I am tired of hearing my daughters pediatrician say...?

Question

as long as she is drinking liquids she is fine. I am begining to get worried and so is my mom because my 2 year old daughter just doesn't want to eat...she will pick here and there and eat junk like chips, popsicles, and fruit snacks (does take vitamins daily and I do make her eat fruits and vegi's in place of her junk snacks). I wasn't too worried before because she drank her milk/tolddler milk every morning and night but that has slowly stopped. She weighs 25lbs and they say that is fine...How can I get my little girl to eat?!?!?!?!!?!?!!?

When daddy and I eat our meals, she eats as well. I am only able to fully monitor her eating on the weekends as my hubby and I work full time. My mom has her in the mornings and gives in to her a lot of the time, from there she goes to school and I can not tell you how many times I have gone to pick her up and have seen the teachers give the kids sugary popsicles (I give her the natural kind) or ice cream sandwiches or cup cakes... I can't be there all the time and I surely can't control other people.

Answer 1

I have been a mom for 28 years to 4 kids, now ages 28, 26, 22, and 10. I have also been a child care provider in my home for 20 years. Eating issues top the list of concerns that many parents have with their children. Several of my daycare children along with my own youngest daughter ate similar to your daughter. My daughter went through her "26 pound period" that lasted from her 2nd birthday until just before she turned 3. She lived basically on cucumbers and watermelon with an occassional bite of chicken and pasta. We had monthly weight checks at the doctor (since she dropped drastically in percentiles between 15 months and 2) and we measured growth by the ounce. As long as she had any weight improvement we were all happy. This is my suggestion, given from my experience: First, know that children will not starve themselves, they will eat when they are hungry. Next, this is very hard, but make a conscious effort to make food a "non-issue" for your daughter. Your goal will be to offer the food, let her eat what and how much she wants, then drop it until the next meal/snack. It is not a stupid child who will refuse to eat a healthy lunch because she knows mom/grandma will let her have a fruit snack later. Toddlers have very small stomachs (although some can really pack away the food!) and many do well on 5-7 small mini-meals throughout the day. My daughter was a "grazer" (and still is if I don't watch her) and would eat little bits here and there throughout the day. I very strongly disagree with the suggestion to stop offering all "junk" food. In theory it sounds simplistic, but people who suggest it rarely have the experience of dealing with a child who is a true difficult eater. It is an unrealistic expectation for a little one to understand why she can no longer ever have some of her favorite things, especially if she sees others in the family eating it. There is some evidence that holding back food has some connection to eating disorders (leads to hiding to eat forbidden foods). Personally, I don't think there are any bad foods but rather bad quantities. I recommend that foods like chips be offered in small quantities as part of a planned meal or snack. If you offer her a few chips, a piece of string cheese, come cucumber slices and a glass of milk and all she eats is the chips and a couple sips of milk, let that be her choice, but then wait a couple hours before offering her another small meal. Avoid bribery, pleading, cajoling or threats (I have used them all with no good results). Eating issues can be connected to a child's need for control, although this isn't true all the time. So, be sure she has a few areas of control in her life. For instance, let her pick the pink or the purple shirt to wear, or does she want "Good Night Moon" or "Corduroy" for her bedtime story? Our daughter's doctor, too, was not concerned about her lack of eating. She told us to look at what she eats in a week's time (no need to write it down in journal form) and if she has eaten something from all the food groups sometime in that week, she is doing fine nutritionally. Our doctor did not even recommend a daily vitamin, she said it's basically not needed but wouldn't hurt if I felt better giving her one. I loved that doctor and was sorry when she moved away. Our daughter is 10 years old now and still has some extremely odd eating habits (for instance, she'll go several days without eating much and then eat tons of food one day). However, she is in excellent health, loves all kinds of healthy foods, and is very happy. One last thing to take a look at, how much juice is she consuming? It is easy for little tummies to be filled with juice. Due to the sugar content, it is not as healthy as people think it is. Even 100% juice has a high sugar content. Even though it is "natural" sugar, it is still sugar. Try to offer only 4-6 ounces a day. Dilute 1/2 and 1/2 with water to stretch it out if she fusses too much about getting only one glass if she is used to several. We can make our little ones do a lot of things, but eating is something she'll do all on her own. Also, offer small amounts on a small plate, and let her help in the kitchen. She can stir and pour and wash even as young as she is.

