My 16 month old daughter wont eat meals. She only eats snacks?

Question

She refuses to eat in her high chair and wont eat from a bowl. The on;y way i can get her to eat is if she walks around and helps herself to something from the fridge. I have tried even letting her feed herself but she just doesnt want to know. She is currently underweight for her age but not by far.

Answer 1

My 14 month old is kind of the same way!! He is always on the go. He seems to snack all day, not necessarily on "bad" stuff. But at the mealtimes, he will sit in his highchair ONLY if i let him have the spoon and the bowl. Otherwise, he refuses to eat. Then halfway through, he gets out and will walk around and play, then swing by the highchair and grab some food, and keep going lke that for a while. I figure as long as he is getting what he needs he will be okay. In the off times, he will snack on whatever anyone has (apples, crackers, any kind of finger foods,) but his treat is french fries...he LOVES those. I would say if you can get her to "snack" on regualr items, her weight will increase. ANd just let her "snack" a lot. Some kids just do it their own way. If she opens the fridge, maybe make a shelf or area that is hers, and keep somewhat healthy and good stuff for her. Maybe in individual bowls or zip loc baggies. I even have a drawer especailly for my son. Filled with the things i approve of course.
I'm not for forcing kids to sit and eat when they are that little.BUT talk to your doc and check about her weight, but i bet she is fine. Kids will let you know when they aren't getting enough!! Good luck!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I have three children, each with different eating habits; now ages 12, 10, and 3. Best advice I ever got from my pediatrician came when my first one was two weeks old. He said, "You can't make them eat, sleep, or go potty," before they're ready. He was so right!!! If she's not significantly underweight and no health problems present, then you can make sure that all her snacks are healthy ones. Little tummies, little meals, kind of makes sense. Also, kids eat when they're hungry, or we end up teaching them our eating habits, which may or may not be good. (Aren't the nutritionists and diet "experts" always telling us to eat several small meals in a day instead of three big ones?) If you absolutely can't stand her walking around and eating, then perhaps set up an acceptable alternative eating spot to her high chair and let her choose one place or the other. If she's not willing to eat in either spot, take the food away. When she gets hungry enough, she'll eat where you want her to. I know it sounds harsh, but trust me, she will be fine and this usually works relatively quickly. The thing is (from the same pediatrician) let her know early who is the boss, or she will look at you someday when she's a teenager and say, "Why should I do what you say now, I never have before!" Good luck. She'll be fine.

Answer 4

Okay, now this really is up to you, not up to her. Currently, you've allowed her to take all the control - which when you think about it, is a bit ridiculous when you remember that she's just over a year old and you're - well, I'm guessing you're considerably older. :) YOU are the adult and YOU know when its time to eat. Grazing your way through the day is fine when you're old enough to make that choice, but your daughter isn't - and she needs a balanced selection of healthy foods during the day, so as to keep her blood sugar balanced and provide her with all the energy she needs. I'm sure you know all this already, which is why you're asking for help. :)

So .. you sit down and work out your meal schedule. For example - Wake up : milk. Breakfast : weetabix & fruit. 10am : Wholemeal toast soldiers and marmite. Lunch : Cheese, fruit, crackers and yoghurt. And so on. Once you've got a schedule worked out, make sure you STICK TO IT!! No snacks inbetween, no helping yourself from the fridge or fruit bowl. No sweeties other than as an extra-special treat and then only immediately after meals. If she wails and cries to be allowed to snack, divert her attention with something exciting and fun, like playing with her. Reward her for good behaviour by giving her your attention and touch. Lots of cuddles, kisses and "I love you's".

If she resists sitting still at mealtimes, offer her a reward system like a sticker chart. For every five stickers she gets for being a good girl, she gets a small toy. Do not use food as this reward, so don't use sweeties as her incentive. Make them a random treat.

I guarantee that the first three or four mealtimes will be hell - but stick it out and be firm. What you teach her now, will pay off for the rest of her life. With girls, these days, experiencing so much difficulty with eating disorders, its so very worthwhile getting it right at the start. When she's having a fit about having to sit and eat, don't make a big fuss about it - and only use the time out punishment if she's really gone over the top, as that takes her away from the table - and that was what she was angling for in the first place. Try and eat your meals together, so that you can demonstrate good eating behaviour and give her a role model to follow.

