How to make my kids eat?

Question

Ok, so ppl think I dont feed my kids but I do, and they wont eat, they are so underwaight and the doctor put the in pediasure, they used to drink it not anymore, no matter what I make they wont eat or litteraly they will take 3 hours to finish, I can make them eat if I feed them in the mouth but I think is not fair because they are 5yo and 3yo and I have a 1yo boy that I have to feed also, what should I do I tried everything, they wont even eat cookies, they only love juice and one of the likes bananas

Answer 1

I'm not sure you can force your kids to eat, other than just not allowing them to get up from the table until they've eaten a reasonable amount. I really wouldn't hand-feed them, you'll only be setting yourself up for treating your big kids like babies for a longer time.

If it were me, I would not try to entice them to eat junk food in a desperate attempt at gaining weight. Considering that they don't eat much at all, the little bit they do eat needs to not be empty calories.

Can you try having their doctor explain to them what happens when you refuse to eat and drink and get the nutrients you need? Maybe hearing it directly from the doctor, instead of you, would help them force down some of what they need to eat.

I would actually not keep bananas and juice in the house. Calmly explain to the kids when they get upset about not getting what they prefer that when they start eating healthy food at meals, you'll decide whether you're going to bring home juice and bananas. Most kids won't actually refuse to eat EVERYTHING, and giving in and eating what is in front of them if their preferences are not honored is like a survival instinct.

Start out offering small portions of a well-balanced diet. Sit them down at the table and tell them to eat. If they don't eat what you give them, they don't get up from the table. Let them know that you won't be changing your mind: bananas and juice will not be offered if they don't eat what you give them.

I hope you don't take this as me picking on you, because I'm really not, but if the doctor prescribes your kids medicine, do you let them decide whether they're going to take it or not? Go ahead and consider the pediasure medicine prescribed by their doctor. If you have no other choice, use any and all methods of making the kids take medicine they don't like to get the Pediasure down their throats as well. Let them know that.

It may not be very enlightened of me, but when I know my kids need to do something and are under the impression that it's not mandatory, I will flat-out tell them that I'm bigger than they are and I will win that fight. They can do things easily, or be forced to, but in the end, they're going to do what I'm telling them to. This especially works because I don't pull it out all that often. When I do, they know now that it means I'm dead serious.

Answer 2

My kids are also super small for their ages and one of them needs Pediasure for extra calories. I just had a checkup for my 4-year-old and the doctor tells me she's totally on track on her (tiny) weight curve so not to worry. Have you been making eating a big issue? If so, that could be what's causing the problem -- try backing off, putting out food and letting them eat when they're hungry. Try different flavors of Pediasure. If they like juice, try juicing fresh fruit yourself so they see, and then moving to the fruit itself. Let them choose what's for meals (have them pick a fruit, a grain, a veggie, and a protein), help you shop, or even come to a "pick your own" place. Try growing easy veggies yourself. Let them cook with you. If they like juice and bananas, try making smoothies by blending some banana, berries, orange juice, and vanilla yogurt (let them help make it so they see that things they like are going in). Arrange food in fun shapes (faces, etc.; you can use cookie cutters for sandwiches, etc.). If they take forever to finish, try forgetting about 3 meals/ 2 snacks and letting them graze when they're hungry. Give them a multivitamin just in case. Do you obsess about your weight? If so, make sure you absolutely don't do it in front of your kids and that they see you eating normally. Have the kids sit down for meals with the family even if they're not really eating, and make it a fun time to talk about the day, not a time to yell at them for whether they've cleared their plate. Ask your pediatrician if their weights are so much of a concern that you need to be doing anything else (don't skip this step; it's important). You may also want to ask for a referral to a nutritionist.
Good luck.

Also try books -- like Green Eggs and Ham (ask at your library for others) that encourage trying new foods.

Answer 3

My kids are underweight.. They are 1yr. and 3 yrs. I feed them all the time and sometimes they just won't eat.. Pediasure is expensive.. I've been doing CARNATION INSTANT Breakfast and sometimes I add bananas and ice/milk to make a smoothie.. They also drink whole milk... I give them multivitamins as well.. When I make spagetti I often pour acouple jars of babyfood into the sauce for extra veggies. My kids also like yogurt and I make smoothies from that as well.. Get creative if they like juice try different one's with fruits and veggies mixed into it.. Get a bag of frozen mixed berries, add some vanilla yogurt and ice.. Once they like it add some cooked carrots or even beets.. They won't taste them.. With the berries... I even make pancakes and add extra's..

I use instant flavored oatmeal and make it with milk in the microwave.. Usually 2 packets.. (Maple/Brown sugar are good)

I use about 2 cups bisquick/pancake mix
2 instant oatmeal pkgs.. made with milk or water according to directions... cool
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tablespoons brown sugar or reg. white sugar
1/2 C of applesauce sweet/unsweetened *omit oil in recipie
OR 1 ripe banana mashed

Mix baking mix/cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl.
Beat eggs, vanilla, applesauce or banana slowly add cooled oatmeal to eggs and temper... Mix together and fold into baking dry mix.. DO NOT OVERMIX.. Batter should be lumpy...

Prepare greased griddle or pan and make pancakes.. They don't need syrup they are sweet.. I also make them into PB&J sandwiches the leftovers..

I also make creative food.. I make hot dog octopuss. .I cut legs into a regular hotdog. .Make lenth size cuts into a raw hot dog and boil, the slits wil curl up like legs.. I serve over blue macaroni and cheese.. *mac n cheese with food color..

If the kids can help in the kitchen they will hopefully try what they make.. My kids like veggies and dip..

Answer 4

my toddler was like this for a while and just now seems to be getting better. my pediatrician was thinking of sending her to an eating clinic for kids who have eating issues. Sometimes it has to do with the texture and chewing. sometimes it is behavioral and sometimes it is because the kid is getting an upset stomach from some foods and gets wary of trying anything new. make sure you havea good complete work up because you don't want to be forcing food only to findthat the kid is allergic to something. ( idid that with my first. sigh.)
good luck

Answer 5

my 4 year old is like this n its not nice seeing Ur kid not eating i took mine 2 the docs n he told me a child will not starve they will eat when there ready never force feed a child or they will end up with a fear of food try getting Ur child involved in making the tea try different colour plates let them choose cut out snakes i tell mine if he eats whats on his plate he can choose a snack

Answer 6

try making smoothies with fruit juice, yogurt, some fresh fruit and throw in a handful of fresh spinach. They won't taste it, the fruit covers it up. It'll be like juice,onlly healthy.

Answer 7

show them pictures of aneraxick ppl and tell hem they r gonna look like that if they dont eat