2 Yr Old Who Wont Eat Almost Anything

Totally normal for them to do this. My daughter went through the same thing and still does. I was worried at first also. My doctor told me that they will go through phases and eat more when they are in a growing phase and less when they aren't. I notice it still today with daughter who is now 7. Good luck!

My son did the same thing...don't worry, it is completely normal. The dr will tell you to let her eat when she is hungry. Mine never starved himself ; )

S.
I am a pediatric speech pathologist who has specialized in feeding disorders for 20 years. what you are describing is very normal for a 2 year old. Make sure you don't get into the power struggle of bribing or letting your child know that what she eats will make or break your day. Be very matter of fact about meals. Provide them, give an adequate amount of time for them to be eaten, and then clear them away. Don't allow a large amount of snacking in between. A toddler, with very rare exceptions, will not starve themselves. That is a normal eating pattern for a toddler. Enjoy!

Been there- done that! I have a 2 year old and a 31/2 year old. Both of my girls eat exactly the way you are talking about. I even did go as far as calling and taking them into the doctor. He told me that as long as they are eating something and drinking plenty of fluids, they should be fine. Just for me to keep an eye on thier voiding, to make sure they are still going to the bathroom like they normally do. I think it is a stage they go through.I like to call it the "trying to make me either become a drunk or be bald from yanking my hair out" phase of the toddler years. See, these are the thinks noone forwarns you about. If all moms got together and wrote a book about what really happens, people would stop reproducing. ha ha. Hope this helps!
TheresaT

That sounds like my 3 yr old son. He doesn't eat a lot of things, and most of the time he won't eat a lot of his meals. The dr Told me as long as he was eating throughout the day that he was fine ( which he does). Maybe you could ask he r to try one bite of something and just have something that she will eat at every meal. I know my son loves salads which I eat all the time so I give him a bit of salad and then let him "try" everything else.

she won't get sick and this is completely normal. i'm sure most all the responses you've received will say this. i noticed this same behavior in my daughter around 1 1/2 yrs old. they all of a sudden realize the control they can exercise over life and use it during meals (and discipline and sleep...). also, i remember our pediatrician telling me that a 2yr old's appetite is not nearly voracious as an infant/young toddler, so eating less is actually given. the dr even mentioned that one good meal a day, with the other 2 being snacks is doing really well with a 2 yr old. my daughter is now 3 and isn't particularly finicky, but always needs encouragment to eat...especially dinner. my advice to you is to refrain from getting upset with your daughter over food, always offer healthy food (even if she doesn't eat it) and find creative ways to present the food if it works (roll of slices of ham, cut apples in strips instead of chunks, etc). good luck. this is a tough age!

I also have a 2 year old, and sometimes I wonder where she gets any nutrition from at all. She will eat a lot sometimes, but like your daughter, she nibbles at her food most of the time. I was worried about it for the longest time until I brought it up with her DR. She said that it is common, and it is because she only eats when she is hungry. Even it looks like she is not eating anything, she is actually taking in just enough for her small size. As long as she is growing normally, I wouldnt worry about it. And if you are still not comforted with her food intake, maybe you could try a suppliment for toddlers like pediasure. I have heard that kids like the way it tastes, but it is packed with the good stuff. Hope that helps. Take care.

As you've probably read its perfectly normal. What you need to do is not focus on what she's getting each day, but look at the week. Some days will be better than others, but remember, 1. a toddler has a tiny tummy, about the size of her own fist and 2. if she is hungry she'll eat. :)

This is very normal as much as we hate it. The trick to this behavior is that you don't allow in between meal eating. This way she knows she has to eat at meal time or nothing. I have saved the meal and if the child gets extremly cranky from being hungry I warm that up and give it to the child but nothing else. They will eat when they are hungry so as long as she is drinking give it a bit and see what happens. GOOD LUCK

My 18 month old is doing the same. Some days he will eat then others he just wont no matter what I do. I worry because he is so young only 18 months not 2 or 3. I give him milk as much as I can on days when he wont eat, but other than that I don't know what to do. (first time mom blank stare) At first I would freak out and give him anything as long as he would eat (cookies). Then I thought I might be making the problem worse by giving him anything to fill up his tummy. Help I don't know what to do either.

S.,
Kids will not let themselves starve, so don't worry about her not eating enough. Now her getting the right nutrients may be a problem and you might want to consider if you dont' already do it introducing a multivitamin so that she gets enough of the things she needs to grow. I would look and see if she is eating a lot in between meals, and try to curb her snacking so that she is hungry for meal times. Also, bribing her to eat is not such a good idea, nor should it be a cause of punishment. If she says she is not hungry she should be dismissed from the table, if she wants something to eat later, then give her back her dinner plate, but don't offer her anything else til she finishes her dinner. This way she won't get a treat until she has eaten properly. Kids will generally eat what we put in front of them, or at least try it, but most parents don't give their children the option and I believe that is part of the cause for childhood obesity and the behavior problems that we have in our school age children. Just remember she will not starve herself when she is hungry she will eat, and if you keep her plate and offer that when she is hungry she will eventually eat all her food during dinner time. Every child goes through stages, and you will notice that while she is growing she will tend to eat a lot of food and then other times she will barely be hungry. I do wish you luck.

