My son has no problem eating he would just prefer to have a bottle so he can go make to his playing. Sometimes he will eat Cherrios for breakfast by himself, lately I have been feeding him oatmeal. He loves Triskets but won't hav anything to do with meat unless its babyfood. Any tips, hints or ideas?
2006-09-26 04:50:59 · 20 answers · asked by marirene74 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I am not sure if you want to know how to get you son to quit drinking his meals and eat anything or whether you are concerned about him not eating meat.
The bottom line is he will eat if he is hungry. If the bottles are interferring then cut down on the bottle. Put plain water in the bottle. The only time he gets the good stuff is when he is eating and when he quits, go back to the water in the bottle. Make him associate good stuff with eating.
A peditrician once told me that if you leave a child alone for two weeks over that period of time they will eat a balanced diet. So don't worry about the meat. Also he is big enough for different textures etc. Set it in front of him and offer no substitue in the bottle and he will eat.
2006-09-26 05:03:55 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Eat dinner at the table together as a family. Make him sit there with you, even if he's not eating. Give him the hint that this is dinner time, and this is the time to eat, when the family is at the table. Don't let him graze on food all day long. Stop feedings a few hours before dinner time.
Him not eating meat is normal. My daughter never ate meat until she was about 3 or so. Our ped said that's normal. Just make sure he eats veggies to fill in for the vitamins lost from the meats.
2006-09-26 05:08:30 · answer #2 · answered by jevic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like it's time for the bottle to go. If not go all the way, then for nap time only. He's bottle breaking age anyway (unless by bottle you really mean sippy cup) regardless. It's OK for him to eat babyfood meat if that's what he's in to.
My son ate only processed meat; hot dogs (preferably the gerber ones) chicken nuggets, hamburger, etc... If it looked like real meat then he wasn't having it. This was a constant thing until he was about 5. Now he eats meat, he doesn't LOVE it, but he'll eat it since we've decided, he will eat what we eat or he will have to wait until the next meal to eat. (I don't know about 13 months doing that, but at 3 or so I don't think it will hurt them) He also only ate when we did, so he knew no snack if he didn't eat his meal.
As for eating only babyfood or one certain type of food. My son's doctor told me that's normal and OK. He said it might be frusterating for the parent, but the good thing is, the child is eating.
2006-09-26 05:01:37 · answer #3 · answered by Heather S 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dont' measure how much food he has by the day, but by the week. Did he get enough vegetable, fruit, meat, breads during the entire week? I have had to think that way with my 2 1/2 year old, because he oftne eats one type of food for a while, then stops and goes to another kind for awhile, and so on.
When it comes to meat, cutting the sandwich meat in a circle, and popping out eyes, and cutting out mouth shape and call them "happy faces". Sounds weird but it worked for me. And of course, I don't do that anymore, it was just a way to get him into eating, and interested in the meat. Now he is pretty decent eater for his age.
I also believe, just offering him the variety of foods too, meats, veg., fruit, breads is your job. And I think it's his to decide to eat it or not. Children can be very selective, picky, and eating is one thing they can control. I believe as long as they are growing and thriving, that they are probably getting enough food. Also, he is still young enough to get some of his nutrition from his bottles, but soon around the corner, when you cut out the bottles, or cut down, you will notice a big difference in the amount of food he consumes. He will suddenly appear more hungry, when his bottles start to be cut down. Also, remember Juice is a fruit serving in a day. All the best, enjoy his young age, he will be growing up faster than you can blink an eye.
2006-09-26 13:07:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son was all about being independant so I didn't have a problem feeding him a meal, however I had the same problem, and still do, with the meat. My son's just not big on meat, and it seems to be the same with yours. Just make sure he's getting his protein from other sources. Mine is beans, and eggs. have him help you cook, that's where my son got his love of food. He's been making his own eggs in the morning since he was about 14-15 months old, with of course Mommy right there.
