Weaning off sticker charts

[Silvermoomin]

I've just started using a sticker chart to encourage my fussy-eating dd to eat properly at dinner time. So far its going very well (ate it almost all tonight )

My only worry is, how do I move from bribing her with the sticker chart to just carrying on eating well with no incentive? Am I just creating a problem for the future?

[blueshoes]

It's early days. I'd be amazed if sticker charts work long term on something like fussy eating. Something short term maybe like potty training, but eating ... dunno. Perhaps other mums of fussy eaters could offer their experience in the sticker arena.

[alison222]

You space the stickers out - so for now its for each meal - then for each day - then you "forget" to use it for a while and go back to it only if really necessary. getting over fussy eating is an up and down process and it may be that the stickers will provide an incentive to change the behaviuor and once that is done you can sort of forget them. I have used them but only for the very short term and "forgot". DS just liked the idea of a star chart though and kept on trying to invent other reasons for having one instead.

[Silvermoomin]

Thanks Alison222, that sounds like sensible advice. The irony of it is that I myself was a fussy eater as a child and I reckon my dm must laugh to herself every time I complain about dd behaviour on this issue!

[berrycherry]

all I can add, as the mother of 2 fussy eaters, it does get better. I wish somebody had told me to chill out a bit with it. If they don't eat it, take it away, offer something else for a pudding, clear the table and don't panic!
My eldest dd drove me mad! now she eats everything I give her, she is still fussy but her favourite food is salmon, broccoli, and pasta with green pesto, and she always clears her plate. my youngest dd refused any vegetable, but now at almost 5 she has just started eating them although she doesn;t finish them all - yet!