Having Trouble Getting My Son to Eat.

I would not be to concerened. Kids are like that and especially at almost 2 years old. He isn't going to starve. What I do with my three kids (all under 5) is that I give them a nice meal if they refuse to eat thats fine. But then I ask them if they want dessert. If they say yes then they get fruit. As long as they et all of say their applesauce and drink their milk or juice then I don't worry. I know that when they are ready to eat that they will. Just remember a child is not going to starve themselves. It is OK and he will start to eat again. By the way it will slow back down at about 4 y.o. and I will have to let you know when it picks back up again.

D.,

I have been a member of this group for a while now, and a lot of moms, myself, have and go through same eating problems with kids.
Mine are 28 months and it seemed like forever that my kids were surviving on pasta (white sauce) and hot dogs. I was willing to feed them every hr on the hr to keep food in them. Big mistake. I even realized that 2-3 goldfish I would give for a snack would fill them up for hours and then they'd reject food at mealtime. I even dreamt of what to give them the next day.

I think it was august i posted about my girls not eating at all when they were sick at the time. A few weeks later i went back and reread my post and got goose bumps. How consumed I had gotten about their eating, and I just said 'I give up.' I don't mean I am not offering good foods for them but I give up as in i can't be spending every waking moment worrying about them. When I backed off, they seemed to sprung and just become these 'perfect lil eaters.'
So, my kids get three meals a day
8 am breakfast
12 lunch
and 5 dinner.
I only give them fruit for snack, grapes or bananas or a few slices of apples.

A few ideas for foods;
Breakfast except for colorful cheerios, i found this cereal called Kix and they seem to love. A bowl of cereal, and then a jumbo pancake (the eggo kinds, without any kind of sweetener, just a plain pancake, or cheese omelette, or pb and J sandwich (cut in triangles) followed by some yoghurt.

a few ideas for lunch and dinner, amy's chese pizza (again cut in cute small shapes that he can use his fork with, whatever kind of pasta, followed by chicken nuggets, or a drumstic (be careful there's a small pointy bone), or bacon and cheese quiche, or broccoli quiche, or grilled cheese sandwich.

whatever you give him put a few things on his plate and try not to look at him. let him play around with food whatever he feels like eating.

the lesson i learned is get them hungry before mealtime, no juices or water at least 1 hr before mealtime. that fills them up even if temporary. and then after he eats whatever and as much as he eats off his plate then follow by fruit that he likes.
baby steps in the beginning. there are days when mine don't eat much but there are days i just can't believe my eyes.
all the snacks, cookies, gummy fruity, juices and all that are off limits, i mean, i don't even keep them in the house anymore
every kid is different good luck
vlora

I guess I'm different than some others. I don't feel so strongly about eating at preassigned times. I only keep healthy snack options available so I don't really care when they eat them or if they "ruin" their meals. I figure they should eat when they are hungry and willing. Mine have been pretty good eaters and weren't too affected by the slow down in hunger during toddler years. But they do have days when they are hungrier than others. Occasionally they eat like there is no tomorrow and then they might have a day or two when they just take a few bites - it all balances out. Unless there is a serious problem, kids are desinged to know how much food they need. I think forcing more than they want disrupts that and affects obesity. Kids let you know when they are hungry and then you should respond. As long as you only provide a variety of healthy things during the day, it will all even out and he'll be fine.

