My three year old has become very difficult to feed?

Question

She hardly eats anything and then only with bribes and pursuation.
Please can anyone help? But please no sarcastic replies thank you.

Answer 1

I've been having the same problem with my daughter. The Health Visitor suggested a reward chart - tried several variations on that theme! Nothing seems to work, so I'm trying not to worry about it. I give her the same as her two siblings, and if she doesn't eat it, she doesn't get anything else to eat until the next meal. Her brother (now aged 5) has hollow legs since he started school - something my mother-in-law told me would happen, which I have to say is actually true! The worst thing is trying to keep my temper - I don't want to show her that food is an issue. Actually, no, the worst thing is that I finish off what she doesn't eat, so it's her fault my diet isn't working!

Answer 2

Most children go through this and the way you deal with it now is important. You need to try and relax about it, if she sees your worried she will think 'hey this is good i got mummy in the palm of my hand' Offer her a meal if she refuses give her 3 chances and tell you will take it away and there will be nothing else. You must follow through your threat or she wont take you sreiously. I know it wont be easy but the phrase 'kids will eat when they are hungry' is very true. Dont raise your voice and stay calm. Dont bribe or persuade. No snacks in between and i guarantee she will soon cotton on that if she doesnt eat whats offered then she will go hungry. Make sure she has plenty of fluids though and if she starts looking dangerously thin then seek a docs advice. I wish you lots of luck x

Answer 3

I am a mother of five. Don't worry too much about her eatting / appetite. She will have days when she may eat more than you and days that she may eat like a bird. As long as she is consuming fluids and is healthy she Willl out grow this stage. The sweet taste buds are the first to develop. I would limit her choices of food to only healthy items, and let her choose. If she's hungry, she wil eat, otherwise try not to worry too much. Try maybe some carnation instant breakfast, vitamin supplements, peanut butter on crackers, string cheese, yogurt etc.. I promise, its only a stage.

Answer 4

I am a mum of three aged 10, 7 and 5 and have the same problem with all of them.
Your child is probably enjoying the extra attention so take that away from her. Put food down and leave her to it. Remove the plate and do not offer a replacement.
I raised this with my health visitor 7 years ago and she said a child will not starve themself to death. It is a matter of control and at the moment your daughter has it.

Answer 5

Don't worry about your three year old. They often have ups and downs with there appetite at that age. They will not starve themselves and trying to pursued them is sometimes teaching them to over eat and causing obesity. It is better to have a happy healthy slim child than a fat unhealthy child. If you are really worried that your child is unnaturally thin and wasting away then take the child to the doctor. Remember that they don't understand at that age that society has structured an eating regime that they are supposed to stick to even when they are not hungry. They only want to eat by instinct not rules??????.

Answer 6

Don't bribe or persuade. Just put the food (no junk food) on the table and let her help herself. Don't make a big deal about eating. Everyone else at the table should just chat and eat as normal

Answer 7

i might want to honestly say no! no remember how little the youngsters are they ought to no longer be driving him, he should not be damaged in so youthful. Arabians take plenty longer than maximum horses to mature, they're completely matured (body sensible) through 7 years old and may no longer be damaged in till round 5. a gentle horse (lower than about 8 or 9 years) is an exceedingly unpredictable horse. they're no longer for children. no remember how a lot artwork is out into the pony no way might want to a gentle baby have a three 3 hundred and sixty 5 days old Arabian. now to not prepare stallion. this isn't sturdy theory. in case you want a horse on your baby/children seem for an older, smaller and calmer horse/breed.

Answer 8

well for starters you would be suprised at what they do actually eat when you tally it up at the end of the week. But my daughter did the same thing at that age, so i bought her a mini shopping trolley from the toy shop , and made a game out of taking her shopping with me and told her to put good food in her trolley that she would eat, and only 2 treats for the week, she choose all sorts of healthy foods, and over time i showed her that the foods she chosse i was cooking with anyways and all is sweet,i gave her little jobs to help me with the cooking and made it heaps of fun.. hope that helps.Bribes don't work they just teach your child to bribe as well..lol Cheers!

Answer 9

Well you could ask her to sit down and make a list of all the things she likes thats what i had to do when i wouldnt eat when i was little.Then buy her the things she likes and reward her if she eats it all e.g gets to stay up a bit later,let her have some sweets i know junk food but most kids at 3 the reason they wont eat is cause they just like junk food lol maybe you could try that and see how she does.Hope it works.xxx

Answer 10

Its just a faze hun, all 3 of mine did this at the same age. The only thing i did was put dinner on a big plate so it looks like they have to eat less, worked quite alot as i got them to eat a little bit more than what they were