2006-09-26 05:46:49 · answer #5 · answered by jdecorse25 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son was very similar to what youa re describing with your son. I just kept putting it in front of him...a balanced meal...let him eat what he would and let him have Pediasure to drink with the meal. He got the vitamins he needed from the drink but he also gradually began to eat more of his meal. Take the bottle away now! The longer he keeps it the longer the battle will go on! Something the doctor always told me, he will eat when he is hungry. So I would just always put the food in front of him, lots of veggies and fruits...meats are not SO important and give him a multi-vitamin or some Pediasure. Good luck!
2006-09-26 04:55:08 · answer #6 · answered by Kelly N 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My older son struggled with keeping weight on and we had to encourage him to drink his meal instead of eat them and once his weight stabilized we then had to encourage him to eat his meals instead of drink them. Here is what we did:
We did not offer or allow and liquids 1.5 hours before a meal or during the meal. After the meal, he could have a tippy cup of milk or water for 30 minutes and then it was done. He could have one cup of juice a day with his morning snack. We made foods that contained a lot of water but were not soup or anything else that could be drunk so that he would not feel thirsty.
Our schedule looked like this:
from waking to breakfast (less than 45 minutes) no liquid
9am-ish breakfast
9:30-10 cup time
10-11:30 nothing
11:30 lunch
12-12:30 cup time
12:30-2 nothing
2pm- ish snack (dry food with cup of juice)
3-5:30 nothing
5:30 dinner
6:30-7 cup time
7-7:30 nothing
7:30 bedtime snack (no cup)
8:00 bedtime (my son liked to have a tippy cup of water with him so he could take a sip at night. Every night I filled it with ice water and every morning less than 3 ounces was missing)
It worked really well. It gave his stomach time to be empty so he would learn to respond to his body's cues. The structured schedule helped me to know what he really was and wasn't eating. We always eat as a family and the rule is all people (rules are for Mom and Dad too) must sit and take at least three bites of food (or one bite of everything offered) and talk with the family for 30 minutes then they can be excused.
As for meat, my boys (3 yrs and 17 months) rarely eat it no matter how I cook it or how well I hide it. But they surprise me more often than I realize by actually eating it. Just keep offering it in new ways and throw in a jar of babyfood (or dinner from a blender) once a week or so until he gets used to it or moves out to go to college. If you are really bothered, talk to his pediatrician at his 15-month well-baby (right, like you weren't going to anyway).
This too shall pass all to soon.
2006-09-26 06:04:43 · answer #7 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When my kids were that age they were off the bottle and I made them sit in their high-chair to eat. If they didn't want to eat then I would let them go play but if they came back for more food right away I would remind them that meal time was over.
Some things I would feed for breakfast that they could feed themselves were scrambled eggs and toaster waffles cut up very small (cheerio size). The meat is probably a texture thing since he eats it pureed. Try unseasoned ground beef or chicken again cut up very small. You could also try pureeing the meat yourself and gradually making it with more and more texture.
Good luck with your little guy!
2006-09-26 05:02:33 · answer #8 · answered by Tina W 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
GET HIM OFF THE BOTTLE!
Thats the most important! Just offer him a variety of food. He should be on table food now too. Offer veggies...green beans, beats, corn. Also mashed potatoes.
As for meats, my daughter LOVES meatloaf. And hamburgers. She will also eat hotdogs (although i'm switching to turkey dogs cuz they are healthier). Chicken nuggets are fun too. French fries (baked not fried!). Diced fruit is good too.
Just keep offering it and stop offering the baby food. When he is hungry he will eat. DOnt expect him to eat 3 great meals. Instead he'll "graze" throughout the day!
2006-09-26 04:58:27 · answer #9 · answered by camoprincess32 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Grind it up in a blender or food processor. That would be a good trick. Or if its the taste put it in veggies. My daughter would not eat meat either. I got her to eat clam chowder once. This was close as i could get her to meat until she was 6 years old. Its just as well with the Hormones they put in meat now days. I d just let it be and serve beans. To give the protein.
2006-09-26 04:54:27 · answer #10 · answered by someones sister 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