Since you have a boy, I will give you my advice on feeding...the "nastier" the food, the more likely he is to eat it:) For example...if you want him to eat some yogurt...crush up some fat free cookies (such as the 100 calorie packs by Nabisco- preferably oreos) and add some gummy worms. Tell him it is "mud". That's what we did w/ our son. We made some of the nastiest looking food, just to appease his "boy nature", which is dirty and yucky stuff...lol! You could try peeling grapes and calling them monster eye balls. You can also do the same idea w/ meatballs, but the sauce would be "red goo"! You really have to just get down on a boy's level and make eating fun!! It can be really messy, so I recommend intercepting him from the table with a soaked wash cloth:) You can make spaghetti such a fun thing...here's how...Her name is Lynn Guini (which my husband and I got from Everybody Loves Raymond), she has pasta hair, meatball eyes, a sauce mouth...you get the idea!! Make an open face sandwich for a PBJ sandwich. Make designs like happy faces on the bread w/ the pb or jelly. Anyway, I hope some of these ideas make it a little easier. Just remember...kids love to have fun at all times of the day, even meal time! So, go with what they love. Let me know if you need any more ideas. We are like creative culinary artists in our house!! Good luck!

D.-
PATIENCE! That's what works here. My daughter went to bed tonight without eating anything. She had a mediocre lunch and a so-so breakfast. She eats when she's hungry and we offer her as many healthy choices for meals as I can think of! (She actually likes green beans- go figure!). But overall, she's picky-picky about what and how much she eats. I think that's just how they learn. Lola's got some great suggestions-and I think she's right on the money about letting them get hungry- that's what turned the tide here. I chilled out and she started eating better. This parenting stuff is a challenge! It's amazing that we love these kids so much and that's just not enough to make it all easy! Good luck!
C.

Honestly...I have talked to many mothers & I have 4 kids of my own...The secret is Kechup-or Ranch Dressing--whatever he likes the best. My doctor told me that they may be dipping their peas & green beans in Kechup, but at least they are eating their peas & green beans. My kids have no other choice but to eat what is served--they eat what I make, or they don't eat. That was how I was brought up. My mother is a chef, so I learned to cook when she was at school--I cook very healthy meals and my kids just sometimes won't eat those pesky vegetables without a little "dip". They are now 17, 10, 6 & 6. There are still a few things they want to "dip" but for the most part they know how to eat healthy and do so because they know that they have to eat it!
Hope this helps!!

My daughter is almost 3 and she still doesn't eat....they eat when their hungry....it is very stressful believe me i know. my daughter does not eat meat...only meat she will eat or close to meat is hot dogs, chicken nuggets, bologna, and meatballs out of the spagettio can....she likes fruit and yogurt...the only veggie she'll eat is corn....try asking him what he wants to eat...thats what i do with my daughter....today infact she ate pancakes for lunch...how i look at it as long as she eat some kind of food (no junk food) i'll be okay with it. She has eaten only bread and butter for dinner a few times cause that's what she wants and eats 2 peices. Your gonna have to try to be patient...its hard but i try not to fret over it too much any more. oh and try to give him what he likes most even if you give it to him all week...try not to put to much of a variety of food on his plate. Pediasure is good it helps with supplements...i don't know if i helped but i sure wrote a lot....

another thing to try is puree food and mix it in sauces if he eats like spagetti sauce...it didnt work for me cause my daughter dont like spagetti suace...she only eats bbq sauce or ketchup.

I have that problem with my daughter all the time. I have been told by my doctor and others to just let them be, when they are hungry, they will eat. They told me kids go through these stages at this time of life (my daughter is almost 19 months old). I just try to introduce new stuff here and there. All she eats is grilled cheese and hotdogs. My doc said just feed her what she will eat and be patient. She seems to be finally turning around now but it will probably happen again. Don't worry to much, as long as he is gettin enough fluids and is eating something some of the time, he will be fine (that is what my doc told me) Hope this helps! Good luck!

T. :)

hi i am having the same problem with my son he is eight you might want to ask your doc if you should see a devlopement and behaveral specialist my son has a lot of medical issues but its worth a try you could also get a phone number and ask them if they think that they should see him

Mine's almost 22 months and goes through similar patterns, too. I think it's normal toddler behavior. Are you still nursing? That really balances out the diet. :)

He is not going to starve. Kids go through these things. As long as he is drinking, he will be fine. Fruit always worked for my daughter when she was like this.