my 16 month old daughter...?

Question

I am having trouble getting her to eat her doctor says she shouldn't have more than 16 ounces of milk a day and it seems impossilbe. ive tried giving her vitamens and giving her less milk hoping it will boost her appitite for food . Please help???

she is feeling fine I just cant get her to eat much she would rather drink milk if I give her food she ask for her sippy cup instead

Answer 1

If she's off formula, try giving her a little jarred baby food. You should start with veggies, one at a time.

Answer 2

We had trouble getting my oldest boy to eat when he was that age. We gave him healthy snacks and juice or water during the day and at meal time we had to put the cup up until he would at least take a bite of whatever there was to eat. Otherwise he would just drink and never eat. He threw a couple fits at first but then he got the clue that if he did eat something then he could have his milk too. He found out he actually liked to eat and drink both then. You are a great mother who pays attention to her childs health. Don't stop and don't let others tell you that you are a bad parent. Good luck!

Answer 3

It's my experience that children will eat when they get hungry. Maybe you should cut the milk out and replace it with juice. My kids were all off the bottle and on solid foods by the time they turned one. Serve milk with her breakfast or dinner only. Try finger type foods for lunch. You may have to try several things before you find something she'll eat. My youngest child went through a spell where she wouldn't eat anything but bananas. If she is losing weight, you should contact your Doctor to se what he suggests. It could be a medical problem. Remember, tiny people have tiny stomachs, it doesn't take a lot to fill them.

Answer 4

Part of the problem my be that you are so concerned about it. Children at this age begin to loose their apitites anyway, so you being so concerned may actually be making matters worse.

Don't try to beg, or conjole her to eat. And if she acts like she is done, don't chase her around trying to get one more bite into her.

Things like that can make her associate food with stressful situations, and the problem will get worse.

Just offer her healthy food and snacks. Don't give her any junk at all. I say that because if she is already having trouble, then she needs all her caleries for 'good stuff', also, it will make her very picky.

Try to find food that is fun, and let her feed herself completely, don't feed her. This will make her more likely to eat. Also, your doc is right about the milk. Milk does not provide many of the things kids need.

Just relax, and let your dauhter relax, make eating a fun time instead of a stressful experience.

Answer 5

Try bribing her... it sounds as if she really likes milk... so give her some food to eat with the promise that once she's finished it, she can have a cup/bottle/sippy cup of milk...

Ignore any yelling or negative behaviour, and give lots of praise whenever she eats food. Over time she'll get better at eating.

Good luck =o)

Answer 6

Everybody is different and as long as your daughter isn't malnourished, then you should probably let her set the pace as far as food consumption goes.
If you make a huge deal out of this you might cause food to equal problems in her mind, and down the road this could develop into an eating disorder.
Check with your doctor about give a product such as Pedialite to ensure that she doesn't get dehydrated and the electrolitical balance is preserved.

Answer 7

On idea is to take her shopping with you. Let her pick out the foods she wants. Even though she is only 16mths she will get the idea.

Also try cereal and granola bars. They are good for you. That's all my son would eat forever.

You just need to think like a child. Make stuff fun to look at so they will thinks it fun to eat. There are some great cookbooks for kids at Barns and Noble that might help you with some ideas.

Hope this helps!

Answer 8

Put other things in her sippy cup if you want to cut down on the milk (once she gets a taste for juice you may have trouble getting her to TAKE the milk!). Serve her things that she can eat herself and that are colorful and attractive, not just mushed-up stuff, and give her variety. Think, plate of goldfish crackers, strawberry halves, jelly sandwich cut into cute shapes, etc. Children this age can handle regular table foods for the most part, so if it's not appealing to you, don't try to get her to eat it. Pizza, french fries, chicken nuggets are all popular with little kids, and they can stand the calories. It's not at all uncommon for toddlers to get obsessed with one or two foods and refuse to eat anything else, or to want milk in preference to food, so as long as her growth is normal and she's getting a multi-vitamin, it's usually nothing to stress out about. Just keep introducing her to different foods, making them available but not forcing her to eat them (and please, no punishments where food is concerned -- unless she's throwing it at you!). If you get too stressed out and obsessed about it, she may get that way too, so relax.

Answer 9

actuly thay are only suposed to have 18 oz of milk in a day.
how is it impossible???
u know at 16 months u are actuly suposed to feed ur child real food thay no longer need formula thay now need whole milk and real food not just baby food. thay need a healthy diet. if the baby wont eat u need to force her to ea if not u are just gonna kill ur baby cause she has to eat. and ur not much of a parent if u dont feed her or get her to eat. if u can get her to eat take her to the emergancy room NOW and get her help before she gets majorly sick or dies. cause in this heat u can kill her quick if she does not eat and she needs help. i should know i have a 15 month old and i have to force him to eat every now and than. its normal in a toddler that young so. step up and be a parent and quite letting that baby be the one who says whats what and what she does and does not do.

Answer 10

First you should call the Dr and voice your concerns. But try leaving food on the table where she can grab it. At 16 months she should be eating solid foods more often. Try offering her a bite of your food and she how she does.

Answer 11

My 15-m.o. son's appetite has really decreased lately too. It seems a struggle to get him to eat more than a few spoonfuls at any meal As long as she is drinking milk, at least she is getting the calories and fat she needs. Try this, when my son won't eat a meal, I get him to drink it. He LOVES fruit smoothies, I mix yogurt, bananas, apple juice, milk and frozen berries in my blender and he loves it ! That way he is getting fruit, juice, yogurt and milk all in one go. You can add all sorts of things to these (peanut butter, soymilk, assorted fruit, etc.) Be patient, she will wat more soon, it's just a phase that they go thru. Just be sure to offer her a variety of foods at each meal. Like a little pasta, a little bit of vegetables, crackers, meat, etc.