How do you get a toddler to eat, when he doesn't want to?

Question

My 16 month old used to pig out on anything in front of him a few months ago. He could eat a piece of pizza all to himself at ten months of age. Within the last two months he refuses to eat anything. We put food on his high-chair tray and he takes the tray off and gets down. We rigged the tray so that he could not get down, and then he throws the food all over the floor. I've tried spoon-feeding everything to him, one bite at a time, and he still refuses. He drinks lots of fluids and appears to be very healthy. No weight loss, he's in the 85% for length and 95% for weight. What should I do?

Answer 1

This is what we did with a child at school who did not want to eat. In order to get down he has to take three bits of everything, they are his "no" "thank" "you" bites, but once he has taken these bites if he wants down you have to let them or it will not work.

Answer 2

This is just a phase he's going through. As long as he drinks, give him a variety of juices plus water. When he's hungry he'll eat. Meanwhile, offer him cubes of cheese or fruit or bits and pieces of foods he's liked in the past, but DON'T MAKE AN ISSUE OF EATING. Just put out the food for him, and if he's not interested, take it away and let him get down to play.

My first son refused to eat for a while. I'd make him sit with his food for a hour after a meal, but he would not give in. It was a battle of wills. Finally, because the food always dried out and turned brown, I gave up. Before I knew it, he was eating again. Those next summers he "helped" me plant, care for, and harvest a small garden, and has always loved veggies since then. He's 36 now and eats anything and everything.

Just relax. He'll be fine.

Answer 3

Our daughter does that sometimes too. Sometimes kids just aren't hungry. If he decides he doesn't want a meal every now and again it won't kill him. But for the temper tantrum stuff...honestly I don't know what to tell you. My daughter sometimes tries to throw her food off the tray just because she's upset...and my hubby just comes over and tells her to eat and then turns his back on her until she does. It works somehow when nothing else I do *even if it's exactly the same as his little routine* does. Good Luck!

Answer 4

My 19 month old daughter went through the same thing, and actually still kind of is in the stage. What I did was not so much worried about meals, yes I fixed them, but didn't force her to eat. I focused on small, nutritious snacks. The baby isle in your nearest grocery is filled with great and wholesome snacks by Gerber. My child enjoyed the fruit and veggie puffs. I also bought raisins, bananas, and Trix yogurt which is filled with vitamins and minerals. Try veggie sticks as well. I also let her snack on Cheerios or other wholesome cereal. Try these ideas and as long as you aren't giving into junk food like ice cream, cookies, chips, etc....and he is snacking on these foods he will be fine. It wouldn't hurt to bring it up to the pediatrician on your next visit.

Answer 5

My kiddo does the same thing. He used to eat everything. Now he is so picky. I have been told that when they are teething that the sensitivity to taste changes. Tastes become more intense. our boy used to eat salsa, now he won't touch it. He will eat yogurt, mashed potatoes, apple sauce and peanutbutter. He certainly isn't losing weight. He is a chunk. He takes a good vitamin supplement to make up for the stuff he won't eat. He is healthy as can be. We avoid the doctor.

Answer 6

Girl, I'm feeling your pain! My son was that way for a while, now he just goes in spurts. He's 18 months. He'll eat when he's hungry. I know it's hard, but just keep offering it to him.
My daughter used to fill up on liquids first then not want to eat when she was that age so we gave her her drink after she ate most of her food.
Hang in there, it will get better. I think it's just their age.

Answer 7

Same way you get an adult to eat; wait til he's hungry. Cut back his juice and snacks. When he's hungry insist that he sit in the highchair to eat. Let him feed himself. Start with a small amount of food so if he throws it the cleanup is small.

Be patient. :)

Answer 8

Trust me that no child ever died from missing a meal or two. If he doesn't want to eat let him get down before he makes a mess. No snacks no matter what. When he gets hungry enough he will eat with everyone else. Its a phase-he is testing his independence and how you will react.

Answer 9

My pediatrician says that children will not let themselves starve to death... they will eat when they are hungry.

Maybe his fluids are giving him all of the calories he needs so he doesn't want solid food? (Milk, juice, etc). Good Lord, I can only think of my poor niece who is only 4 years old and weighs over 75 pounds! She drank only juice and milk for the first 3 years of her life and she is pretty fat now, and has already had several cavities.

But I digress....

Answer 10

Children your son's age go through this no-eating or picky eating phase.

Check with his pediatrician to make sure he's fine...then find something that he likes and let him eat that.

My daughter ate nothing buy dry cheerios and corn on the cob for so long I thought she'd get sick. I made sure she took her vitamins and soon this phase came to an end.