Help! My toddler won't eat anything but pasta, fruit and crackers...?

Question

I worry that she's not getting enough protein and her stool is really hard too. She will drink small amounts of water, but all she wants to drink is milk. I'm gonna ask my doctor at her appt next week, but are there any suggestions in the mean time?

She's only 18 months old

Answer 1

My son won't drink much either (my daughter will only drink milk) and none of my 3 toddlers will let a vegetable touch their plate.

What I'm saying is you are part of a huge group of women all worried about what their child is eating/drinking.

My tricks:
watermelon: they think it is sweet but it also gets them fluids. I make a big deal about giving them a bowl of watermelon (I call it a treat) berries work too.

my juice is always watered down, just like when they were babies, they don't know the difference and they get more water than sugar (cheaper too)

I give them tri-vi-sol drops (vitamin) this way I know they are getting nutrients when they eat strangely.

Yogurt is also great, get the thick kind (it doesn't spill as easily, is also yummy and tastes like a treat)

My kids love frozen waffles and prefer the choc. chip ones.

I put my kids to bed with a sippy cup of water, sometimes they drink from it sometimes not but they get more fluids that way.

keep in mind since they are so small they won't eat like we do; plus their little bodies are hardwired to tell them how much to eat. forcing them to eat more, goes against what their bodies tell them and results in childhood obesity.

look at how they eat in a week, not in a meal, or even in a day. during one week did they have dairy? protein? fruits or veggies?

PS my doc told me it was ok that they wouldn't eat veggies since my kids like fruit so much. I guess vitamins are vitamins.

Best of luck to you

Answer 2

Basically, you're kid is in a rut. I got into those, all I wanted to do is eat spinatch. I also like sqash, and that's all I really ate. That's probably the same deal with your child. and in the later years, they might only want to wear a certain thing, I like polka dots, and I'd wear those EVERYDAY. Some adults won't even eat some things, or they only eat macdonalds, and they can get sick from that. Try to feel her something different, or put some beef in the pasta. Remember the body needs iodine, so salt is a must, but not to much you know? Things are good, but not in mass quantities, use moderation. I mean you can't exactly tell that to a child, they won't comprehend it. Just think of some things she'd like. At least shes eating fruits and drinking milk. I'm sure your pediatrition would give you some vitamines if it's bad enough.

Answer 3

Try making sanwiches out of the crackers, with peanut butter, tuna fish, lunch meat, or any other kind of meat you can think of. Even cheese on crackers is better than crackers by themselves. Is the pasta just plain? Or have you tried to give her some kind of meat sauce on it. If you know she likes pasta try some of the stuffed ones like ravioli. If you are still really having problems, with food, ask your doctor about pediasure, or carnation instant breakfast. the most important thing is to offer the higher protein and calorie things first, that way, you know she has gotten a little bit of them, before you give in on the other things. Try a variety of things with different tastes and different textures, you never know what else she may end up adding to her list of favorites after a few tries.

Answer 4

thats sounds pretty typical for a little one. I would try her on juice for
easier bowel movements and cut then let her have milk. Also nothing wrong with her diet except maybe add some vitamins cuz kids are picky eaters. Try some peanut butter and cheese for protein worked like a charm for my picky eater. Most of all don't worry or stress about it. My dd is 11 yrs old now and will eat almost anything in sight LOL. Keeep in mind when introducing new foods
it sometimes takes more than one time trying b4 they like it or will eat it.
Good luck

Answer 5

Don't fret. Most toddlers do only have a limited diet. It's a great thing that she drinks milk. Encourage it! My two only drink milk and water. (Juice is on rare occasions and mixed with water.) Anyway, my 3 yr old only eats pancakes or waffles for breakfast, peanut butter and jelly for lunch and chicken nuggets for dinner. Sometimes I can get him to try a bite of something new, but it's rare. My 18mo old eats a lot better, but I expect it will change (but I hope not!) For my "bad" eater, the doctor suggested vitamins. He says it's a stage, and that, too, will pass.

Good luck!

Answer 6

To be honest, I've seen worse diets. The fruit should keep her regular. If she likes pasta and milk, you could try cheese sauces over the pasta, then start adding in mashed vegetables like broccoli. Then meat sauces like spaghetti bolognaise, or even mashed pulses (peas and beans). Young children often prefer chicken or fish to beef or lamb to begin with.

We tend to more protein in western countries than we need anyway, so don't worry if she isn't putting down a pound of steak every day!!.

Answer 7

when my older cousin was little all she drank was milk.at parties when there was pop she only wanted milk (this was until she was about 7) we all laughed at her but thats just what she wanted. as for only heat pasta fruit and crackers, try getting her those character bowls (dora, pooh bear, etc) with the pictures on the bottom and dont show her the picture. just fill the bowl with food and tell her there is a dora at the bottom, that will encourage her. we do that for my 2 and 3 year old sisters.

Answer 8

This is pretty normal. I know several children who at that age had favorite foods and getting them to eat anything else was tough.
You should mention this to her pediatrition though.
I would suggest that you keep trying to offer her juices and water. We bought different cups- fancy ones and made a HUGE deal about these cups and the juice . When they drank we praised them ALOT. So this became habit for us and the children- we all won.
We also started to give them bottled water . We would empty out most of the water and allow them to drink from the bottle-messy at first but exciting to the toddler.
With food we offered other food first and Praised Alot when the child ate some of it, at first it was,nt enough to susstain them so we allowed their foods also, but in time they liked the praising and rewards for eating other foods that this too became habit.
If you have not already tryed this for for a long period of time try it . It worked for us.

Answer 9

My 14 month old gets the hard stools sometimes and I give him apple juice (watered down a little) when that happens. Works like a charm. For protein: string cheese (cut up in pieces) and yogurt. My little guy thinks that yogurt is a huge treat even though it's good for him (protein and active cultures for his digestive tract).

Answer 10

Make a pasta salad and throw in some beans and/or chicken for protein. She's a baby and it's up to you to serve her balanced meals. Don't let her fill up on milk and cut out the crackers if she's not eating enough other stuff.