My 4 years old daughter not at all interested in eating. Please help.!!?

Question

I am very much worried about my 3 years and 8 months old daughter, who is not at all interested in eating. Her weight is about 30 pounds. Is she under weight for her age? She doesnt like anything to eat and there is no such food that is her favourite. She asks for chocolate milk whenever she feels hungry, that too 2 or 3 times a day. She drinks about 1/2 litre milk daily. We are giving her FLINTSTONES multivitamin tablets with iron since past 2 months.
We are vegetarians and for us it is okay even if she eats non-veg.
And I still have to feed her the food, while watching her favourite movies on TV. She doesnt want to eat by herself. She is in preschool, most of the times she doesnt even touch her lunch box. It is really frustrating. She is not very active but she likes reading books,(she just acts that she knows how to read), watching TV etc.
Please help me, how can make her a good eater. Any nutritious food that is good for the kids of her age? Any suggestions welcome. Thanks

Answer 1

I'm guessing from your spelling you aren't in the US, but you may something similar where u are.
I make chocolate smoothies for my daughter with Carnation Instant Breakfast.
1 pk of powder
1 handfull ice
2/3 c lowfat milk
then add one or more of the following
1 banana
1 handfull strawberries
1 handful raspberries
1 T peanut butter

Blend in blender till smooth

At least she will get protien (peanut butter) and other neutrients.

Good luck!

Answer 2

OK - you may not like what I have to say, but here it goes....

The more you stress and force food the more she will reject it. Kids only have a few things they can control and what goes in the mouth is one. Kids will eat when they are hungry, just give them healthy choices.

No TV at dinner, give her a plate with what you are having for dinner, but toddler portion size and have at least you and her at the table. She does not have to eat, but she needs to be at the table for manners and to learn where to eat.

When we have dinner I put a tablespoon of each thing on her plate. Many a night she eats her bread and milk and that's it, but that's OK. Later she may get hungry and I offer cheese, yogurt, raisins, nuts, and so on. Either she is hungry and picks one or she is not that hungry.

The milk can be filling her up. We limit milk to meals and maybe before bed, 1 diluted juice a day, and the rest water. Again we have had many a fit, but when she is truly thirsty water is a go.

Once mine hit 5 they have to take 1 bite of everything on the plate and if they want desert (usually a 3 oz sundae cup) they have to finish what is on their plate.

FYI....My daughter (3 years 8 months too - June 22) is only 32 lbs. She has always been a twig and tall (VERY unlike mommy), but she has gaining at the same ratio as her height. So at 1 she was 15% for weight and 60% for height, at 4 she is now 25% for weight and 70% for height. This is OK.

My first (son) was and is a very picky eater. The less we pushed the more he tried. He's now 9 and a healthy weight.

Here is a link to show toddler portions:
http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/refcap/preschooler/pnutrition/64359.html

It seems so little, but they are still little. Good Luck!

Answer 3

My son, who is 8, went through the same thing. Cheerios are a good food that they can nibble on in small quantities. Don't let your daughter fill up on chocolate milk. Too sugary. Don't get in the habit of eating while watching TV, takes away the attention of the food. Have her sit at the table with you, for each meal. Cut up the pieces in small bite size portions and include a wide variety of food. I asked my son to try everything at least once before he says he doesn't like it. Also, reintroduce foods every six months as taste buds change. We had begged, threatened and pleaded and spent entirely too much time worrying about it. Stick to the scheduled meal times, allow 1/2 hour to 45 mins. max for the meal time, then take the food away. Don't give too many snacks in between meals. Explain to your daughter that if she doesn't eat now, she cannot have something in an hour when she's hungry, she'll have to wait until the next meal. It's all about the training. Don't give in, because then you will create a fussy eater. Don't cut crusts off the bread, don't say vegetables are icky, don't give her sweet cereals, hotdogs, noodles for every meal because it's easy. Only have water or milk with a meal, no juice or soda - those are treats! Try to give her the same things you eat and have lots of variety. You will then train her to expect meals at a regular time, not be fussy (which will be embarassing at someone else's house or restaurant) and to try new things. But, remember, her tummy is tiny, so don't expect her to eat even half of what you do. Also, if it's safe, ask her to help with the meal preparation. We've gone from 8 Cheerios at a meal at age 3, to maybe a full sandwich at age 8, if we are lucky. But my son will not refuse anything and knows he has to try everything first and eat at least half the meal before he is allowed to get up from the table.
Also, increase the activity level (we all need it) and make sure those vitamins with added iron aren't causing constipation. Good luck - I know what you are going through! Just don't make too big a deal of it, she'll do just fine.