Answer 2

Stop ALL junk food. Children will not starve themselves - but they will try and make you believe they will. Whenever you give her the tiniest amount of junk food, even if it's infrequently, you are sending her the message that it is worth refusing food because sooner or later you will give in.
Eat as a family and make her eat what you eat - even if it is a modified version. If kids see you eat something then it can quell their fears over a particular food.
Don't make a fuss if she doesn't eat, as youare giving her attention - even if you tell her off - she is still getting some sort of attention. When she does eat tell her what a good girl she is and how she makes mummy and nanny very happy etc..........
If she doesn't touch the food on her plate then just calmly take the plate away from her and let her see you scrape the food in the bin while you calmly tell her she can leave the table now (even a two year old will start to get the message that she's had her chance until next meal/snacktime).
Don't tell her she can't have pudding if she has learnt to ask for it - just tell her she can have pudding when she finishes her meal.
Don't overphase her with big portions. Keep it small.

And try this recipe (if she can have eggs) as it provides lots of nutrients (and iron) and it is nice a sweet - however it is also easy to convert to a savory dish at a later stage.

whisk an egg with a little milk in a large/flat bowl. Cut the crusts off two pieces of WHOLEMEAL bread and soak the bread in the egg mixture until it is wet through.
Heat a little oil in a frying pan (canola and red palm oil (availiable in tesco) is rich in vitamin A). Place the eggy bread in pan and gently heat through on both sides.
Cut into strips and serve with the following:

Dried apricot puree:

Boil a handful of dried apricots until they are very soft (about 10-15 minutes) liquidise with a little brown sugar while still warm. Spread very thinly on eggy bread.

I have never met a child who won't eat this......but there's always a first!!!

Also you could try making smoothies with milk and frozen fruits (tesco again) (liquidise it until it starts to go frothy). heat a little pure and fresh fruit juice and melt some gelatine leaves into it. pour this mixture into the smoothie, mix well and pour into small bowls and stick it in the fridge. You will have a lovely mousse with milk in!!!

It's worth a try!!

Good luck.

Answer 3

If she is healthy she probably is fine, however, you could talk with the school and see if perhaps they could limit the number of sugary snacks the school provides particularly for the twos. If they are regulated (as in licensed by a governing body) I would check and see if there are not rules governing the provision of snack fot twos. In my state, licensed child care centers must provide healthy snacks, providing something from two food groups and sugar is not one of them. However preschools are not regulated because it is assumed that they are not providing the nutritional needs for the children. If you want to have a discussion with them about best practice then check NAEYC in the US for best practice information on nutrition.

So the next step is stop worrying, the more you worry the more stress your child feels. Since she eats with her mom and dad, she will pick up your eating habits, so apple snacks, peanut butter crackers, yoghurts with fruit, etc when watching her favorite show all good, I used to provide raw brocolli once my four were good chewers and they would watch tv pulling the limbs off the trees and eating them. (no ranch dressing, they loved them raw and plain, of course they were being rough and ready boys too) I have known lots of twos who won't eat. Relax try putting a new flavor in her milk, like carob or ovaltine type flavoring. If she likes that and drinks it you at least will feel better. Good fortune to you and your family. Some times when the doc says don't worry, you really shouldn't worry. I think this may be one of them. Other times, instincts override the doctor, but you and your mother may be creating a worry vortex for right now. Luv ya.

Answer 4

All children go through a "picky" phase. If they are hungry they will eat. Although, I would suggest cutting out any unecessary sugary drinks/treats.. You can request that your child NOT be given any "treats" without your approval or pack something healthy like applesauce or yogurt with your child to have as a snack alternative.. Also, I have young children and they will only eat certain foods.. They LOVE macaroni/cheese the Kraft kind.. So, I've been adding babyfood purees to it to give it a little more health benefits.. I even add a cup or so of frozen mixed veggies and extra cheese and they eat it all up and never complain about the veggies.. I do this with spagetti as well... Try different food combinations and eventually she'll eat more.. I have the same trouble with my children they are both underweight, but otherwise healthy.. I feed them tons all day but, they are very, very active as well.... Also, if you don't like your current doctor get a new one !!! Good luck

Answer 5

Cut out all the junk - chips and popsicles once a week max and then only after she has eaten some decent food!

