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Post by lynnslittleuns on Nov 23, 2007 14:26:45 GMT
Hi all.
As the heading says i have a 2yr old in my setting that wont eat. She is only with me 2 hrs each day, across lunch time and mum always sends her a pack lunch. It always looks really nice and healthy as mum is a dinner lady herself at my local primary school so knows what to give her. She simply refuses to eat anything except fruit and yogurt and these she eats begrudgingly. Mum says she then goes home and starts to eat. I try to give the other children similar things to her so that she doesn't feel left out and we always all sit around the table together but to no avail. Mum says dont let her play until she's eaten, which i do for so long, but she gets so upset and tears stream down her face (what a sucker i am). Any advice please. Lynn xx
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Post by helen1980 on Nov 23, 2007 15:23:05 GMT
Hi,
If she is only with you for 2 hours a day and then eats when she gets home maybe she simply isn't hungry while at yours. And not letting her play until she eats can only make her worse. Maybe she was used to having a later lunch before she came to you?
Don't know if this will help at all sorry if not.
Helen XX
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Post by lisaurry on Nov 23, 2007 18:07:44 GMT
Hi Lynn,
How long have you had this little one for? If she's new(ish), maybe she just needs time to settle into your setting? She maybe a bit shy, and not sure of herself.
Lisa x
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Post by angeldelight on Nov 23, 2007 18:44:38 GMT
Hi Lynn
I agree with the others
I think it is such a shame that the mom has told you to make her eat before she plays She could be shy or not hungry
Personally I think you should speak to mom and ask her to stop bringing lunch for a bit For the short length of time that you have her does it really matter if she eats at home and a little later? Or she could continue to bring lunch and if she eats she eats if she leaves it she leaves it !
You might find that when she becomes more settled she will get more hungry and want what the other children are having anyway
I just would not make a big deal out of it and it is a such a shame that it is upsetting her
If you had her the whole day I could understand "mom " but it is just not worth it for the short time you have her
I would explain this to the parent
Good luck let us know how it goes
Angel xx
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Post by lynnslittleuns on Nov 24, 2007 14:24:59 GMT
Thanks girls
Ive been having this little girl since the 6 weeks holidays, so since the beginning of September and she used to eat a little but has always taken part of her lunch home with her, never having finished it. I think you are right and that i will speak to mum again on Monday. She is a lovely lady and so there shouldn't be a problem, i just dont want to force her to eat when she clearly doesn't want to.
Thanks again. Lynn xx
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Post by banana on Nov 27, 2007 14:26:36 GMT
I agree with whats been said. If she eats finbe at home and she is only with you for 2 hours then i'd let her eat when she gets home.
Maybe just offer some fruit pieces at your house and then she can eat properly when she gets home. Maybe the child doesnt like eating away from home. I have difficulty with one mindee sometimes as he gets very shy and doesnt want to eat, he is 2 also, this could be the same sort of thing?
xx
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Post by sarsar3nch on Nov 27, 2007 21:43:50 GMT
difficult too if you have others who see little one playing while they need to sit and eat, it may cause trouble with them wanting to leave food to get down and play too
Sarah
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Post by fionamal on Nov 28, 2007 10:34:23 GMT
I had that situation with my newbie but hes now been here 6 weeks and has finally started to eat whatever I make for them.
It is a struggle but we always get there in the end
Hes also 2 so it might just be a phase that theyre going through.
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Post by vik3000 on Nov 28, 2007 14:28:17 GMT
My three year old mindee has just started to refuse foods when here - I have concluded (through obs!!! how good is that) that she thinks if she doesn't eat then mum or dad will be here sooner and she can go home to eat with them! Mum and I are working from same book on this but dad is not - frustrating situation!!
I think you have already been given some good advice and I have nothing that I can really add apart from put a time limit on the time spent eating at the table (say 30 minutes or how ever long you think that/the child(ren) will reasonably stay at the table and then cheerfully pack it all away. Take the pressure away and generally you find that hey presto the child(ren) then start to eat. I would tell mum that this is your policy - not to force a child and to take away the pressure.
This appears to be working with my mindee
Good luck
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Post by lynnslittleuns on Nov 29, 2007 6:42:17 GMT
Thanks for all the advice everyone.
I am putting a 30min time limit on it and she does appear to be eating a little more albeit its the food i give her (like the others) and not what she brings with her. Mum seems fine with this but still packs her up. If she's happy to waste food then who am i to question. Lynn xx
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