Toddler not eating? Any advice?

Question

My son is going to be 3 in March. He won't eat his dinner. He hardly eat breakfast and very little for lunch and nothing for dinner. I've just about everything like hidding food within food or in sauces even using dip but nothing is working. He never used to be like this it's started about 2 weeks ago. He;s not sick not teething! it's a constante battle to eat dinner and he still wont' eat even if takes a bite he chew's it then spits it out. I'm becoming conserned about his health. Has anyone else gone through this with their children? Help?

Answer 1

Try and make mealtimes into something fun. FOr instance, make his dinner into a picture, like a smily face, or buy some o those alphbet chips and spell his name or something like that. Children can be fussy sometimes, its their way of seeing how far they can push you to get what they want. but remember no child will ever intentionally starve themselves, just keep offering a variety of foods, and try nad make dinner time into funtime rathre than hassle. Frustraion just makes it worse for you, so sit down with him, and make it a bit more like a game. Dont try and trick him or blackmail him as this will just lead to further problems.
If nothing works and you begin to seriously worry, take him to the g.p, he might b able to give you some more complex advice and offer sum vitamins tablets etc.
Hope this helps.
xx

Answer 2

I think all toddlers go through this at some point. You've heard of the terrible twos...sometimes they wait until 3 or even 4. As long as you're absolutely sure there isn't some other problem...if he doesn't have a temperature and his hearing is OK, etc. then you just have to wait it out. Don't let him see you get too tense because it will make the problem worse. Try to put a variety of things out where he can reach them...different flavors and textures, and then turn your back and pretend not to pay attention. He may get curious and pick something. Just expect a mess. And make sure he has enough water to drink. I guess if it keeps up for more than 2 weeks after that, check with the doctor. But too many kids eat when they're not hungry, and you know about the obesity epidemic. So try not to worry too much.

Answer 3

If he isn't ill, it would be unusual for a toddler to stop eating altogether. If he continues to not eat his blood pH or Acid/Base balance and electrolytes will change in a quick amount of time, putting him at risk for even death due to heart failure or not enough potassium or other electrolytes to stop it from going into a fatal arrhythmia!

I don't say the above to scare you as it probably is far from the case, however it is a scenario that can and does happen!!

I would put the food out like you normally do and if he has a normal appetite he will eat something. Make sure he gets a plenty of fluid!

Kids his age normally eat what they want, and leave what they want! Find something he likes and make sure it is always available!

Though 3 meals a day is the norm, your body is actually better off if you eat smaller portions more than 3 times a day! Let him eat when he wants to, not what you dictate when he should eat! This does not have to be a chronic issue and will not become one, unless you push him! Once older and his eating requirements are fulfilled his habits will as well!!

Try not to make a big issue out of something which it is probably not! I would also see a physician for the toddler to get a physical. There are other issues which may place restrictions on what he wants to eat, or if he wants to eat! They need to be explored. Because he looks ok, and isn't running a temp doesn't mean there is nothing that may be medically going on. A Pediatrician should be the judge of that. He might require just a cbc to see if there are any issues that stand out for further investigation!

Don't panic! He'll eat when he wants and they always manage to find food sources that provide the correct physiological requirements!

Answer 4

Yes, loss of appetite, tantrums, arguments at bedtime.

Grandma was feeding the little blighter a ton of sweets behind our back, had to ban Grandma visits, which was hard to do without evidence, so went on a long holiday, and the problem was suddenly gone by the second day. when we returned, we confronted Grandma, and refused to let her have access to the child at her home, unless she removed all e-number food from her house.

It was hell. the battle lasted one year, we lost our free babysitter, and it was a battle of wits, but the old biddy would not admit she was feeding our daughter the cr*p, so we stopped her seeing her at all in the end, Oh the change in Mia was instant, we were happy at first, however, then she finally admitted some of the things we suspected, and we came to an uneasy peace.

I think the tension, lack of social life and poor relationship with mum-in law, finally led to the divorce, in that we were so tired, we just didn't bother to sort out the little things that should have been sorted during that terible year. Parents, they can really fuc* you up you know!

Answer 5

It is a power struggle and you have none of the power. You can't MAKE someone eat. Offer the food. Leave it for 10 minutes or so, if he eats great. If he doesn't eat, great. Don't offer more food until the next scheduled meal or snack. Repeat. He will get the message, in less than 2 days, that he'd gotta eat when the eating is good. Don't make food an issue or you might end up with a child that is an emotional eater or overweight. You can do it.

Answer 6

Join the club! My son has been doing this off and on for a year now, he's 3-1/2 years. If he would drink low sodium v-8 try that for vegetables, my son will drink it for a little while then gets tired of it and won't touch it for a month. Try making fruit smoothies too, my son loves those. Other then that, just go with it, you don't want your kid to think he can turn his nose up to what you make him and get something else, because that just ends up a bad situation for you. They won't starve themselves. 3 yr old only eat when they are hungry, you should offer little snacks in between.

Answer 7

Toddlers do that sometimes. Don't worry, he's NOT going to starve himself or anything. If you're worried about him getting his nutrients you could try carnation instant breakfast once a day, or a vitamin. Just be sure that you're offering him good healthy foods. Toddlers eat what they NEED to eat. That's what I strongly discourage forcing a kid to eat anything. They'll eat when they're hungry. Don't be surprised if he starts chowing down on everything in sight in a couple weeks either. He may be about to hit a growth spurt. As for NOT eating, maybe he JUST went through a small growth spurt?

If you're really worried, make him a doctors appointment. He'll be able to put your mind at ease.

Answer 8

Your child is still learning about food textures. That is why he seems to not be able to chew very well. He is actually TASTING what goes into his mouth rather than just shoving it in and chomping on it then swallowing it. You might take a lesson from him. He is old enough to eat raw carrots, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, just remember every time you introduce a new food he will have some type of reaction to it because it's new...and he quite possibly did NOT like the taste of the lettuce leaf. Babies aren't stupid.

Answer 9

My two sons can sometimes be the same way (3 & 7). I just continue to feed them the same portions at all three meals, and try not to get frustrated when they waste food. I've decided that their survival instinct will prevent them from starving to death and instead of making each meal a battle, I simply give them their food and let them up from the table when they say that they are full. I, do not however, allow them to "snack" when they go through their fasts. My husband used to give them evry whim and desire, but we found that they would waste this food, too.

Answer 10

yes this is very normal.
I have been told and have learned from experience that children will eat as much as they need and not to worry.
They will go up and down with their eating habits...oh in sooo many ways.LOLOne week they wont eat one bite then the next all they do is eat.Then for a few months they will only eat ....bananas...then the next month they hate bananas..lol.
There are a few things you can do to ease your worries.

1 visit your pcp..make sure he is healthy.
2 ask your doctor about vitamins and then give them to your son.
3 place a small plate of non-spoiling food on a table or something with in your son's reach and leave it there all day.He may sneak up and take a few bites here and there.
Or you can do it with foods that may go bad, just remove them from the plate and dispose of them b4 they ruin and before he takes another bite.Then replace it with something else.
I know that last suggestion is bad for your routine but trust me...it gives him the opportunity to eat whenever he is hungry and gives you piece of mind.