help help help?

Question

my 23month old will hardly eat a thing..... toast is about her favourite limit shes eaten half a bag of hula hoops and 4 slices of toast all day today oh and a couple of biscuits tried her with other stuff but nope no go. please help dont want her to starve

shes not constipated infact shes just as regular as she has been, and shes very active!!!!!

Answer 1

Oh, the joys of having a picky eater! My son is just a few months older than your daughter & he will only eat a few select things. Unfortunately, what he eats constipates him(yogurt, peanut butter, milk, etc...) If she stays regular, that's great! You prob have nothing to worry about. Since she likes toast so much, try putting a smear of peanut butter on it with a few thin slices of bananas or some raisins on it. I've also made mini pizzas with toast slices. Just put a little pizza sauce, cheese, and some thinly sliced cooked veges. Getting toddlers to eat healthy is sometimes tricky! You have to sort of 'disguise' the good food. (Don't put it past her to figure this one out, though. Kids are pretty smart! lol)
GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

My youngest (19 months) has the appetite of a sparrow, and after 4 children that would eat anything and everything that you put in front of them it has been a steep learning curve!
I struggle with the amount she eats every day, but have kind of developed a routine that suits us both.
When she wakes she has a big cup of milk with Ovaltine, she usually drains it and she will sometimes ask for a rusk or a Rich Tea biscuit, which she sometimes eats, and sometimes I find she has popped it in the bin!
Lunch we usually have a 'picnic' type affair, fruit, ham, babybel cheese, french stick, yogurt, and maybe a few crisps. She is able to help herself to what she fancies and I don't get too frustrated trying to spoon feed her stuff she really doesn't want.
Then for supper I try to make stuff I know she likes, we seem to be eating a lot of roast chicken at the moment, steamed veggies and boild potatoes. She will eat fish with peas and mash, occasionally mince and veg.
What I am saying is, is that if you limit the amount of snacks between meals and try to offer her things you know she likes, then whether she eats it or not is really down to her. As people have said before, she will not deliberately starve herself, the biggest hurdle you have is how you feel about her refusing the foods you offer.
She will eat when she is ready, and I know how good that feels when you just have to scrape a few morsels from the plate than throw away what seems to be the whole meal!!

Answer 3

Although your daughter is a little young still, try having her help you "create" a snack. There is something about a kid getting to help cook that make the food more appealing. If she likes toast try having her help you make a bagel face. Take half of a bagel (whole wheat if possible) and smear it with cream cheese for her. Give her fun things to decorate the bagel with to make a face. You can use raisins, cut up strawberries, sliced banana, etc... Another thing to try would be to have her help you make instant pudding. She will probably get a kick out of pouring the mix in a bowl and will get some calcium in her. I always put the mix and milk in a container with a lid for my son and let him shake up the pudding (it actually works really well!) You could also have her help you make a smoothie with frozen yogurt, fruit, and juice. Good luck!

Answer 4

When our eldest was this age & tried to dictate what he would eat, the answer was simple but took some determination to carry through.

He got the same meal as us - smaller helping, obviously - and had to eat his protien portion, the carbohydrate and one of the vegetables. If he refused, we ate pudding in front of him and if he still didn't comply, he starved.

He is almost 3 and is currently tucking into spag-bol with salad & is looking forward to his apple crumble with custard.

It takes a few weeks but, if you stick at it - cut out the crap snacks completely (choose something as a good-girl treat that won't spoil the next meal) as a rule - you will win. Work on the principle - she will not win (even once) because you cannot afford to lose (even once).

Make sure she has a good 8oz of whole milk morning & evening & she should be fine.

Enjoy the battle & all the best.

Answer 5

At this age they can go through spurts where they will only eat certain things, my ped says it's okay, as long as it's temporary and you're getting a half a flintstone in them!

I would switch the toast to wheat (if it's not already) and try putting some applesauce on top..that was a trick I tried with my picky daughter! Always offer a veggie and/or fruit WITH her favorites. With my daughter I would have her toast (with applesauce "jelly"), some sliced banana or some green beans with KETCHUP to dip them in, for some reason, dipping was the best thing in the world.

She still eats her green beans with ketchup, and she's nearly 5! (and a much better eater.)
The previous poster was right though, she will not allow herself to starve at this age, and if you notice her LOSING weight ask your doc for some more suggestions. (Pediasure, more vitamins...etc)

Answer 6

Keep trying with the fingers foods. She's just found something she really likes and has decided to stick with it. Try some bananna, or an orange section, or a diced up apple. Could try some baby carrots, raw..even let her dip em in Ranch dressing. That's how I got my 2 girls hooked on eating other things. A peant butter and jelly sandwich cut in strips. Keep trying. She'll move on. I'm mom to 3.

Answer 7

A child will never starve themselves.

Just keep offering good, home cooked food at the normal times and if she refuses to eat don't make a big deal (they love the reaction if you make a fuss)

Sooner or later the hunger will kick in and they'll start to eat - again don't make too much of a fuss as they won't want to think they've lost!

Good luck, keep calm.

Answer 8

It may be that your daughter's hunger does not coincide with the family's mealtimes. I suggest that you put small attractive and nutritious plates of food in her room. Then take little notice, and let her discover her hunger and eat when she wants to.
Don't continue a power struggle with her, because she will win and use her refusal as a weapon against you.
To eat or not to eat must be between her hunger and the food. She won't starve to death, and as long as food is there she will eat when she wants to.
You needn't be perfect; just do your best. Good luck!

Answer 9

We've had the same problem with both of our kids, and she WILL eat when she's hungry. No child will voluntarily starve themseves, so as long as she's eating something, thats all that matters. Just keep offering her new stuff to try, perhaps if you sat down and ate something different, she would be interested enough to try it too.

Answer 10

At her age children can be very picky eaters. If she wants to eat toast, then let her! At least she is eating something. Also make sure that she is drinking enough fluids perferably milk or water. Too much juice isn't good.