Any tricks?
2007-03-09 09:22:07 · 29 answers · asked by Holly G 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
i've had him sitting in his highchair for an hour now. he is just crying the whole time. He hasnt eaten a thing all day. nothing at all it is 4:30 pm now.
should i let him up or keep him there till he eats?
2007-03-09 09:26:17 · update #1
Could it be that he is sick? My kids don't eat when they don't feel well. There have been times that my son has had a earache, and I didn't know (no pulling on the ears, no fever, or ANY hint of infection)...and he would refuse to eat.
I wouldn't FORCE a child to eat....but you can get those Popsicles and drinks that have the supplements in them....
If none of that works, and the child doesn't eventually eat (i.e. the "when they get hungry enough, they will eat" concept)...my next move would be the doctor.....
2007-03-09 09:33:17 · answer #1 · answered by amanda r 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Make a game out of it, or make the food look fun. Sometimes it is impossible but they will eat when they get hungry, I use to think they were going to starve.
No an hour for a child this age is an eternity. Just be patient, make sure that he is drinking water if he wont eat, try not giving milk or juice this may be filling up that little tummy. Three days is the max for not eating at this point I would see the doctor as a precaution
2007-03-09 17:24:10 · answer #2 · answered by mudd_grip 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I feel like my kids don't eat enough, but my husband says they do.
Here is basically what my 2 year old ate today:
Breakfast- Half a banana, capri sun juicee, about 3 whole froot loops
mid morning snack- 2 rits crackers with a dipping sauce
Lunch- Kraft mac & cheesy, piece of ham
Mid day snack-1 whole bite of an apple
Dinner- 1 bite of a slice of pizza, 1 chicken bbq wing
Snack before bed- cookie
But, at least they eat! Try playing a game or making a bribe. For instance, Today I told my little girl that if she did not eat her banana, she would not get to go to pick up daddy at the airport today. (of course I would have taken her anyway). Just use your parental instincts, you'll find a way!
2007-03-09 21:39:23 · answer #3 · answered by baby oh's 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
jbmiller has it right. Don't force them to eat. It will give them a bad experience. My son goes in spurts eating. Some days he will eat just a little. This can go on for a couple of days then all of a sudden he goes into a spurt where he cant stop eating. He is healthy and the doctors are not concerned. He has done this for 10 years now! He is as healthy as you can get.....Just monitor for a couple of days.If after a while he/she eats next to nothing then there may be a bigger problem. If is has been just one day I would not panic over it yet. In the course of his slow eating days just make sure to offer food many times of the day. As long as he is a healthy child he will not starve himself.Try to eat meals in front of the child also and have him sit there with the both of you. Some kids are eaters and some are grazer that enjoy many small meals....
2007-03-09 17:32:22 · answer #4 · answered by cyborg_2099 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
my son will go for a week or two and eat practically nothing. he drinks but thats it. he will snack here and there but only a few bites. BUT then the next week he will eat everything in front of him. Children sometimes dont eat because theyre tired, upset, interested in something else, or simply because you tell them to. but eventually they WILL get hungry. just dont give them unhealthy food to eat in the mean time (no chips or cookies or snacks). Also, it's not good for your child to eat when really upset anyway. I tell my son that he has to sit in his chair until we're all done and then if he hasnt begun eating he is done until the next meal. He sometimes skips his favorite meals because he doesnt feel like eating. but sometimes i think maybe he hasnt been real active today or isnt growing. dont worry...he'll eat eventually. if youre really worried about it you could always throw some sweet carrots, fruit and yogurt into a blender with some water or juice and make him a smoothie to sip. im assuming, however, that this is a toddler. if he's a baby still then just dont fight with him...try again in a couple hours.
2007-03-10 15:49:23 · answer #5 · answered by tcb 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Play the counting game. get him/her to count to up to 10 bites.
Have her/him feed you one bite and put one bite in his mouth.
Put a bag on top of the table and tell hm/her there is a surprise inside, but is only to be opened after dinner. The surprise can be some sweet fruit or a piece of candy.
If he doesn't eat don't give him the surprise, otherwise he'll never believe he needs to eat to get it.
Play a puzzle game with him while he is sitting on the high chair. he'll be distracted so you can feed him without him realizing it.
They are just lazy, it's too boring to eat... make it fun!
If he is little, singing a song while he eats might work .
2007-03-09 17:29:34 · answer #6 · answered by Georgie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to be contingent. Don't let them have any snacks or treats until they eat their real food. They'll get hungry fast and eat. Also, make sure you're feeding them something that they like and is nutritious. I work in a preschool, we see this all the time, that's the only thing that works. Don't give them what they want until they do what they need to.
2007-03-09 17:26:50 · answer #7 · answered by greecevaca 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My 2.5 yo won't eat at times. Per my doctor's guidance, he either eats or doesn't. If he choses not to, he has to wait until the next meal (no snack). I have found when I remind my son that there won't be a snack that he will have to wait until lunch or supper (whichever meal is next), he will either seriously be done eating or will eat a little more. But, either way, it is his choice and he lives with it. But, don't force you little one. It will cause so many issue for him/her later in life. As his doctor says, it one of two things that a little one has control over. And, he will eat when eat when he gets hungry.
2007-03-09 22:41:01 · answer #8 · answered by Casey 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Use positive reinforcement... a good term for bribing haha. Let them have dessert or a snack if they eat so much of their meal. If they don't finish a good portion of the meal, then no snack for them.
Also, consider why your kids aren't eating. Is it it a particular food group such as vegetables? If so, dress them up with extra flavor or give them slightly smaller portions of that particular food so a huge pile of vegetables does not become overwhelming.
2007-03-09 17:30:32 · answer #9 · answered by sassygachic03 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do not force your child to eat. It will just make things worse. Kids go through phases where they are not going to eat. He will eat when he is ready. All you can do is be positive and try to encourage him to eat. Just let him know that you aren't going to fix anything else and if he don't want to eat then he won't eat at all. You can always try again a little later to see if your child will eat.
2007-03-10 00:33:53 · answer #10 · answered by beautiful_babe170 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