how do you get your toddler to eat anything?

Question

My son is 3 years old and refuses to eat meat, veggies, potatoes. the only thing he does eat is certain types of pasta (like the ones made as a side dish) processed cheese, maybe an occaisional hotdog, and plain bread. I am very concerned about his growth, and getting proper nutrition. I talked to his peditritian and he told me this is common. He will be 4 in august and only weighs 28 pounds and is the size of a small 2yr old. Does anyone have/had this problem, and what do/did you do. I need some suggestions.

I have fed him the same meal as everyone else in the house and he still refuses to eat it, so i will put it in the fridge and when he says he is hungry later I pull it out, heat it up and tell him that he can eat this, but he still refuses.

Answer 1

try vitamins and nutritional drinks my niece want eat anything but cheese so we give her this nutrtion drinks and vitamins her dr says this is what we call the picky toddler stage and there out grow it

Answer 2

I'm a preschool teacher. We were taught that you do not punish with food. Sending your child to bed right away without food just because they refused to eat what you had would be punishment. That would lead to possible eating disorders later, or obcessions for certain foods.

Talk to your dr. about a multi vitamin. I'm sure he can suggest the best one for your son.

My son has autism and is constantly picky. I had to stop catering to his likes and set up some ground rules. I cook dinner and my son sits down at the table. If he wants to eat, that's great, if not...I don't force him. BUT I also don't become a short order cook either. A child will eat eventually.

I also keep on hand snacks that I know my son will eat, but these are just for snack..he can't substitute it for dinner, etc. You have to stay consistant with whatever rules you set up.

Also, keep a watch on what he's eating or doesn't eat. If he won't eat for more than two days, that's cause for concern, but I've found out that after one or two days, they finally give in and at least try other items.

Due to my son's autism, this was the most difficult part...getting him to eat something other than just cheese.

Also, you might talk to a dietician in your area. Usually the hospital has one and may can help you plan a better menu. For my son, I'll put at least one item that I know he'll eat, but not always. When in doubt, talk to your dr.

Answer 3

I have a 4 year old that is very picky on how much and what he eats. I cook like I always do and give him what everyone else has. He always eats when he is hungry and sometimes he just don't eat. The doctor is right. I have 4 kids and they all have gone through stages like that. Kids will eat when their hungry and won't when there not. It's as simple as that. But if you are worried that he isn't getting enough vitamins and stuff, then just give some flinstone vitamins and he will be fine. Nowadays vitamins come in so many different ways, you will be able to find a kind he likes.

Answer 4

Your pediatrician told you it is common because it is so common in parenting today to hand over the reigns to the child. I'm reminding you that you are the parent and you need to be the one in control. I have 4 children, all of which are tall for their age, are rarely sick (nothing has ever lasted more than a day), and will eat most anything.

I remember when we were first giving my son (who's 7 now) chicken noodle soup, he would eat the pasta and hold the chicken on his tongue, refusing to eat it. He also hated potatoes to the point they would make him gag. Now he eats salads at every meal, loves just about everything, except tomatoes (although he still eats a couple on his salad because we expect him to). My 3 year old girl eats grape and cherry tomatoes like they are candy. They all drink water instead of softdrinks! All of this didn't come about naturally, it took effort on our part (actually my wife's part mostly).

I feel that my wife has given our children a healthy future that is priceless. Unfortuantely, I didn't develop the same tastes growing up so I struggle in this area, but I'm so thankful that she has encouraged each of our children to develop tastes for many things.

Her technique, and I back her up on this, is to insist that EVERYTHING be tried to the extent that they eat at least 3 spoonfuls. I can't tell you how many times we've been told, "I don't like that" before they've even tasted something. Then, after trying it, they realize that it's actually pretty good. It doesn't matter what it is, they have to try it, otherwise they get a trip to the bathroom to meet Mr. Wooden Spoon. We don't force them to finish everything everytime, but they must try it each time, even if they didn't like it before.

Also, don't let him snack or fill up on juices. Also, stop making the things that he likes that don't have much nutritional value. Remember, you're the parent (we all need this reminder at times). Being a parent is a HUGE responsibility, but you can do it in a loving way and they will thank you for it when they're older. If you allow him to eat only unhealthy foods, because you weren't willing to fight him on this, he'll resent it as an adult when he's living with health problems and not reaching his full potential. Remember, you're doing this for his good, even if he doesn't know it right now, and even if it is more inconvienient for you because you are having to take on this battle.


*****
For optimum health, the key is to make sure he's getting a healthy portion of his diet in uncooked foods...salads, fruits, etc. The enzymes that are naturally present in food, that also help us digest and assimilate the nutritional content of the food, are killed when we cook anything over 107°F (42 C°). Most people don't realize it, but by cooking nearly all of our food, we're removing nearly all of the nutritional benefits. You can learn more about eating raw online as well. The easiest place to start there is with fruits.

