All my son eats is fruit and cheese, how do I get my 2 year old to eat?

Question

I have a nanny twice a week and she insists on forcing him to eat, literally opening his mouth and shoving food in while he cries. He does eat more this way, but I think she shouldn't do it and it makes mealtime awful.

All my son wants to eat is cheese and fruit, he refuses to try anything else. He is 30 months old, and is only 26 pounds. He's so skinny, he still wears 18-24 months size. The pediatrician says to just keep offering him healthy meals and he won't starve himself. What else can I do?

Answer 1

Well, stuffing food in his mouth won't work. Judging by the nanny business I suspect my advice will fall on deaf ears. However, even at such a young and tender age children have to learn compliance with the rules of the home. My children both tried the same trick when they were small and the solution is easy. You serve no fruit or cheese at breakfast, dinner,or lunch. The child will refuse of course, stomp his little feet and cry etc. It may take a day, and you may feel like a villian--but sooner or later the little one will get hungry. Sooner or later he will get hungry enough to partake of what the family fare is offering. It took my oldest about a day and a half to realize that she wasn't calling the menu shots in the household.

Answer 2

Well, actually, fruit is very good for him. Cheese might cause some problems, as little ones have a hard time digesting anything made from cow's milk, because the lactose is not human-friendly.
Your nanny is doing a disservice to you and your child, and quite frankly, at 2 years, he is a decent weight, and you should be thankful he is lean not on the heavy side.
Fresh fruits, veggies, simple things that he can chew on -as his molars are coming in will be good for him.
Keep it organic, natural, and remember, he is still a baby to some degree - he is only two, not an adult.
He is discovering foods, but the way your nanny is going about it - that might cause some real trauma regarding food later in life!
Mealtime should be enjoyable not stress; try some Quaker Oatmeal, and let him discover it.
Keep is simple and easy going - the more stress added the more he will resist - remember the twos are the No's for them.
Relax, let him eat at his pace but keep the healthy food around. Grapes, bananas, apples, etc...

Answer 3

I would never allow anyone to shove food in a child's mouth when they are crying! FIRE THE NANNY!!! BEFORE YOUR SON CHOKES TO DEATH!!!

At thirty months he is able to tolerate most foods. Feed him all the fruits and cheese he wants but also offer him everything you can that is healthy for him. I would try strips of raw vegetables with a dip of ranch dressing, meat cubes, things that are child friendly... It is possible that your son has a high metabolism which will burn the calories off him and he will stay seemingly small. I, as you would feel better to have a few extra pounds on him as if he is ever ill the weight will drop off quickly. Just make sure he is well hydrated with good juices. Find one he really likes so if he is ever ill you will know what he will be willing to drink.

Also, remember that the size of a child stomach is very small, you must offer him many small meals through out the day. There is plenty of time for more formal family meals later in life!

Answer 4

my daughter use to be this way. She is 2 1/2 years old also.Somedays she'll eat six small meals, and some days she may only eat 2 or 3. The only thing she use to eat was french fries. But when I started giving her the same food that I would eat, and we would eat together, she started eating more. Also when she is around other kids, and she sees them eating, she would eat things, I didnt even think she would like. I wish she would eat fruits like your son though, but the only fruit she likes is oranges. If he likes cheese so much, try making him a grill cheese, and let him help make it. Oh and pedisure makes the NutriPals milk shakes, i think. you should offer him one of those, so that he still gets some nutrients. GoodLuck

Answer 5

My 32 month old son is the same exact way!!!

I thought he was the only toddler out there that didn't like the typical toddler food (pasta, mashed potatoes, etc). He will sometimes eat a bite of chicken, fish, or shrimp but refuses to eat beef. But, even those times are very rare.

I think forcing him to eat anything is the absolute worst thing your nanny could do though. There are certain foods that I would probably like but refuse to touch b/c my parents forced me to eat them as a young child.

I've started playing a game w/ my son. I tell him to take a "no, thank you" bite. If he likes it, he can eat it. If not, he doesn't have to. (But, he's at least trying it.) That seems to work sometimes.

Answer 6

i have a 2 year old daughter who used to hate to eat but i cut her off the things i didnt want her to eat like locking the fridge ans such and offered different meals at mealtime i would say start with your basic meal like breakfast give simply an egg and toast and tell him thats all there is work with him it will take time and when he starts eating something else bring in little pieces of cheese and fruit slowly and small portions in with his meals and when he starts doing good then give him the fruit and cheese for a good job snack and your nanny shoving food down his throat is wrong and will push him further from wanting to eat ne thing else just work slowly with it it will take time but reward him when he does with the cheese or fruit

Answer 7

you should never force feed a child for one. 2 year olds go through a picky stage where they only want what they like. My daughter is 4 yrs old and she only weighs 32 lbs. some kids are naturally petite. But if you are wanting to get him to eat more try having him help with stuff that he can help with in the kitchen, like buttering bread, stirring the mix before making it. And let him help choosing what to make. And then also Allow him to eat some cheese at one snack time and then fruit at the next snack. And allow him to have one or the other after his meal has been eaten, and if he wont eat it dont give in and just give it to him. Eventually he will get hungry and go to the table and eat what was prepared. And a kudos for you for having a son that likes healthy snacks, its hard to get them to like stuff like that when all the "better" sugary stuff that out there.

Answer 8

First off, tell that nanny if she force feeds your child anymore that she will be fired.

I would offer your child a variety of foods at regular scheduled snack and meal times.

Make meal and snack times at the same time every day. Don't offer him food in between those times and make sure the nanny doesn't either.

At meal times, put a very, very small amount of all the options on his plate. I mean ridiculously small! Do not offer him seconds of anything until he has ate everything on his plate. Once he has ate everything on that first offering, he may have seconds of anything on his plate without limit. Gradually at each meal increase the amount offered on the first plate offering. Soon he will be eating a variety of foods without even realizing it.

Make the nanny aware of the new eating system, if she does not comply, give her the boot.

Answer 9

You must stop your nanny from feeding your son this way. its cruel. My daughter wouldn't eat the food I gave her from when I started to wean her, she is now 7 and I could count on both hands the food she will eat. She is happy, robust and full of beans, people don't believe me when I tell them her limited diet. My health visitor said the same, she won't starve herself and if she's hungry she will eat.
If he is active and happy let him eat cheese and fruit, at least it's healthy. Try not to pressure him, it won't work. Go for a sticker chart and start off by getting him to pick up the food and touch it, then licking it, don't loose your temper and make it a learning curve for the both of you. If you get angry while he's eating, he will always associate food with bad times. Good luck, and be patient

Answer 10

Fire the nanny for starters. There is NO WAY IN HELL I woudl keep someone like that to care for my children.
In this case, I actually think you shoudl listen to your sons doctor. He is right. A child will nto starve themselves. The human body actually CRAVES whatever foods/vitamins/minerals it needs. If he needs somethign in teh meat his body will demand it of him and he will eat it on his own. Just keep offering healthy foods like PEDI said and he will not starve.
Soem children are just naturally thinner. Although not as lightweight as your my son, even though 33 or 34 ionches tall only weighs 23 pounds, but is perfectly healthy.