Tips on getting my 12month old to eat more.?

Question

My son hardly eats. I have worked out that he is only eating/drinking around 600/700 calories a day. I have read that for his length he should be getting around 1100.

I'm totally out of ideas. I have him drinking pediasure just so he gets something in him. He will try pretty much everything I offer, but usually spits most of it out.

I'm just worried he is not getting enough of anything to enable him to grow at a healthy rate.

Answer 1

Just because the average eats about 1100 a day does not mean all need that much. In fact with the obesity problem I would say they set calorie intake to high. Your child will eat what he needs. If you try to feed him more than his body requires then you may produce an overweight, sick child.

Answer 2

My daughter is 2 and has always been a pickey eater! She only weighs 20 pound and is Very heatly. The pediasure is great for them and of course the whole milk. She has recently become a better eater! It just takes patience. Offer food often but dont be pushy. At one point she was on a appitite increser drug called periactin. It worked well and her weight began increseing on the scale instead of staying the same. They drug worked well for other I know as well. I no longer have her on it she is fine without it. I dont think he need anything but time! Don't freak out it will be ok. Only think I can sugest is talk to the doc and see maybe about some ideas. They ran test on my daughter for many things but everything came back fine. Its just failure to thrive usually and in time he will be eating like crazy! Good luck

Answer 3

Usually, babies this age will eat what they have to eat to keep growing. By this time, they should be eating their way through the day instead of drinking it in a bottle. You did not mention how much milk/formula he is drinking? Keep offering a variety of foods along with his favorites and he will eat enough. If he doesn't eat a lot in one sitting, he will eat more next time. Also, he should be getting 6 small meals instead of 3 big ones. His stomach is small. I wouldn't have him drinking Pediasure unless the doctor recommended it.

Answer 4

My daughter has been eating like that since she was about a year. She is 4 now and she is still a very picky eater and sometimes she doesn't even want to eat. She is very healthy. She is even taller than average. You are giving him pediasure so that is good. You cant force him to eat. I think all kids go through this at some point. Unless you are extremely lucky. :)

Answer 5

He is still very young but I think you could try this and see what happens. Bring your son into the "making" of the "food".. Show him what you have, let him pick it out. Foreinstance - put several items out, talk about them with him, and let him choose. If after he tries it and still doesn't like it, let him choose again. Make "eating" a lot of "fun". You eat with him and show him how much you enjoy it. Always remember that a childs' eating habits are always the responsibility of the "mother". It is what you put in your child's mouth that begins his good or bad eating habits. Your child only knows the flavors You introduce to Him/Her. So try things like "applesauce", maybe he would like it warm. You can add a little "honey". Another fruit "banana" - in pieces, and let him pick them up and eat them. Little pieces of "Cherrios". All children love "finger foods". Stay away from "fatty" items like "fries" and "potato chips" and give him "cut up" pieces of "steamed veggies", and some "dip" and show him how to do it with his fingers. Let him try. Make it his decision. And praise him when he chooses, even if he didn't like it after he tasted it. Once you involve your "child" he bonds closer,listens better,speaks sooner,and best of all - "understands". Hope I helped you out and start your boy on a Vitamin, it is time. Speak to your pharmacy and they will help you. Happy New Year.

Answer 6

I feel for you. It's so frustrating to figure out what to feed them, how much, etc.

I have a 12 month old too. I offer her several different tastes at every meal to broaden her pallette.

The reality is, if your kid is hungry he will eat. If he's not hungry he won't eat. He's probably getting more calories than you think. Just give them a couple things to eat at every meal and don't make an issue out of what he eats. My daughter is already pointing to the kitchen in an affort to get me to bring her other things to eat and I refuse to be a short order cook! She gets what we eat and that's the way it is.

Answer 7

you will learn kids will eat when they are hungry their stomachs are the size of their fist, sometimes they will go weeks and eat the same thing and only that my daughter went through a phase all she wanted was cold speghetti o's in the can, now if someone would have walked in and saw that they would think Oh my God what a terrible mother, but that is the only way she would eat then she went through this phas all she wanted was lunchables in her lunch to me that is the worst meal but now she hates them, so your kid will eat when he is hungry you will notice sometimes they can't get enough at sometimes it is like you are fixing food all day so they can eat one bite. they seem to do this when they are going through growth spurts. with parenting each day brings somthing new, and boy can they go through the phases, now mine is crying that she misses me and doesn't want to go to school, I will be glad when this one is over, I think this is Gods way of preparing us for moody teenagers. I swear I didn't give my parents this much trouble. She went through a phase she put socks in her bra and a beach ball under her shirt and pretended she was pregnant, boy did her grandma flip, but I let her use her imagination, she is 61/2 years old. back to the food my ped. said that calculate what your child eats in a week instead of calories each day. don't worry you are doing fine he will eat when he is hungry.

Answer 8

My son is a very picky eater and the doctor says he is doing just fine he is 5 and weighs 35 pounds he is a little thin but he has a lot of energy if your child was not getting what they need they would have no energy and get sick a lot

Answer 9

If she is dropping weight and her wellness care expert isn't worried, take her to a different wellness care expert. She would have abdomen themes. perhaps nutrition is hurting her. I actually have a chum whose son would not consume and he had all forms of nutrition hypersensitive reactions. The docs pushed aside my pal besides. you recognize extra helpful if something is incorrect than a doctor who sees many little ones all day long, and easily sees your toddler very now and lower back. have faith your instincts and be persistant.

Answer 10

maybe you should try to make it fun for your 12month old to eat like,...
1.try to turn on some music for toddlers.
2.do some fun tricks with the spoon or whatever you`re using into the mouth.
3.let her/him play with something while eating.