Good luck and let me assure you, the struggle will be worth it. You have the opportunity to give something invaluable to your son...and you're the only one in position to do that.


One other thing you might want to try is to make him fruit smoothies for breakfast. You can find smoothie recipes online.

Answer 5

I am a nanny and have had some picky eaters myself. I make eating fun. You can buy some flat tip toothpicks and cut the food up and let him pick it up with the toothpick. Also you can call things different names examples.....

green peas are green golf balls

we use can biscuits and press them out on a plate and add a piece of cheese on it and the lay the hot dog on it and bake it and call it a pig in a blanket.

pink soup and sea shells is tomatoe soup mixed with milk and noodles in it.

Be creative and it will help.

Also, make sure that you arent allowing sweet things if the child isnt eating and no cokes. If you are concerned about nutrition then give a daily vitamin and use pedi-sure instead of milk once a day.

Answer 6

My son did much of the same and was very small for his age. I do not believe in forcing children to eat all of their meal. My Pediatrician actually told me that children need much less food than we may believe... to be honest I can't remember how much she said but it was very little. My son and I made a deal to have him try everything at least once. If he really doesn't like it I allow him to spit it into a napkin. This has worked wonders and my son has found that he actually likes many of the things he thought he didn't like. I found other ways of cooking things too... like adding more seasoning and butter. My pediatrician did give me some vitamins which my son thought was fabulous because they tasted so good. The last thing I did was have him help me make dinner or allow him to chose one of the two veggies he wanted me to cook that night.

All in all my son is 4 1/2 now and is over 40lbs. He is still tiny but much healthier and we've found lots of healthy things he loves to eat. Be creative and patient... he may be testing his own power.

Answer 7

Letting him elect in all fairness is large. that's in contrast to he's eating cake and ice cream for breakfast. Cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt - all are wholesome! My 20 month previous likes to open the refrigerator and freezer. we've a sort of three door refrigerators with the pull-out freezer on the backside. He opens this greater frequently than the refrigerator, so I basically save the fit issues on precise and hide the ice cream and such under. He in many circumstances grabs waffles, frozen fruit, or those a hundred% organic juice bars. i do no longer enable him have the juice bar for breakfast on account that's a popsicle, yet while he grabs the frozen corn or a yogurt pop, then it relatively is large. he's been grabbing plenty out of the refrigerator at the instant (he's super tall for his age, - fortunate me, lol!). So, back, i attempt to maintain the fit stuff low. there's a sort of better extensive drawers in our refrigerator which you would be able to in large condition an entire pizza field in, so I positioned cheese, grapes, tortillas, and such down there. If he happens to snatch some pickles or some thing from the realm of the refrigerator, oh nicely. Pickles are not undesirable for you, I basically cut back them - they're salty. yet, i think of you're doing large. And, it is so problematic to maintain a toddler out of the refrigerator! So, do no longer enable all people provide you havoc for that!

Answer 8

I am a nutritionist

the fastest way to take care of this type of problem is to send your child to bed without as soon as he refuses to eat the meal in front of him. missing a meal may sound harsh but will cause no harm to your child (unless he has a medical condition that requires him to eat often, like diabetes)

dont cater to your childs wants when it comes to food feed him the same as the rest of the family, and don't offer comfort snacks as a reward for missing a meal.

I also want to point out that hotdogs, plain bread and processed foods are not nutritious, continuly feeding your child these foods can lead to health problems later in life.

Answer 9

all i can say is keep doing what your doing, if he wont eat what you made for him the first time, wrap it and put it in the fridge for later and when he's hungry again, take it out, and make him sit at the table with it for at least a half hour, if he still wont eat it and it's getting late and you dont want him to go to bed hungry, give him some fruit to eat! I have the same problem with my daughter, she wont eat half the food i make for her, but i make her sit and eat at least a few bites of which food, and if she didn't have enough to eat through out the day, i give her some fruit to snack on an hour and a half b4 bed time!

Answer 10

If you have a problem with your child's eating habits try to make it more fun. Make a face using vegetables, spaghetti for hair, cut or dice up your meat to make a hat. try anything as long as it looks good as children are more attracted to variety and colour. You can also turn it into a game to see who can finish all their dinner first. Its just a start to try and get them eating healthy food, it shouldn't be an on going issue once the child is use to eating what you want him too. Good Luck

Answer 11

I feel you!! i am going through the SAME thing. i have a 3 year that will be 4 in Feb. You know the funny thing is, he goes to daycare during hte day and eats EVERYTHING.... at home he will not eat meat. He will come around. i was concerned too but the dr said he will come around and get over it. no worries, Does he go to daycare? maybe he will eat more there? my boy is 33 lbs and 36 inches tall. they will grow out of it!