I think I see a power struggle happening here. Maybe this is more a discipline post? I don't know. Tyler (21 mo) is usually a good eater. We always, always eat in the high chair, at the table, and as a family. Lately, he's just not interested in eating when we tell him it's time. Even first thing in the morning, when you'd think he'd be ravenous, he says "no thank you" and plays with his toys. Choices don't lure him in, even if one of them is a favorite that he ALWAYS eats...he says "no thank you." Telling him that we'll go eat after we read this book or whatever gets us a tantrum when the book's done and we say "okay, time to eat." He hasn't eaten snacks for awhile now (they killed his appetite for meals) and he doesn't drink milk between meals. So he HAS to be hungry. If we let him go and eat without him, he's more than happy to amuse himself, but then asks to eat about 45 min later.
I don't know how to handle it. If we have someplace to go, it doesn't always work to wait for him to inform me that he'd like to eat now. I want to respect his appetite, but it seems like he's resisting eating at anyone's suggestion other than his. Any thoughts? TIA!
