parents only-picky eating toddler?

Question

I have a 2 yr old daughter who has gone from picky to totally unreasonable. She eats lunchmeat and crackers every meal. I try to give her different things and she won't even try it. I'm going out of my mind. Please help. P.S. Don't suggest I make her eat something or she goes hungry because it doesn't work

She doesn't talk much, which makes the problem worse. I can't ask her what she feels like eating, or reward her with a toy if she does because she won't understand.

Answer 1

It will be OK. I went thru the same thing. My daughter would only eat broccoli and grilled chicken from the age of 2 to about 4. She outgrew it though. She is 14 now and eats pretty much everything. Be patient, and don;t try to force her, as long as she is healthy, she will be OK, and in time she'll want to try other thing little by little

Answer 2

Just because she doesnt talk doesnt mean she cant understand what you're saying. Open the fridge and/or cabinets and ask her to point to what she likes. Most children go through that stage at one point or another. She may also just be testing you to see if you will continue to give her everything she wants. I don't think people realize how smart toddlers actually are when it comes to getting what they want. Try not buying lunchmeat and crackers, get an assortment of child friendly foods, then ask her what she wants. If that doesnt work let her eat the lunchmeat and crackers until she grows out of that phase and just to let you know, it could take a while.

Answer 3

If you do make her go hungry it will work, you just probably don't last as long as she can. Get the crackers and lunchmeat out of the house, then you can't fall back on it. Send her to a friends for lunch, let Grandma have her for a day with no crackers or lunchmeat......also don't make it stressful.

At 2 she is old enough. I got my 2 yr old son to eat Vegetable Beef soup tonight with a reward at the end.

Good luck. This is hard. Stand firm.

Answer 4

I am not a parent myself, but I nanny for 2 year old triplets and they are the pickiest eaters also. It's the age. Try to be creative, make meals that look a lot like the lunch meat and crackers but maybe add stuff to it. if you keep giving her what she wants to eat she will never learn to eat well. What we do when they won't eat is we save the meal in the fridge and when they say they are hungry again, we bring it back out and give it to them. we cannot force them to eat, but we don't give them an alternative. if they are hungry, they will eat the food. Maybe give a choice of only eating the crackers once a day. It's hard to listen to the crying, but you have to set limits.

Answer 5

Dear Mom, I know you are frustrated. This is what my Dr said. Serve a meal and put it in front of the child. If she does not want to eat it. Tell her fine. Do not fight or make her eat it. Do not tell her children are starving etc. If she want something before lunch give her water. Repeat for lunch and dinner. By dinner time she should be ready to eat rocks.. The other thing you can do is just to continue to let her eat lunch meat and crackers. You can try turkey or low fat type "healthy" cold cuts and whole wheat crackers. This is not bad for her. I read once where a Dr. said that if all your child will eat is bottle cap candy(remember those) and drink Dr. Pepper and she is thriving do not worry about it. You may try supplementing her with some children type vitamins. Good luck, I know it is tough.

Answer 6

Gosh this is hard I had a picky eating toddler and now I have a 6 y.o that only eats about 10 different things. The best thing you can do is keep trying BUT don't make a big deal about it.
Okay maybe make a big deal like "Yummm these apples are so good, but you don't want to eat them so mommy will eat them all" Even when she says she wants some playfully say No which might peak her intrest then let her have one. Sometimes the reverse psycology really gets them. They want what mommy has and NOW!! LOL
Good Luck I know it's hard. Luckily my 2nd one eats everything!!

Answer 7

Introduce different things to her slowly. A bite of something new, then a cracker. Another bite of something new and a bite of lunchmeat. Don't let the child see the cracker or lunchmeat until she or he samples what is being offered. Then it will grow to more bites of things she or he likes. I've had two picky eaters and now working with a picky eater that is soon to be three. I understand where you are. Patience works every time. ;)

Answer 8

I also have a 2 year old who is one of the pickiest eaters ever.. Dinnertime is a nightmare.. We have been making progress though.. By making sure that there are no distractions like Tv or anything.. We have given him one of those little trays with the setions.. We put a different small portion of food in each spot.. He eats better that way.. With a wide variety to choose from.. Also, lots of finger foods.. If all else fails.. Just give her the lunch meat and crackers.. She will oputgrow it soon enough.. And she is EATING.. If you are worried about her getting enough nutrition.. Try vitamins.. Or pediasure

Answer 9

Well, I am not a parent, but I just read through about half of the first webpage, and it has some pretty good suggestions.

There are some other sites listed also, that have ideas worth trying.
I actually did read through them. All I did was search "picky eating toddler" on google, and these websites plus many more came up. Give it a try :)

Answer 10

My daughter is a picky eater as well, and I went to the nutritionist a few weeks ago and they suggest that I keep offerring new foods, it takes about 20 tries before they will even taste it sometimes. But the suggest was made to not fight with the toddler. Refusing food is just a way for them to exter their independence. Look at the bright side at least she is eating something. Its most likely a stage that will eventually resolve itself as long as you don't make it a battle. Pick your fights wisely with those little ones, as their minds are more stubborn than anyones. Keep offerring foods but don't amke it obvious that when she refuses that it upsets you...its most likely a power struggle for them or a way to seek attention...and they will take any kind of attention even negative kinds. Be patient and don't show she is distressing you or that means she wins. NURSE