I Tried These Methods To Feed My Toddler & Was Successful

Nowadays, we mothers have the same worry, ‘my kid is not eating, losing weight, and I don’t want to force-feed.’ Don’t worry Moms! Here I am with tried & tested methods on how to make toddler eat food. I hope this will help you too.

My Struggle: When Nothing Worked

Two months back, I was facing the same situation with my Kid, who is now 22 months old. Apart from BM, he was not eating anything at all, not in the morning, lunch, and dinner. Not even a cup of milk. I tried everything from giving Paranthas to curd to milk to flavored milk to everything I could find. All in Vain.

The constant worry kept me awake at night. Is my baby getting enough nutrition? Why is he refusing everything? These questions haunted me every single day.

I also visited his pediatrician and consulted many doctors online, some ignoring this concern, some giving suggestions to reduce breastfeed. I was not ready to reduce breastfeed, not only me, but he was also not prepared to not taking it. Why? Because this was the only meal for him which he was taking.

I searched many things on Google, tried sharing the worry on various FB groups, got many suggestions, but no one could help. Finally, I gave up looking for its answer and kept trying to give something or the other.

Every article I read about how to make toddler eat food seemed to work for everyone else but not for my child, making me feel even more helpless.

The Breakthrough Moment

Now, since the problem has been solved to an extent and he is now 22 months old, I thought to write on this and give all the mothers a tip on what did I do and what helped me in this case. These methods are not random or googled ones; these are what helped us with my Kid.

If you’re desperately searching for ways on how to make toddler eat food, trust me, I’ve been exactly where you are. The frustration, the helplessness, the guilt – I felt it all. But don’t lose hope!

Seeing many questions still there on various FB groups, I thought to write on this. So here are some of the methods I tried to make my toddler eat food.

How to Make Toddler Eat Food: 5 Proven Methods

Cheer & Changed the Glasses

One day, when I gave him a cup of milk, I offered one to his dad and asked them to cheer glasses. Out of excitement, he cheered up and copied his father, and took one sip. After taking one sip, he left the glass on the table.

Here’s where the magic happened – I poured the milk into another cup and asked him to cheer again. He did that again and again, and to our surprise, he drank more than half of a cup, following this procedure of cheering up and changing the glasses.

Why this works: Toddlers love imitation and games. When eating becomes play, they naturally participate more.

Pro Tip: Keep 3-4 different colored cups ready. The novelty of each new cup keeps them engaged. Though you will have to have patience, this might work for you.

Many mothers ask me how to make toddler eat food without tantrums, and this cheering method has become my go-to answer because it turns mealtime into playtime.

I Engaged Him in Cooking

Be prepared and take care of the safety of kids first. So, I made sure about the safety and tried engaging him while preparing for the meal.

So what I did is, before going to prepare the meal, I started asking him to come along by saying, let’s go, we will make a pancake, Maggi, chapati, vegetable, tea, milk, whatever it is. He enjoyed doing that, and he started asking for the food. Sometimes even before the food is getting prepared, he starts asking for it.

This thing worked a lot in my case and is a great way to make toddler eat food willingly. When kids feel involved in the process, they develop ownership and curiosity about what they helped create.

What toddlers can do safely:

• Pour pre-measured ingredients
• Stir with supervision
• Press buttons on safe appliances
• Arrange items on plate

Related read: How I Used Simple Manifestation Techniques for Picky Eaters to Transform My 2-Year-Old’s Eating Habits

Reverse Psychology – Tell Them Food is NOT For Them

My sister, a doctor, suggested that you don’t ask him or offer him any food whenever you eat; don’t try to feed him. Just concentrate on eating; he might feel that he should also eat whatever his parents are eating.

We started doing that; instead of asking him, we started saying, ”No, this is not for you, this is for us.” And we all know kids do, which we ask them not to. So, he began eating like this.

The psychology behind it: Toddlers are naturally curious and want what others have. When you stop offering, they suddenly become interested! This is one of the most effective tricks on how to make toddler eat food without any force.

Important: Don’t overdo this. Use it strategically, not for every meal, or they might catch on to the trick.

Introduce New Healthy Food Options

I once was scrolling the internet and found out about the Slurrp Farm. Not going much into it, I just ordered the trial packs of pancakes and dosas and chips, which turned to tastier yet healthier product for him. I take him to the kitchen while making the pancake, and to my surprise, he finished it. Because they are too yummy and delicious, so try them with your babies once; you might find them beneficial.

Sometimes the key to how to make toddler eat food is simply finding the right food that appeals to their changing taste buds. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new brands and options that are both nutritious and delicious.

Keep Rotating Different Fruits

The taste of toddlers usually changes very frequently, this I understood from my son. Not sure about others. So, at once, he liked Apples, then grapes, then bananas, then papaya, then melon, and now his favorite is muskmelon.

So, here I am trying to say is, keep changing the fruits and start giving your baby whatever he/she likes without much concentrating on the nutrients of a particular fruit because every fruit is healthy to eat.

Fruit rotation strategy:

• Buy 3-4 different fruits weekly
• Offer different ones each day
• Don’t force if they refuse – try again next week
• Present fruits in fun shapes (stars, hearts, sticks)

What is My Kid’s Meal Routine Nowadays?

Though he still eats less than his age kids, I am satisfied as he started something at least. And I’m sure he will begin having all his meals very soon. Here’s what a typical day looks like now:

Breakfast (8:00 AM): Two to three bites of paranthas or bread

Mid-Morning (10:00 AM): Two big slices of muskmelon

Lunch (12:30 PM): Half a chapati or some rice with 4 to 5 spoons of curd or vegetable

Evening Snack (4:00 PM): Muskmelon again and 2-3 biscuits in between

Continuous: BM whenever he feels so

Dinner (7:30 PM): Almost the whole chapati with moong dal

Before Bed (9:00 PM): A cup of mango shake and sometimes a mango, followed by a cup of milk

Is it perfect? No. Is it progress? Absolutely! And that’s what matters.

Also read: Toddler not eating? Here are tips to encourage better eating habits

Important Reminders for All Moms

You’re Not Alone: Thousands of mothers face this exact same problem. It’s more common than you think, and it doesn’t make you a bad mother.

Every Child is Different: What worked for my son might work differently for yours. Be patient and try multiple approaches.

Don’t Compare: Your neighbor’s kid eating everything doesn’t mean your child should too. Every toddler has their own pace and preferences.

Trust Your Instinct: If something feels wrong beyond normal picky eating (like significant weight loss or health issues), always consult your pediatrician.

Final Words: Hope & Patience

This is how I started trying something different after failing in many attempts. If you’re struggling with how to make toddler eat food, remember that patience and creativity are key.

The journey of learning how to make toddler eat food is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. There will be good days and bad days. Some days they’ll eat everything, other days they’ll refuse their favorite food. That’s normal toddler behavior.

So, good luck to all the mothers who are trying really hard to feed their kids. I hope these methods work for you all. And never lose patience and keep trying until you succeed.

Remember, you’re doing an amazing job, even on days when it doesn’t feel like it. Your love and persistence will pay off. Keep going, Mama! 💪

Have you tried any of these methods? What worked for your toddler? Share your experience in the comments below and help other moms in their journey!

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