How do i get my soon to be three year old to eat more?

Answer 1

Most 3 yo's graze. After much trial & error i've managed to nail this one. I have small, healthy &ready made up food in the fridge at all times. I don't expect him to eat large meals 3 x day. In my fridge i have cheese sticks, grapes, bananas, cut up fruit such as oranges,boiled eggs, meat as well as bread & high fibre bickies & dried fruit in the cupboard. I don't have any sugary snacks, drinks or unhealthy food lying around so that when my son feels hungary I tell him to help himself to something out of the fridge. Or i tell him he can help himself anytime without asking. That way i know he will eat more than if i put food in front of him & expect him to eat it. Because all the food is healthy i don't have to worry that he is not eating properly. You could also offer yoghurts, smoothies, milkshakes & a vitiman supplement. Try offering something he will really enjoy at the end of the day if he has eaten enough good food . ie I offer icecream or yummy yoghurt or bickies & milk. Best of luck.

Answer 2

Hi
Find foods that he likes to eat, say yoghurt, cheese etc that way if he's having a day where he won't eat he may have a bit of something that he does like. I've found that if I add a bit of gravy etc to dinner etc it's more readily eaten. I've had times when all my kids would eat for dinner was mash potato and pumpkin. Offer a wide variety of foods and he'll choose what he likes. I was surprised when my kids asked for more when I served them 'mango curry chicken'. It was just a simmer sauce with fresh chicken and rice but they ate it like it was their last meal, so variety is always good and you may be surprised. It also helps if you all eat together and if he sees that mummy and the rest of the family eat it and enjoy it he won't think it's so bad. But in saying all that toddlers have days where they eat you out of house and home and days where they won't touch anything. Try and limit drinks before food so he's not full of drink. I've got three kids 4, 3, 19months and they have days where they are just not interested in eating. Don't stress over it. Goodluck.

Answer 3

Is he underweight? Is he sickly? Is he a picky eater? What does he eat? Have you had him examined by the doctor to determine if he's healthy or is his health in danger? Is he still having a bottle? I know he's a little old for a bottle but sometimes babies just don't give them up and possibly he's full of juice and not hungry. And just maybe he doesn't have a big appetite. It will all depend on what the doctor says and he will have other ideas for you if he thinks he needs more food; and what kind of food or supplements he may need.

Answer 4

does the doctor think the baby is ok weight and height? That is why there is so much obesity. Kids are forced to eat when they are not hungry. Then they don't learn when they are full. Because we try and force food even when they don't want it. It becomes a way of life. I would offer her 3 meals a day with healthy stuff in between when she ask for it. Trust me she will eat when she is hungry.

Answer 5

Make sure you are all eating the same thing at the same time and let them help my son will only eat sausages if he can cut them himself however he is only to use a butter knife

when he was 3 he went through a stage of not eating much but he ate a big breakfast and wasn't hungry at dinner all kids go through it don't stress too much

try multivitamins if your really worried about dietary intake etc

or simply talk to your Dr for more advice

Answer 6

Unike many adults kids eat to live instead of living to eat. My daughter is 4 and sometimes she eats like a bird (a hummingbird at that) and other days she can eat as much as me. They will eat as much as they need. Just make sure, when they are eating so little, that you make it count by offering good foods. However, if your 3 year old isn't gaining properly and skipping lots of meals, call the doctor.

Answer 7

First time mothers go through a lot and learn a lot from their child. My first one went through the same thing, I took him to the doctor (because I was really worried he wasn't eating much) and the doctor just looked at me and said "there's nothing wrong with him. He will eat when he's hungry".
As a mother you really worry about their eating habits but after the doctor said what he did - no more worries.

Answer 8

I wouldnt worry to much my three year old is going thru the same thing but he still looks and acts healthy. Trust me in time he'll be trying to eat u out of house and home.

Answer 9

Leave him be. If you make a big issue out of eating habits it can potentially do two things: spur a future eating disorder, cause a power struggle needlessly. If the child begins to equate food with love/acceptance he could begin to over eat thinking he is pleasing you. If the child sees that his eating habits effect your behavior, he will also realize that it's a tool. "Look! Mommy gets quite angry when I don't eat my peas! What happens if I don't eat my chicken?!?" Your reactions can be a source of entertainment!

Best bet is to leave it alone. When the kid is hungry he will eat. He will eat until his hunger is satisfied. Don't condition him to over eat.

Answer 10

Why do you want to feed him/her more? Kids will eat as much as they need to in order to thrive. It's a natural process that gets screwed up only when (albeit well-intentioned) parents start forcing their own food-issues onto them. When babies and toddlers are hungry, they'll eat. When they're not hungry, they won't eat. Just make sure you have a wide variety of healthy foods available for your child to experiement with. Maybe you're feeding your toddler foods that he/she isn't interested in. Find something they like....that may make them eat more.