Stubborn 2 year old won't eat breakfast - can you help?!

[ameliestiredmummy]

My 2 year old daughter has always been fussy with breakfast, but has decided in the last week that she simply doesn't want anything to eat before lunchtime. She eats well at lunch and dinner - a good varied diet, lots of veg altho not so keen on fruit - but I simply cannot get her to eat anything in the morning.

All her favourites she tells me 'I don't like this Mummy' - I've tried loads of different breakfast cereals (with or without milk), toast (jam or marmite or plain), yoghurts, cereal bars... today she managed a teeny tiny square of marmite toast and then announced she wanted to play and didn't want to eat anymore.   

She does have milk in the morning at breakfast time - this morning she had a whole cup (200ml) - would this fill her up? (How much milk should a 2 year old have on a daily basis?)

Does anyone have a similar problem or any ideas?! She's not wasting away - as I said, she eats well the rest of the day, but I would like her to get into the breakfast habit early.

[james030405]

Maybe you could offer her milk after having something to eat?  Does she ask for milk as soon as she wakes?  If not, I would wait until after she has had food.  200ml might fill her up.  She may not be hungry when you offer her breakfast?  Have you tried something fun like pancakes?  I sometimes make a little "breakfast lunchbox" ie if you have a tupperware box where you could put different foods in that dont' need to stay hot/cold like fruit, even a little sandwhich (if you can eat toast at breakfast you can eat a sandwich) and let her have it when she gets hungry.  I know this isn't an "ideal" way of eating breakfast but maybe she just needs a little time to wake and have a little play before eating.  MAybe you could make some breakfast muffins, like apple or banana ones that she could have.  I think as adults we often think breakfast must be toast/cereal.  HAve you tried an omlette? 

Not sure if this will help. 

[ameliestiredmummy]

Thanks for the ideas - I think you're right, the milk is probably filing her up - I get so worried about dehyration, particularly when it's so hot, that I really encourage her to drink before anything else in the morning.
I like the idea of a breakfast lunch box as well - it would probably suit her to be able to eat when she likes... I'll let you know how I get on!
(We tried bagels this morning, and she did eat about a bit, which is better than nothing I guess!)

[NHSH]

Hi, I am also facing similiar problem with my LS, he is 2.2years old and when he gets up in the morning he wants milk and then he won't eat any thing for atleast 2.5 hrs and the problem is... he is going to play group and so he is not having his breakfast now. I even tried giving him solid first in the morning but then he will neither have milk nor solid and goes empty stomach only.

[Rebecca247]

I have the same problem with my 18 month old DS, he has never been a great eater at any meal, but breakfast is always his worst, the last few months he hasnt even been eating much lunch either and the attacking his dinner at night like he hasnt eaten in weeks! I think his refusal of breakfast is due to him having a bottle of milk during the night......which i am still trying to wean him off of but then i'm thinking he hasnt eaten much all day so he is probably hungry, so its a vicious cycle i think! We have tried everything for breakfast, the thing he will eat is pancakes, but only my homemade pancakes so its not something i can do everymorning, time wise its to hard with 2 other kids that need to be ready for school on time. I tried buying pancakes from the supermarket but he wont eat those! talk about a precious child I wouldnt worry about the dehydration, she will be fine with water, all my DS has in the morning is water in his sippy cup, he only ever has milk before naps and bedtimes! At least if shes having water in the morning it wont fill her up and she might be feeling like breakfast then!
Sorry i dont have much advice for you, i'm having the same issues so I was interested in this thread... Hope you get some great advice aswell.
Thanks
Bek
xxxx

[ameliestiredmummy]

At least mine's not the only one!

We seem to have solved the breakfast problem - probably only temporarily of course - but I now give her milk as soon as she wakes up, then she wanders around with a dry piece of bread (yuk I know) and then she has a boiled egg - every morning - although we did run out of eggs this morning, so Bob the Builder spaghetti seemed to go down ok. Fingers crossed she carries on eating.. whatever it is!

Thanks for the omelette suggestion...I think we do always think of breakfast as cereal or toast, or variants of - but its eggs all the way for us now!

[vacamex]

Hi: I thought the same about the milk... is better to give it right after she eats something solid.
Good luck!
CC

[Mama2boys]

re you gusy giving your kids full fat milk or reduced? becaus ethat can make a difference and it did for our son.

bfast was becoming a pain and we moved to reduced fat milk (doc's reccomend it after 2 anyways) and it has helped him eat bafst much better now.