Eat with her, always. Have all the family eat with her as often as possible. If she is eating alone and would rather be doing something else there's little incentive, if everyone is round the table eating she will almost certainly join in and do what they are doing.

Answer 6

We never really had a problem with our girls not eating or eating too much junk.

1) We eat all our meals at the table at the same time everyday.
Snacks the same way.

1) I don't cater to picky eaters. I put a very small amount of everything that is being served on their plates. If they want seconds they have to eat everything that's on their plates. Since I only offer very small amounts on that first plate, I know they will be able to eat it all, without having to worry about over feeding them. I let them have seconds of whatever they want after they have finished eating everything on their plate.

3) I don't have junk food such as chips, cookies, snack cakes in my house on a regular basis. I only buy them as a treat.

4) I don't allow my children to eat and drink all day. They eat at meal and snack times only. They drink milk or juice at meal and snack times. Between those they get water or sugar free kool aid.

Answer 7

I'd do this as an experiment. Please take me like I'm being serious, not sarcastic. I had to do it four times, to some degree, with each of my four kids.

One week, do not repurchase any junk. Don't even buy any kind of cookies. See which foods your child will eat. At first a more stubborn child might balk. But a truly hungry child will eventually eat. Might not be on the first day you try it either.

It is much easier when there are no junk foods or you rarely buy them. You could also learn to bake cakes or cookies, anything sweet yourself. Not saying you can't buy your coffee or soda.... Oh, here's another thing that helped when each child went through the "I want!" phase: when they eat something you picked instead of what they thought they wanted, continually praise them or say something good about it. "Mmm, yummy. That's my favorite." "Mmm, good!" When they ask for something you don't buy, just say "We don't buy that."

My kids like spinach. :-)

Answer 8

I would always check in with your pedi to rule out anything major but it does sound like something simple, like allergies or a small cold. My pedi told me to roll up towels and put them UNDER the actual mattress so it was on an incline, then run the humidifier through the day as well. You can also use saline (an aspirator does more harm then good as it irritates the nasal cavities and causes them to swell thus making it more difficult to breathe) every couple of hours, BABY vicks on her chest and sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running helps a lot as well. Make sure she's getting plenty of fluids (see if your pedi recommends watering down some plain juice) as this will help loosen up any mucus and also hydrate her a bit more. I also open up my windows to allow lots of fresh air and take a few walks around the block or park to get some fresh air. I would not recommend putting a pillow under the sheet in case she rolls over accidently. I still co-sleep with my youngest and when she had a little cold I made her sleep in her bassinet with the mattress propped underneath-better safe then sorry! Good luck and hope she feels better!

Answer 9

If there is no junk to be had, she won't eat junk. Kids will not starve themselves. If you continue to offer her a variety of healthy foods at regular times, she will be fine. When she is hungry, she will eat what you're offering. In my house we have a two bite rule. I don't believe in forcing children to "finish" food, but everyone has to try what's being offered. The children get the same meal as the adults and all of my children get the same food and snacks on the same schedule. If you don't offer any alternatives for a while, it will become a routine.

Answer 10

Don't buy junk food. Tell her teachers at school she is NOT allowed _____ (fill in the blank). Period. Your mom -- tell her that if she REALLY loves your daughter, then she will work WITH you and quit offering that kind of stuff to your daughter.

Fruit smoothies are easy to make with frozen fruit and milk (if she can have it, milk substitute if she can't) and are good for her.

Also, visit: http://www.savingdinner.com for great recipes kids will love. My son is a picky eater because he has an EXTREMELY sensitive gag reflex due to Arnold Chiari II malformation as a result of being born with spina bifida. He has yet to turn his nose up at any of the menus I've prepared from the menus from the meal plans there.