General Terrible Two's Advice

I need some help. My son is 29 months. He's really a good kid, laid back. He can throw tantrums just like any other two year old, but overall he's very easy going... I've run into two obstacles with him and I'm not sure what to do/try...

First of all is his eating... He is a very picky eater, but lately it seems like he doesn't want to eat at all, even if it's foods he enjoys. Sometimes it's just that he doesn't want to stop playing... So here's where I'm at... Do I make him sit at the table to eat, or do I let him play? I'm sure routine is the key here, but how to start it? My worry is that if I try and force him to sit down, it's going to be a huge power struggle and he'll probably throw a huge tantrum. I'm afraid it will do more harm than good. Also, if I have him sit at the table (and assuming he fights it) at what point to I give in and let him play?


Second is sleeping. It's not an issue, but being a first-time Mom I'm just full of questions... He is still in a crib. I realize he is older than most, but he has never even attempted to get out of his crib, so I haven't made the switch yet. My worry is that I might miss a window of when it's ideal to change to a big boy bed? Is it ok to go on sleeping in the crib?

I'm fine with changing to big boy bed if it's necessary, but the issue here is that we share a room in the basement. His bedtime is 7pm. How our routine goes now, we read several books together and then I place him in his crib with a book that he looks at until he falls asleep on his own. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes, sometimes it takes an hour. By that point I leave him in the room and go about my business. I just worry that if he was free to roam about, what could he get into down there without me knowing?

If anyone has some insight to my situation I'd love to hear from you. Thanks!

I think as long as they aren't trying to escape, it is fine to keep them in a crib.


As for the eating, you could always do a 2 bite rule. He has to take 2 bites (or 3 or whatever) of each food on his plate before leaving the table.

as for the eating issue....do u stop what u r doing and make yourself eat at a certain time everyday or do u eat when u get hungry? If u stick to a schedule then its okay to prompt your child to.....i personnally let my kids eat when the are hungry. If the sleeping arrangement is working for now , why mess it up. Mabe start prompting LO that either for christmas or his birthday he will be getting a ''bigboy'' bed,(make it an exciting specail transition for him) and give him plenty of time to get used to the idea.

Quoting mooshell-PSM:" I need some help. My son is 29 months. He's really a good kid, laid back. He can throw tantrums just ... [snip!] ... could he get into down there without me knowing? If anyone has some insight to my situation I'd love to hear from you. Thanks!"

i would make him sit at the table my reason would be we eat as a family but i would also give him a 10 and a 5 min warning that you are sitting down to eat as for bed time its really up to you my nephew Andrew slept in a crib until he was 2 1/2 and Malachi has slept in a toddler bed since he was about 15 months i would switch to a toddler bed but thats me

Thanks so much, ladies.

The meals are basically routine for us... We wake up, get dressed, it's time for breakfast. Lunch is usually at school, but on the weekends it's generally around noon. Dinner is the same, we get home, I start cooking dinner, it's dinner time.

I think we can try the 2 bite rule. That seems reasonable. I'd like for us to sit as a family (it's just me and him), but I feel like I can let that go until he is older.

Your responses have been very helpful.

Quoting mooshell-PSM:" Thanks so much, ladies. The meals are basically routine for us... We wake up, get dressed, it's time ... [snip!] ... a family (it's just me and him), but I feel like I can let that go until he is older. Your responses have been very helpful."

also only put two or three bites of each thing on his plate putting to much will overwhelm him and make him not want to eat

Quoting mooshell-PSM:" Thanks so much, ladies. The meals are basically routine for us... We wake up, get dressed, it's time ... [snip!] ... a family (it's just me and him), but I feel like I can let that go until he is older. Your responses have been very helpful."

I hope you have luck with the 2 bite thing. My daughter turned 2 in April. We haven't really encountered refusing meal time outright, yet, but when we do this is what we'll try. Hopefully it'll encourage mealtimes without forcing them to sit at the table if they aren't hungry.