Answer 4

You would have to use a growth chart that charts height and weight to see if she is under weight. Here is a link to some downloadable charts.
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/growthcharts2/l/bl_growthcharts.htm
I don't know if your daughter is going through a phase and ate better before but, my kids seemed to be ravenous and eat everything some of the time and then other times they had no appetites, when they are growing they eat more.
If your daughter isn't eating much food you should probably only offer her water in between meals and slowly reduce the amount of chocolate in her milk until there isn't any(or switch to Ovaltine, which has vitamins). I think she should only get milk/Ovaltine if she has eaten at least half of her food.
My kids favorite healthy snacks are pretzels with string cheese or fruit. The love to eat apples dipped in natural peanut butter or also bananas with peanut butter.
Pasta for dinner is always gobbled up and brocollini(or brocoli) with lots of lemon juice and olive oil.

Answer 5

Her weight does put her in the 5th percentile which isn't good but a suggestion i use for myself when i dont feel like eating is make her a chocolate and strawberry smoothie. Another good thing to do would to be to encourage her to be active. Much of the time i find myself to be tired and eat less when i'm not doing anything or i am too busy to do anything. I do have twin girls that are 7 months so that keeps me busy and up whether i eat or not but give her rewards for when she does eat. Take her out shopping whatever she likes to do. Buy her a book if she likes to read and let her pick from a selection that you have already picked through ( so that the book isn't too expensive).

Answer 6

I don't pretend to be an expert....just a Mom that knows how you feel...here is my story. I have a soon to be 4 year old son that weighs 28 pounds....I am thrilled because he has actually gained three pounds! It is difficult for people to understand sometimes...but if your little girl is like my son...he just did not eat.
When he was a baby he ate baby food just fine but he never "graduated" to the textured foods. He still does not like the feel of alot of foods in his mouth. He will carry them around in his mouth...then spit them out after you would have thought he had swallowed them (I'm onto that now). He mainly lived on peanut butter and scrambled eggs for a long time. Now he does eat some things...but very little...and unfortunately not exactly what most people would consider a healthy or balanced diet. But considering the option is that he eat nothing....I'm just glad to see him eating. He likes sausage, pretzels, chili fries, and potted meat (yucky to me)....and still peanut butter....not exactly a wonderful diet...but I know you know what I mean when I say I am greatful that he is eating something at least. As for your daughter drinking chocolate milk....my son loves it also....and I let him have all he wants....hey...at least it's milk and it's calcium...plus he needs all the fat he can get. He loves the "shakes" you can buy that are cookies and cream also...again...I let him have them...just make sure that his teeth get brushed. As for the vitamins....my little boy won't swallow a vitamin....but I do give him the infant's liquid vitamins....just to keep his strength up...I know he doesn't get many vitamins from food. I don't know why anyone would see a problem with giving her a Flintstone's vitamin....they are for kids. My little boy just spits them out. If your little girl will take them I think they probably can't hurt her and might help....I've even been told they can improve their appetites. My little boy is getting to the point where he seems to enjoy food a little more....and that makes me hopeful that one day he will eat better. By the way in his case I was told by a speech therapist that it was a bit of a texture/oral thing......he doesn't like the feel of certain foods more than likely.
As for your question about nutritious foods...peanut butter is very nutrious and something he liked so I got creative with it....I would let him help me and we would make sandwiches with it....sometimes with jam or bananas.....he also likes to dip pretzels in it (told you he has some weird tastes!)....fresh slices of apple are really good with carmel dip. Good Luck...I definitely sympathize with your concern....but I have learned that the best thing to do is just not make to major of a deal about it.

Answer 7

I had this issue with my first born. I really worried about it, took him to the doctor and was told "don't worry about it - he'll eat when he's hungry". This was just a stage and he went back to eating again right after that.
When you feed her - do NOT give her chocolate! Give her nutricious foods and do NOT let her watch TV until she begins eating again.
If this doesn't work - then take her to the doctor - there may be other issues.

Answer 8

Don't sweat it, the more you freak out the more she will continue the behavior. She'll have to eat evenually. I've never heard of a child of any age starving herself to death.

Have some good, healthy food available for her when she is hungry.

Also, find out what the preschool is giving her for snack time if she doesn't eat her lunch.

Answer 9

i am going thru the same thing with my 4 year old boy. I had to cut out the milk...well most of it anyways...his pediatrician, said just keep trying and he will eat when he gets hungry enough. My son went almost 2 days with out anything to eat...i felt so bad but with reassurance from his doctor, i was able to do it.. he was getting full on the milk and so he was to full to eat regualr food. but once we cut the milk almost in half, he got hungry. He eats just fine now...a little picky but hey what 4 year old isnt..good luck.

Answer 10

My daughter is 3 years and 8 months too :-)
TV at meal times is about the worst. It totally distracts her from eating. I will not have television on at meal times.

As for her weight, it would depend on her height. My daughter is the size of an average 5.5 year old. Not sure how much she weighs though ...