Hi S.,

I have 2 daughters and my 5 year old is like that. She doesn't weigh much for her age, but is as tall as the other children in kindergarten. The doctor has always said, "she'll eat if she's hungry(which is what my motto needs to be), and she does. They always have checked just to make sure she gains a little bit, and she is very healthy and active. I would say she's just being normal.

Hi S.,

My son is 4 and is still going through this phase. It used to worry me a lot, because he looks really skinny to me, but at my ped. visits, we always check his growth and he is still right along the growth curve. He's actually in the 50th percentile! They are just so active and picky a lot of times that they can't be bothered by food. I feed him throughout the day because I want him to eat when he is hungry, but NO JUNK!! If he is hungry then I want him to eat something nutritious...especially if it is probably going to be the most he will eat the entire day. But I do reward him for eating all his dinner with chocolate milk (try anything that your child will like...ice cream, popcorn, etc.). One thing I also did was keep him on whole milk even until now just so he gets that extra fat. He only drinks milk twice a day. But if you cut out all the junk during the day, I bet your daughter will be looking forward to a big lunch/dinner!

Good Luck!

S. -

Don't worry :-)

My five year old has gone through phases of eating and not eating. Typically these correlate strongly with rapid growth and periods of non- or slow growth patterns. It is normal and typically unless she is losing weight, not a cause for concern. If she is hungry, she will eat. If she is not hungry, forcing her to do so would not be beneficial, in my opinion as a mother but non-medical professional.

If you continue to feel you need to be more proactive, try consistently introducing different, age-appropriate foods.

Good luck!

S. I have a 2 year old daughter too and she won't eat either. Just like yours. But I am not worried. I know she is a kid. They go thru stuff like this...

I been married this Sept 2 will be 14 years, and have a sweet angel - my Jessica. I have PCOS, hard for me to have a baby.

My son was the same way. But the Dr told me that it was OK the childs body would tell them when they needed to eat and what it needed the most. There where times all he would eat was chicken. Now he is 6'2. But I always made sure He had a full meal offered to him. Some times give the food new names made it easier. Like pastina (baby stars) and broccoli (baby trees). Still his 2 favotire foods.

Don't force your child to eat. She won't starve herself to death - eventually she will be hungry. Forcing creates bad habits in the future and also creates a cycle of control issues between your child and you. She is at an age where she wants to make some decisions for herself and she is also at the pickiest eating age. Try to have healthy snacks available and make her sit at the table to eat them. If she only takes a bite or two that is fine but if she wants more later she has to sit at the table again. Don't let her have junk to replace the meals. She will learn that she has to eat at the table and eventually she'll be hungry enough to sit and eat a meal with you too.
Good Luck

If she is snacking all day long, that could be why she is not eating meals. If she gets up at lundh, then nothing till dinner. Then she will eat. As long as she is healthy, there really is no reason to take her to the doctor. (not under weight, or getting sick allot) Good luck!!

My daughter is 22 months, and we have been having this same problem off and on. Some days/meals she will eat everything on her plate and mine. Then, other days/meals she won't touch anything. I talked to her doctor about it on her 18 mo. check-up, and he assured me that this is perfectly normal. He told me that it is not possible for a child this age to starve themselves and that she will eat when she is hungry. The doctor said that for now, I should just try to make sure she eats at least one good meal a day and let her pick at the others. I have found that my daughter will eat a large breakfast most days, so I try to make that her "one good meal". Then if she decides not to eat at the other meals, I feel reassured that she has eaten somehting good for her that day.

My daughter who is now 3 1/2 yrs old went through this same thing. She even started to loose weight. I took her to the dr. and he said that this was a stage that children go through, however to keep a close eye on it since she was starting to lose weight.

I gave her choc milk when she wouldn't eat. i didn't make a habit of it because the milk would fill her up and that causes a whole new problem.

Call your dr. if you think she needs seen. Always better to have that re-assurance and every dr. has their own opinion.

My 2-year old dose the same. I tell her to eat and if she dont then she gets nothing until lunch and I do the same at lunch. Make the plate and if she dont eat then so be it until lunch or dinner. She gose thru spurts of eating and not eating just keep in mind she needs to try food if she dont like it dont give up keep putting it on her plate and finally she will eat it and like it I have done this with mine with veggies where 3 months ago she wouldnt eat any and now she eats carrorts,peas, corn, and green beans. I also have a few nights or days where I make a meal I know she loves.

My son is 2 years and 8 months and is the EXACT same way. I went through this problem with my daughter also and the only thing she would really eat was macaroni and cheese. The doctor said, "well, who says that you can only eat cereal for breakfast?" So, for about a month or two, she was eating mac and cheese all the time. I mean, it was gross! She would still eat apples and other fruits for snacks, but if yours won't, you could try to buy a juicer and make fresh juice. Both of my kids love that. You can get one for less than 40 at WalMart. My son has been this way for probably about 6 month to a year. I'm not worried at all though. I know he'll come around just like my daughter did. My daughter now eats whatever I put in front of her, even if it's broccoli. So, hang in there, feed her the things you know she will eat. I always have some of the things I made for dinner on my son's plate too, just in case he decides he's ready to try them. So far, he's realized he likes mashed potatoes, so just be patient with your daughter, she'll come around.