly this! He’s only just ate his first bite of broccoli! Keep putting on her plate, sit down as a family to eat and don’t pressure it! Eventually she’ll try it! We did good play! So had his dinosaurs on his plate of broccoli and mash like they were trampling through!

@Rachel we used to have a table when she was in a high chair & still the same issue. As she got older we had to decide between a toy unit for her or a dining table as our house isn’t big enough for it all. So we’ve tried table and no tv, table and tv, no table and tv and no table and no tv. Bear in mind this has been going on for over 2 years

@Beth that’s reassuring to hear! Thing is though, she’ll put it in her mouth but just not ear. It just goes round and round for SO long! I think maybe I’ve been putting too much pressure on her though, as I just get so worried she’ll be hungry 😔 xx

@Naomi my little boy did the same! Except he’d store it in his cheeks like a hamster! Don’t put any pressure on her, I used to cry and all sorts because I thought I was a bad mum because he simply wasn’t eating! But once I told myself he genuinely will eat when he’s hungry he did start to get certain safe foods!

Is it all food she does it with or just certain things?

I agree with sitting at the table. Also eat at the same time with her and the same food so she can mimic you. Let her serve herself. Put some food on a plate and let her choose what she puts on her plate. Keep offering foods even if she never chooses to eat those, eventually one day she will. Do not offer an alternative food if she does not want the food. It may take time but if tou feel you need help, I would pushbwith your GP tonfet referred to a dietitian.

@Conchi hi, not sure if you saw my above message but we don’t have the space for a dining table, and even when we did she still showed the same behaviour towards the food. We also all eat together (on the sofa), you just can’t see my breakfast in the video because I finished mine about half an hour before the video. Letting her serve herself is a good idea, we have a toddler tower in the kitchen so will try that. I always ask her what she wants for meals and then do what she wants (within reason). And I never offer her anything else, what she has on her plate is what she’s having and if she eats enough she gets desert.

@Rachel all foods, but I’ve noticed it’s worse with meat. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m vegetarian, she never had meat in my womb? Or maybe it’s the texture of meat. I’m not sure. She’s better with quorn nuggets than chicken nuggets but still the same process of it going round and round her mouth for a while

@Beth that’s really refreshing to hear. I always get so upset about it too.

@Naomi do you have a coffee table. She could sit on a little chair instead of the sofa. When I mean help herself, it is better to have two plates in front of her. So on the coffee table put a plate with food and an empty one and she keeps adding during the meal whenever she wants. You can also have a yucky bowl where she puts whatever she does not like I would not ask her what she wants. Her control comes from the plate on the table, not having the option to choose what yiu prepare. I also would not use dessert as a reward. We always have fruit or yogurt as an option regardless of hiw much she eats. Hope this helps.

I've seen that neat is worse. Mine eats very well but neat ia tricky. Best way for us is when we use the slow cooker as meat is super soft and falls appart.

My daughters the same with food but without chewing she will let it go in and spit it out or just doesn't try it🙈 It's so worrying sometimes. Ive found she will eat better if were sat at the table and were eating with her, or sat with her

Silly question, but when she doesn’t chew food excessively does she have difficulty swallowing it? ❤️

@Melissa sort of yes. The only way I can explain it is like on I’m a celeb where they have to eat the bugs etc and they’re chewing and chewing with a really sour face, gripping their hands and tapping their feet until they’ve swallowed. Does that make sense? She’s not as dramatic as that but it’s similar in the way that she really doesn’t want to chew/swallow the food x

Oh bless her, hopefully it is just something sensory related 🥰 my boy used to freeze and shake his hands when he tried food he didn’t like.. there’s loads of other reasons why food may also be struggling to go down that I’m sure you’re aware of such as dysphagia, acid rising in stomach, intolerances etc .. my boy projectile vomited his feeds and it actually turned out to be something we never heard of (pyloric stenosis) and needed emergency surgery in BCH at just 8 weeks old. If no other sensory difficulties have been flagged, maybe go down the route of difficulty swallowing with the GP? I’m no professional, but it’s worth ruling out :) My intention isn’t to worry you by the way I just wanted to share my thoughts ❤️

I'd bypass the HV and make a GP appointment. I don't think it's serious in any way, more so sensory or texture type of thing but I'd get her throat checked and make sure she doesn't have difficulty swallowing and I'd try the dentist. Just because my friend use to be like this and store food in her cheeks and she had a significant underbite/jaw problems (i don't think your little one has this because you could see my friend had a prominent jaw whereas your little one doesnt) But I'd do both just to cover bases. I'd try picky plates she could go back and forwards to aswell. My oldest was a great eater, my 2 year old isn't great though and it's draining!

I'm wondering at this point if she needs to be seen by a Dr/specialist. To rule out anything physically that would prevent her swallowing the food. It could also possibly be a sensory issue? Does she have any other sensory issues? Does she swallow soft things like yoghurt etc? You seem to have tried most things people have suggested so I think you need to reach out to some professionals to help you and your daughter get to the bottom of what's happening. Wishing you all the best!

@Melissa literally like my daughter! Stand on the spot and shake hands and head, like she was eating something disgusting! Oh wow okay, bless him that must have been so hard! No not at all, I appreciate your response 🤍

@Michelle I agree, I think it’s sensory too. Oh goodness, yeah her mouth seems to be all normal from what I can see! Yes picky plates seem good, gives her a range of options and at least she’ll eat something on the plate x

@Melanie thank you, I do think it’s more sensory than anything else. And the sensory issue prevents her from swallowing because she feels it all in her mouth and knows she’ll feel it when she swallows too. Yes she’ll eat yoghurt and soup absolutely fine, probably because it doesn’t involve much feeling. It’s sort of in the mouth and in her belly straight away. Honestly I have, I’ve been trying everything for over 2 years now, eating at a table isn’t going to solve it unfortunately 😂 thank you very much!

My 2.5 year old won't touch much either nevermind put it in his mouth. I do make veggie pancakes/ banana pancakes which he'll eat, cereal, bread crackers l. Not much else tbh .. we sit down most evenings for dinner but he'll just play around by himself and refuse to touch what I've given him 😭