How do i get my 3yr old son to eat at dinner time even when he is offered his favourite foods?

Question

He also refuses breakfast, he grazes during the day, he does eat healthy foods and some sweet foods(not alot), he simply refuses dinner 4 nights out of seven, Ive tried taking toys away before dinner, telling him that if he eats he will get a suprise later...help

Answer 1

You mentioned part of the problem... he grazes during the day. Meals need to be a sit-down deal. Your job as the parent is to provide the nutritious meals at meal and snack times. As a kid, his job is to choose what and if he wants to eat. You set out the food, and he can either eat it or refuse it. The catch is, he gets no other food other than what is offered and during meal/snack times only. If he refuses to eat during snack/meal time, you take the plate away and say, "Ok, I see you aren't hungry right now. Maybe you'll be hungry at (dinner, snack, breakfast, etc)." Then, even if he whines and cajoles, you stick to your guns and don't give him anything until that time. He will quickly get the idea that meal/snack times are the times to eat. Punishing him for not eating will just cause a power struggle and make mealtimes miserable for both of you. Choose your battles- make nutritious foods and offer them at appropriate times, then allow your child to choose whether he is hungry or not.

Answer 2

If he's not hungry at breakfast time maybe he has had too much to eat the night before and too late in the evening. Also stop all the grazing give him set times to eat and time limits to eat it in say about 1/2 an hour then take it away. He will start to understand, also don't panic if he just refuses to eat because he will not starve he will eat when he is hungry enough and understands there is a time for meals.

Answer 3

You need to choose which style of eatting you are going to provide him and then stick to your guns. If you want him to be on 3 meals a day, you need to set a schedule so he knows when to expect food;

here's an example:

6:30 AM Breakfast
9:30 AM Snack (ex. handful of crackers & juice)
12:00 PM Lunch
3:00 Snack
6:00 Dinner
8:00 Optional Snack (milk w/ graham crackers?)

Whatever schedule you design, hold to it. Keep in mind that he needs to eat approximatly every 3 hours. Offer him food at the set time, give him 15-20 minutes to eat, if he's eatting let him finish but if he is refusing the food don't make a big deal about it just let him know the next time food will be available and explain how long that is, "Okay, Johnathan, but Snack is not until 3 PM, that's in 3 hours and I will not be giving you any food until then, you can go play now." When my kids were at your son's age I would give them time in how long their favorite TV shows were, "Okay, but it will be 6 Veggie Tales before snack." Give him a minute to change his mind and then take the food away if he still refuses. The hardest part is the adjustment time of the first 1-2 weeks when an hour later he comes running up to you begging for a snack. You must not give in, no matter how cute or upset he gets. Remind him you warned him that it would be awhile and offer him water. NO juice, soda or milk! (that's like a liquid snack, it fills the tummy and he won't be as hungry at your next scheduled meal). It's not easy at first but he'll catch on! Good luck!

Answer 4

Here are some suggestions for you:
1. Cut way back on snacking, Give him nothing to snack on about 3 hours before the meal.
2. Moniter when he drinks his milk or juice. These things can fill up a small tummy very quickly. I give my little ones water at meals and say "if you finish your food, you can have your juice (or milk)."
3. If these things are not the problem, he is simply exercising his will not to eat, and telling you he is in charge of what he does, not you. In this case- whatever discipline method you use on him, use it on his not eating. Then, quietly explain to him that you enjoy his company at the dinner table, and would like him to eat with the family.
4. For the "surprise later", do you offer him dessert? He gets no "dessert" if he doesn't eat his food- and stick to your guns. He will get the hint if the entire family is eating their ice cream bar, and he has none. You'll see very quickly how he will go back to the dinner table and finish his meal.

Answer 5

It's not his problem, it's yours. Don't allow him to graze. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, supper, snack. That's it. If he doesn't eat the food at mealtime, he has to wait until the next snack. Don't feel bad about trying this, he's old enough to catch on and won't starve. This also works if there are certain foods kids don't like. If you are disciplined yourself, he will be too, and with routine, you both will feel better. No bribing!

Answer 6

I had the comparable concern with my 8 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous yet he's ingesting plenty in good shape now. He has a youthful brother who grow to be underweight so I had the comparable feeling approximately "depriving" them yet then as he began to income weight and relatively grow to be commencing to "get drained" continuously by way of fact he grow to be ingesting junky stuff, I knew it grow to be time to do some thing drastic. I now communicate doing a ton of activity. even whilst i've got self assurance too drained to pitch the ball for batting prepare or regardless of, I rigidity myself and all of us finally end up feeling energized and characteristic good appetites for food. I make distinctive stir-fried vegetables and that i take advantage of a tiny little bit of oil yet specially only spices and probably a sprint soy sauce interior the pan and then conceal it with a lid. The vegetables are then steamed with style and that's how i've got presented new ones. We nevertheless get treats yet rather of junk as a delicate food plan, we freeze juice for popsicles and freeze those yogurt circulate-Gurts. This leaves room for an occasional splurge for treats. I even have the "events are unfastened" time and if it relatively is a particular occasion, all regulations are off. This makes events relatively exciting and after a occasion final month, my son relatively ate much less junk or maybe helped himself to the vegetables off a tray. i've got got here upon that entire restrict seems to sell obsession.

Answer 7

Don't let him snack during the day and get him involved in the kitchen. If he feels like helped to prepare the food he will eat it.

Answer 8

both of my kids went through this phase both in the summer and the doctors told me not to worry they will eat when they get hungry just be sure to give them lots of fluid it may just be the heat. but get him on a schedule and stick to it if he is not on one and don't force him he just may not be hungry they don't need as much food as you think they have small bellies and get full quick

Answer 9

Cattle prod worked for me when I was 5