Why won't my son eat????????

Question

My son is 23 months old, and I cannot get him to eat. I provide three healthy meals a day, plus snacks, and he doesn't touch them. It really worries me, because sometimes throughout the day he might only take two or thre bites of food. He takes a multi-vitamin and drinks lots of milk, but I know it isn't enough.He is very healthy, active and smarter than the average kid his age. My doctor said if he is hungry he will eat. Not True!!!!!!! HELP!!!

All the answers are great if I was giving my son 2 liters of milk a day, but he has a bottle at bed time and a bottle at nap time.

Answer 1

does your son have any kind of infection such as a sinus infection? is this a new behavior or has he always been pickie? MY middle son literally stopped eating on me. turns out he had a whooping sinus infection. He stopped growing due to it. unlike the doctors that said he wouldn't starve himself he did. he only ate food very pungent such a spinach because he couldn't taste what he was eating. turns out he also had an immune deficiency.

Also many times we forget that kids eat a much different proportion that we s adults do. a child's size serving of meat is very small as is there fruit and veggie. maybe this is the issue too.

good luck I know the struggle to well.

mom of 4(ages 14,13,11,and 5)

Answer 2

My son is 19 months old, and going through the same thing. He only eats a few bites at each meal, hardly eats any snacks, but will drink milk, juice, and water all throughout the day. His doc told me to cut down the fluids...only give him half of what I normally would give him. Then offer him healthy snacks throughout the day. That didn't work. What has worked is that because he is so active, he doesn't want to take the time to sit down and eat. So for breakfast and lunch, I give him foods he can eat while playing...like french toast sticks for breakfast, apple slices and a sandwich cut into quarters, toast cut into quarters. Then at dinner I make him sit with the family to eat. He's eating a lot better, still drinking all the fluids he loves, and much happier. So if you notice that your son only eats a little then wants out of the highchair to play, he may be the same way as my son...just doesn't want to sit still long enough to eat.

Answer 3

Its very possible that he's filling up on milk and isnt hungry because of that. Try cutting the liquids down to only at meal time and snack time. Dont get me wrong, if he gets thirsty, give him a drink of water but not a whole sippy cup.
And like his doctor said, he'll eat when he gets hungry. If he's not losing weight and isnt unhealthy I wouldnt get too freaked out about it.
I would for sure cut the liquids down though, because the more he drinks the fuller he's gonna get and he's not gonna want to eat because he's stuffed from drinks.
Good luck Hope this helps
~Jen~

Answer 4

He doesn't need that much milk now. He is not on infant anymore. Even my 4.5 month old grandson eats his food before he gets his bottle. He shouldn't get more than 32 oz. even at 12 months. Cut way back on the milk and he will eat. And at 23 months he should be ready to give up the bottle. And shouldn't be taking one to bed.
Sorry love, but I have grandkids that have rotten teeth because they went to bed with there bottles.
Don't believe me ask a dentist if it will rot his teeth out!!

Answer 5

a lot of kids get picky at that age, don't worry about it. he'll grow out of it, and your doctor is right, no child starves him/herself to death. :-) just go on putting good food on the table for him, and if he doesn't eat it throw it out. that way he'll learn to eat at mealtimes, too. there is also a good chance that he is just full with the milk - don't forget, it's a food - and not hungry enough to eat more than two or three bites a day. if you're really worried he's not eating enough try cutting down on the milk, you might well find that he'll be hungry for meals then.

Answer 6

I am 43 and I have watched a lot of kids in my time and in my experience they all go through this. My own son started this at about 16 months and it drove me to distraction. It's just something the little guys do. Don't worry. His doctor said as long as they aren't losing weight, don't worry about it. My son did this for almost a year and a half. In that time you could have taken what he'd eaten and fit it into a large sandwich bag. But now, he's 9 years old and its a trick to keep food in the house.

Answer 7

Don't give him a lot of milk. He is filling up on the milk. Try to get him to eat before giving him the milk. If his tummy gets empty enough he will eat. My son used to always drink and not eat so then I started switching it up I would give him the food first and wouldn't let him have anything to drink until he ate the food. It worked he started eating a lot more. Now he fills up on food then drink.

Answer 8

Sound familiar, my son was like that at that age and he still is he is 4 now. He eats very little. The advice that I got from his doctor was, give him the daily vitamin and whatever it is that he want s to eat give it to him so that he gets some kind of food into him.

Answer 9

That is normal for them not to want to eat at that age. I have the same problem with mine. Just spend some time finding food he actually likes to eat and gradually mix in a lil veggie here and there. Eventually they'll start eating more of the stuff you like to feed them. Just take time and patience.

Answer 10

Give milk first, but only a set amount, like 6oz. After that, he has to eat. He'll get hungry if you don't let him fill up on milk. It's hard to break them, but why should he eat if he gets all the milk he wants?