My 5 yr old is a nightmare with her eating!!!

Does anyone else have problems with their kids and eating? My 5 yr old daughter is a complete nightmare!!! She's growing like a weed so i'm not completely going round the twist with worry but i am concerned. I've tried everything from devising a ' little, medium, big ' effort which has its own 'rewards' for big efforts, like a treat before bed etc..for little efforts, its no treats at all! That sort of works but when it doesnt, i divide her food in half on her plate, then say she has to eat one half and once she has, we talk about the other half...and she generally eats a little of that half...then recently i've really had to get tough and tell her that she'll get the rest of her dinner for supper if she doesnt eat it.

This has been going on for well over a year now, if not longer. She's naturally a little dotty anyway but she only weighs 2.5 stone at the age of 5 but she's constantly on the go. I have noticed that she'll eat 'little and often' but doesnt want to sit down and eat a whole meal. I dont overload her plate and sometimes she does clear her plate. When she does, i go a bit over the top with praise but it does work as she feels very grown up then.

Anyone else have nightmare meal times???

I know how you feel,my DS is going to be 4 soon and he eats very lttle and thats with us pretty much forcing him.
It is very frustrating because untill the age of 2 and a half he ate everything,i have taken him to a pediatrician(sp?)and they basically told me he is fine and to keep going with our little routine of "trying".He then said as long as he continues to put on a little weight and not lose any he will grow out of this fussy stage.
My DS is very active and is very thin i give him multi vitamins to help as he doesnt eat much meat but he is getting a little better.Good luck with your DD i think the praise and rewards are a great idea (it works for us).

I was talking about weight with a friend today, what does your gp or health visitor say?

i feel that if they are healthy and there are no medical concerns you shuld not worry so much about it. Iknow it is really hard, my son was like a stick for a long time, but he was following the centile line on the chart so nonoe was worried..except my DP who would drive me mad!! now he eats for england but still is very slim