is my daughter getting enough to eat???

Question

my 3 year old has been taking a few... mabey 5 bites of her meals and then hiding her plate in cupboards, closets ect... she used to be a very good eater. now I worry if shes eating enough.
she loves her vegies sometimes thats all she will eat.

Answer 1

Ok, this sounds strange, but my doctor stressed this to me - DON'T make a big deal of it. Just let her eat what she wants, and make sure she doesn't have a reward for being finished. (like she can watch t.v. when she gets away from the t.v.) The doc said that they are very good about knowing how much food to eat and what they want, and they won't go hungry. Make sure you're not offereing her fun snacks, but maybe leave some water and apple slices or grapes out for her to snack on between meals.

If you make a big deal, though, it can become an attention getter. Just let her know that she can eat what she wants, but that's all she's getting for her meal.

good luck!

Answer 2

I wonder the same thing with my 2 year old. I have just come to accept that he is not underweight, and some days he seems to make up for the days before by eating a lot. I think this is a normal toddler phase. Advice:
1. Cut back on fluids, especially before meal time
2. Give her what she likes to eat (within reason, candy all day is a no)
3. Don't pressure her to eat, or make a big deal of her not eating, she may keep doing it as a sort of toddler rebellion

Answer 3

Oh my I know what your talking about!My 8 year old daughter was like that.She went from only eating penut butter sandwiches to only eating fruitloops.She does not eat very much at all.I had to start giving her very small amounts of everything on her plate (enough that a 2 year old would eat)She would eat everything on her plate and every week I just added a little more and a little more and now she eats like a normal 8 year old should.I also made it a habbit in between meals to give her snacks that she was not getting enough of.Hope this helps you a little I know it worked for me.

Answer 4

Yes your daughter is getting enough to eat. I was the same way when my son went through this phase there were some days that he would only eat a few bites of food and the he would go where there were a few days where he couldnt get enough to eat. I asked our peditrician about this and he said that he is just being a typical kid. He also said your child will not let themself starve to death when they are hungry they will eat.

Answer 5

A good way to measure portion size is an amount about the size of her fist. If she eats that much she should be fine. Also don't worry about what she eats at one meal or even in one day, track her eating for the whole week. It usually averages out.

Answer 6

Kids will do this. Unless the child starts Losing weight, I wouldn't make too much of a big deal about it.

If you are concerned, you can get nutrition drinks like "Pediasure" which adds calories and nutrients your kid may be skipping.

If you try to "force" the child to eat, you are setting up a battle for control that may end with the child developing an eating disorder.

Answer 7

As long as a doctor says that she is growing properly, and she isn't saying that she is hungry all the time, she is fine. My daughter used to do the same thing, and she turned out just fine. Now, she is five years old and won't stop eating! Don't worry about it.

Answer 8

they do go through stages like this,my daughter used to hide her sausages in her barbie toy box,try to make eating time relaxing,make her sit to the table,since she likes veggies,thats good just try to offer different things with them,keep an eye on her weight and if her appetite doesn't improve a checkup might be in order

Answer 9

Maby she thinks shes fat. or she ddoesnt want 2 eat food because is eating juunk food from someplace.