Smart Feeding Tips To Cope With The Terrible Twos

Toddlers who turn two or three can switch personalities faster than you can say “pick up your toys”! You’ve relished the joys of having your child do whatever you ask, enjoying cuddles and accepting whatever you tell them as the gospel truth. So, it can be rough to suddenly face a tiny human who is now the opposite of all those things. And food can be a particularly contentious issue. Here’s how to cope without losing your mind

- Simona Terron

Your child is either two or three years old and unrecognisable with her tantrums, new demands and suddenly, so many food preferences! Your angelic baby now refuses items she used to love, throws a fit if you choose the wrong coloured plate and insists on an endless supply of any one item that she never liked before, for every single meal. If this seems like your toddler, fear not as we have some helpful tip for how to cope with this developmental stage.

Here are simple suggestions of dos and don’ts:

1. DON’T FUEL THE DRAMA BY REACTING TO IT: Your child is extremely cued into your emotional state and the slightest variation in it will have adverse counter reactions. If she’s angry, your getting angry might frighten her. If she’s cranky and tired, your disappointment will likely make her burst into tears. If she gets excited and hyperactive, your frustration and irritation might set off her anxiety. Be aware of your behaviour around her at this crucial time. If she doesn’t want to eat, it’s not the end of the world. Put her to bed and keep a small baggie of something she likes on her bedside, in case she wakes up hungry. Don’t make this a habit, though.