Good luck!! If you can, it would be well worth your while getting hold of some of the "House of Tiny Tearaways" programmes where Dr Tanya Byrom works with children with eating problems. They're a real eye-opener - and an education. :)

Answer 5

Don't worry, this a normal behavior. You just have to make sure that the only "snacks" she access to are healthy foods. I have a 2yr. old girl who has a hard time sitting still to eat. We just started making a big deal of sitting at the table by getting her a special "big girl" place mat and a plate and bowl etc. that were especially for her. We also turn off the TV so there is no distraction.

Still, she doesn't eat much, but she is still healthy and growing according to her pediatrician. He recommended getting her some "Pediasure" shakes. She loves the strawberry flavored ones. They have all the nutrients of a well balanced meal in a bottle. She also like the "Gummie Vitamins". After she has eaten, she gets a couple as a "treat" for eating.

She'll eat when she is hungry, just keep it healthy with fresh fruits and vegis.

Good Luck, its a never ending battle!

Answer 6

My first daughter was always just under her correct weight. She always had her meals at 4 hourly intervals, had a good mix of meals although she went through phases of only wanting the same thing. Having seen friends struggle with their children's finicky eating habits I would say don't give in to your child! It will be hard at first saying no to your child but it will keep you sane in the long run.

Now mine are 7 & 8, have meals at regular times and we all eat the same meal, whereas some of my friends cook 2/3 different meals or variations of a meal each night. Although they are slightly underweight, my children both eat well and are very active and do well at school. They are both used to a very varied diet, unlike a lot of their friends.

Try to get your child to go longer without snacks, introduce fun (non junk) foods, raw veg if they don't eat cooked, most importantly sit and eat together as a family. Saves embarassment when you want to go out for a family meal, your kids will be used to sitting down to eat, chewing properly and have good table manners.

Remember all kids have tantrums, give in and you send out the wrong signals. Half the time they forget why they are kicking and screaming anyway.

Answer 7

16 month olds get fussy.. but your the parent don't let her rule you she will be worse as she gets older. Don't allow her to eat walking around, the crumbs get everywhere and ground into the carpet. I have a friend that allows that and their house is smelly and dirty!!
Just put her in the high chair and give her something she really likes if she is hungry she will eat it. They don't eat regularly at this age, you can always get some of that milk for toddlers with all the nutirition in it.
Offer her fruits and veggies with some protein items she will get the hang of it that eating is at the high chair only. As far as a bowl is concerned.. well most toddlers just eat off the tray.. that is no big deal.

Answer 8

Don't give her snacks. Only offer food at mealtimes and in her highchair, she will get hungry enough if you do not offer anything else to want to eat her meals. If she prefers to eat snacky things, for lunch give her cheese, ham, cucumber, tomatoes, crackers or toast maybe with a bit of hommus. For dinner have you tried giving her a spoon and you having a spoon? She can feed herself and you can make sure she is getting enough by spooning more in when she is occupied. Never let her walk around eating, she could choke. I still make my 3 year old sit even while he is eating a biscuit.
At this age they want to feel independent but need to know the boundries. Don't let her help herself to what is in the fridge, I don't even let my 3 year old do that!

Answer 9

Cut out the snacks and stick to regular meal times. She'll eat if she's hungry and if she has to wait til the next mealtime you can guarantee that she will be hungry by then. She'll soon get the message.
Get a childproof lock for the fridge door.
You're the adult, you should be training her....not the other way round.
Take control now or you'll only stack up trouble for yourself in the years ahead.

Answer 10

Get a lock on the fridge so she cant get into it, stop giving her snacks while walking around, she'll soon eat when shes hungry. She refuses to eat from a bowl because at the moment she doesnt have to, she can go and help herself. you are the adult here you make the rules not her.Your giving in to her too easily and she'll quickly pick up on this kids are smart and need to learn what the boundaries are in what they can and cant do.