My 3 year old would not eat by himself. I need to feed him all the time?

Question

My son who is 3, would not eat by himself. I am always feeding him. What can I do? Also he is not willing to try new food. He just eat unhealthy food. He always eats the same food (pasta, Pizza, choclate)
Also even new food in pizza or pasta he would not eat it. What can I do?

Answer 1

you need to make his plate, making sure there are some finger foods on it, along with things he can eat with a spoon and fork,,,, then give his plate to him,,,,,,,,,,, tell him now that he is 3,,, he eats like a big boy,,, and does big boy things,,,,,,,, tell him one time, remind him a few minutes later,,,,, meanwhile sit down and feed yourself,,,,,,,,,allow him 30 mins, if he doesnt eat, remove his plate, feed him the same way at the next meal

the same thing with food,,,,, while offering the things he wants, add in a new thing,,,,, in a small portion, and expect him to try it, a bite or two,,,,,,,,,

it will help if you have a fun activity to do after meal time,,,,,, whether he eats or not,,,,,, move on to that activity,,,,,, that way he will come to see that a meal time is just to refuel his body,
stay calm,,,, dont plead or beg,,, just do it in a matter of fact way,,,,,, most children will eat enough to keep them healthy,,,,, you are letting him rule his diet, when it should and is your job to do that, the best thing you can do for him, both health wise and social wise, is to be tough,,,, make him adjust to your ways , do not adjust to his , as he is a little child, he doesnt know what is best for him, he isnt suppose to know that

Answer 2

Picky eaters really are a problem. I was one too when I was a child and I've outgrown it successfully. I would recommend that you stop making him do thing he doesn't wanna do. You'd get a rebel nine out of ten by that. And worse, maybe an overweight kid soon.

Try to make any food you prepare look enticing and delicious. Also try eating in groups like family dinners as much as possible. Stop feeding him. Tell him he's big enough to feed himself and just give him a plate. He sould get whatever he wants that is on the table. If you feel pity in this method, you can put one (and only one every month or fortnight, the intention here is to make him sick of it) kind of food he eats in the dinner table. Try as much as possible not to vary that.

In most cases, the kid will get tired of his constant food choice, and once in a while would feel adventurous and try what everybody/some of the people in the table are having. He will not be able to resist being left out at something, trust me. And try not to serve traumatic foods like alfalfa or broccoli for now ok?

When he was a child, famous chef Anthony Bourdain hated everything except the usual junk stuff at first. But when he felt left out when his parents didnt take him in a famous restaurant, man, he bounced back with avengeance and now eats everything.

Your child may not eat everything that is on the table but at least, you are opening him up to different tastes and preferences as early as now. He must do this on his own, and must not be forced ok?

Answer 3

Leave the food on the table in front of him for thirty minutes. If he doesn't eat it take it away and let him play. When he says he is hungry put it back in front of him for thirty minutes. If he doesn't eat it then take it away. Do not feed him. When he gets hungry enough he'll pick up the spoon and do it himself
As for the unhealthy food. This will be more difficult. It takes up to 10 times for a taste to develop. I suggest giving him a spoonful of the new food once a day and make him eat the few bites. After he does this quite a few times he'll develop a taste for the food. It will take work. My advice to you moms out there is never stop feeding the babies veggies. Once you stop it is murder to get them to start again.

Answer 4

Think to the future and that within a couple of years he will have no choice because he will be in school away from you all day.

Tell him he needs to eat for himself - maybe start with one meal a day or something. If he doesn't eat it, don't give him anything until the next meal time and do it again and again until he eats it.

It sounds cruel, but no one ever starved from missing a couple of meals. If you don't he will not only be unhealthy (he can't shop, the food is your responsibility) but a very spoilt child who can't look after himself.

Answer 5

When my 3 yr old decided not to eat--that is exactly what he did ---not eat! The food was left there for him to reach when he decided he WAS hungary. He is wanting you to feed him and this is his way of getting some form of attention. Also you cannot force him to eat something he doesnt lke or just wont try.. Somewhere down the road you will be surprised what foods he is willing to try. Everybodies taste buds are a bit different.

Answer 6

its not easy when you have a fussy child, my daughter is 9 and still all she wants to eat is pasta and all the starchy food, I try to get around it by boiling all different kinds of veggies and chicken then putting them throw the blender and then and a few noodles to that , or if you have a pizza night have the dough made very thin so you have more topping then dough. and if you fix his plate for dinner and there are thing he wont eat then make sure you don't get up and start making him different meals, he'll be hunger before long and eat. don't give in, be consistent.

Answer 7

it's a difficult habit to break and will take time. mealtimes should not have other distractions, i.e. tv, and should be confined to a dining table with everyone sitting together. place food onto plate - whatever it is u r serving, and say to ur son u would like him to eat atleast 5 spoons by himself, give him a star everytime he listens and obeys. give him around 20 minutes to eat - this should b long enough! when time is up remove dishes and if he hasn't eaten don't make a fuss. ur son needs to learn that if he doesn't eat during mealtimes he will have to do without and no child will starve themselves!!! whatever u do, do not follow him with food to eat and cajole him to take a bite, this will only reinforce to ur son that if he doesn't eat them mum will be around to feed him snacks. during mealtimes ur son should be snacking on dried fruit or fresh fruit and vegetables. a treat should be limited to once a week for a special day.
good luck

Answer 8

Is there a clean infant on the way, or already interior the residing house? now and back childrens basically regress for a rapid time, too, for no obvious reason. the suitable element you're able to do, quite, is basically pass away him to consume. He won't starve himself. attempt giving him finger meals back like a small infant, in case you will like. provide him breakfast, if he refuses to consume it. Take it away. provide him snack, if he refuses. Take it away. proceed. via meal time he must be asking to consume, and consume willingly. do no longer shout, or forget approximately approximately him, or plead with him. in case you positioned it down and after X volume of time, he refuses to consume, basically take it away. If he protests, tell him he will have yet another possibility to feed himself at snack/lunch, etc. And act casual. Any reaction is a reaction. Is he excited approximately college? college is in many circumstances a motivator for infants. have you ever tried telling him if he does not consume like a huge boy he will no longer be able to pass to college with the different vast boys?? it quite is tough, yet attempt to no longer sense to blame!! The greater you cave and feed him, the greater sturdy the war would be.

Answer 9

Get him involve in the preparation for his own mean! off cause with you around may get his friends to joint in? so every have to eat what is being prepared! Never to give your child tasty food when they are still a baby! Meat, fish and vegetable are actual tasty enough is only that our taste bud get to stronger tastes!

Answer 10

Discipline him. You seem like you're giving into his needs all the time and he's gotten used to it. Just put whatever you want him to eat on the table and tell him to eat it. If he doesn't, don't tend to his wishes. He'll eventually eat it because he's hungry and he'll then realize he likes it.