Any Suggestions? - Phoenix,AZ

Hi C.,

I have a 3 year old picky eater also. I adapted more to what he likes to eat, take him to the grocery store and let him make some choices on the dinner foods we buy, and I ask him what he wants to eat at night so he get's to participate in the "dinner making" process. This seems to help. We go through the cabinets on his level (where I keep the healthier foods, junk food is hidden out of his view) and we pick out dinner. I also noticed with him, that he would just sit and drink his milk if I gave him milk with dinner, so now, as harsh as it seems, he doesn't get a drink with his meal, until he is mostly done. This helps me get him to eat. But don't give in. If he doesn't eat what you set out for him, then he doesn't eat. Another suggestion...I noticed when my son started getting really iffy about eating dinner, I said something to his daycare teacher, and she said that they gave the kids a late afternoon snack....I told them to cut back how much they gave him and that helped too.

I used to have this problem with my son. All the health professionals from whom I sought help said the same thing: a child won't starve himself. Keep giving him the good stuff, Mom!

As for the water, I put a couple drops of lemon juice in with it and he was much more willing to drink it.

Much grace to you, C. - and Merry Christmas!

Hi C.,

Just a little support. Im a single mother as well in w phoenix and I have the same troubles as you, I agree with what you are doing and if your son gets hungrey enough or thristy he will eat or drink it may be a few days of battle but if you stick to it you will get results.Im soo happy to hear that there are other mothers out there that are as caring as you are. I know its hard just wanted to offer suppore. If you ever need to talk my email is ____@____.com. I have a very picky 3 year little girl so i understand

H.

Maybe try a yogurt or a string cheese. My daughter is two and she does the same thing. To her she thinks it is a treat but I know it is good for her..Have you ever tried flavor water? I give her flavor waters instead of juice or koolaide.

To get my son to drink water I put a little of his juice in it and then I gradually start putting less and less juice til he is just drinking the water. My son also has some problems eating from time to time, try giving him string cheese or cut up chichen nuggets, that is what my son like. I hope this helps.

I t don't think you are wrong. If he is hungary he will eat his dinner. If you give him a snack instead of dinner then he will come to expect that when he doesn't like something he doesn't have to eat it and you will give him something else.
As for the water, there is no substitute for water. Have you tried letting him get his own water from the dispenser or using cool cups that are for "water" only, or putting some ice in his cup or water bottle? The Disney Store at Arrowhead had their cups/plates on sale right now.
Good luck

I have the same problems with my son who is now 4. As for the water, we added Stevia liquid flavors, they are sugar free and calorie free, but they really sweeten the water and he would actually prefer to drink water over juice. You can get them at www.wisdomnaturalbrands.com. As for the picky eating, you just have to keep offering the healthy stuff. If he's hungry, he'll eat. As long as he's not losing weight, you shoulnd't worry. My doctor also recommended that I give him Carnation instant breakfast in his milk in the morning to help supplement some of the vitamins he might not be getting since he is so picky. She said it is basically the same as Pediasure, but much cheaper!

Good luck!
K.

It is normal and dont give into giving a snack and juice. I tried that with my son and it made things worse. He is really a picky eater and didnt' want to eat what was made for dinner and just wanted to drink his milk. For the longest time I would make two dinners one for me and my husband and one for him. I quit doing that and told him that he eats what we do or he will not get anything at all. That worked couse he would eat and he would get what he wanted and still to this day he goes through days where he wakes up really hungry couse he didn't want to eat what we had for dinner and realized that he needs to eat what is given to him or he will have a growling tummy all night and he wont be able to get anything else. We even went as far as eating dessert in front of him if he didn't eat and told him that he could have some if he ate his dinner and he would. The thing that I figured out with my son is that as long as i gave into him he would only eat what he wanted and if not he went hungry. Now he eats and he goes through times where he says that he is hungry but dont want to eat what we made but he knows the rules and he will take just a few bites and think that he can get away with still getting dessert and it dont work that way. I did find that he will eat when he is hungry enough and it dont matter what it is. Other than that the only thing that i can say is dont keep junk food around or if you have it for yourself then keep it away from him out of sight out of mind. Is so true to the little ones. (he forgot about all his halloween candy) Hope that helps you out a bit or at least gives you ideas on some things to do.

Hi C.!

Both my kids had gone thru several phases where they won't eat all that good, or are "stuck" trying to eat only one thing. My 5 yr old son is now on a pancake stage. So I just try to vary the recipe as much as possible, adding fruit like mashed bananas or blueberries, and oatmeal to it. Also my sister and I use pediasure to compliment our kids nutrition; neither one of us can really force our kids to eat.
Hope that helps.
Angie