My 2 yr old will not eat! Some days she wont eat anything but maybe a slice of cheese! Not even fruit! Help?

Answer 1

Don't worry mama- they know how much their body needs. My daughter used to do this and still does sometimes. I just make sure I offer plenty of healthy foods and when she gets hungry she eats. If she's not hungry she doesn't.

Just make sure you offer her the healthy foods and make her sit to eat. We make our daughter sit at meal times. If she doesn't want to eat then that's ok but she still has to sit. This allows any distractions to be set aside and her to focus on eating if she isn't hungry. I also usually leave a snack on our coffee table for her during the day. I leave apple slices or crackers or something like that out and when she wants it she can have it.

Answer 2

I have raised 3 daughters and am now raising 2 grandchildren ages 2 and 3. All I can do is offer a few words of advice to you. These are things I have learned through the years.

1. A child will not let itself starve to death. If she is hungry she will eat.

2. Make sure she is taking a vitamin every day. She will balance out the food over time so you need to make sure she is getting her vitamins and minerals.

3. Watch her liquid intake. Limit her to 2 glasses of milk a day and 1 glass of watered down juice a day. The rest of the time give her just plain water. If she doesn't drink a lot of water right now she may put up a fuss at first about it, but stick to it. My 2 year old granddaughter was not eating at all so her doctor told me to limit her milk and juice. I did and she started eating. She was filling up on the sugars in the milk and juice and kool-ade and so she didn't need to eat.

She is almost 2 1/2 now and she eats a lot better.

Hope I have helped but don't worry to much about it. I really think that sometimes little ones think "what can I do now to freak mom out" then they do it.

I promise she will not starve herself.

Good luck.

Answer 3

is she healthy otherwise? is she active? is she alert? are her eyes bright? no fever?
It's probably nothing. She's got the appetite of a bird right now because she doesn't require a full diet. Watch out though, because the the growth spurt comes, she'll be eating constantly.

there may be a small chance that she is simply too busy to remember to eat.

I remember days when I would only give my boy 1/4 of a peanut butter sandwich and 1 slice of an apple for lunch. It's all he needed. He's now a strapping handsome 6'2" 18 year old. so relax mom - you're doing great and so is she.

Answer 4

All you can do is keep trying. Keep offering a variety of foods. Don't give into the "oh, kids will only eat macaroni, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets" camp.

Children will not starve themselves contrary to the worries that we all have.

I did read that it can take a toddler 10-15 attempts with a new food until they will eat it. So don't give up.

If she really is losing weight and you are concerned, you could suppliment with pediasure...but it's expensive and it's really no substitute for actual food.

Just make sure she's getting a vitamin every day and give her small frequent meals all day long. She'll likely get something down the hatch eventually.

Remember, children WILL NOT starve themselves...they just don't need to eat as much as we adults tend to think they do. :)

Don't worry, you're concerns are normal.

Answer 5

I have a 17 month old that is a rather light eater as well. My doctor told me that as long as she is growing and gaining weight, she is fine. The doctor told me that in our soceity, there is too much emphasis on how much a child eats, as opposed to the quality of what is eaten.

We change up our daughter's foods, but keep a lot of the things she likes as well. She is a hot dog fiend, so there are days where she eats hot dogs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We offer her other things first, but if she doesn't feel like it, she eats a hot dog and some fruit or veggies (green beans are her fav, but she will eat carrots as well). She also likes chicken, so we can get her to eat that as well.

Take note and see what she will eat without fail - if she will not eat what is offered to her, then remove it and allow her to go a while without anything. Then for her "snack", give her the item she always eats, and she should eat.

If it is still a concern to you, speak to your doctor.

Answer 6

My mother always said, "There's never been a child who's starved itself to death..."

Children naturally go through eating phases and unless the doctor finds something to be specifically concerned about, don't worry. Next week she may want nothing but peanut butter sandwiches or macaroni and cheese - two popular "obsessions" with children. She may soon enter a growth spurt and eat like she's starving - her body will tell her what she needs.

My general opinion, let her learn to listen to her body: forcing her to eat against her will may cause eating disorders later in life - gorging and becoming overweight or going to the opposite extreme and becoming anorexic or any degree in between.

In the meantime, just keep a variety of foods on hand that she likes and offer them to her after distracting her from whatever task she's involved in - another factor in not eating (Mom, I'm BUSY!) Good luck and good job!

Answer 7

If she is gaining weight at a normal rate for her age, then she is getting enough to eat but her appetitie is simply not what you expect. You can try to raise her activity level by engaging her in energetic play and see if that affects her appetite. Other than that, make sure the foods she does get are high quality and varied with a mix of protein, carbohydrates, and some fat.
If she has started losing weight or is not gaining appropriately, see a doctor.

Answer 8

end offering mac & cheese and chicken nuggets, do no longer even make it an option anymore. He won't starve... at last he gets hungry sufficient to consume notwithstanding you put in front of him. If he asks for Mac & cheese and nuggets, tell him that there'll be not extra till he starts off attempting different nutrients. Then as quickly as he starts off eating universal food, you ought to use nuggets and mac as a advantages.

Answer 9

As long as you are offering a variety of foods and drinks she will be fine. Some days my 20 month old barely eats and other days she eats almost as much as me. I've been told that this is all normal. Her body knows what she needs.

Answer 10

Totally normal. I used to freak out because my son (who is now 5 1/2) wouldn't eat hardly anything for days at a time. Just make sure you are offering her lots of different things, and if she doesn't want it, let it go.