How Do We Stimulate Our 2 Year Old's Appetite?

My daughter (now 4) also did not eat much at that age...and was very thin, but healthy. I gave her only water and whole milk to drink (no juice). Fed her only healthy foods (no snack foods if she didn't eat meals). And just kept offering the meats and cheeses until she finally started eating more. Even now her appetite seems to come in waves. As long as she's healthy, there's nothing to worry about. I think there is something to the idea that "they will eat what they need". Best of Luck!

Hi D.,

My two year old is so picky. I feel like there are days she barely eats. I will make her a variety of foods and she just won't eat. Then other days she'll love to eat. I talked to my nutritionist and she said this is very normal for kids this age. They'll eat when they are hungry. My daughter is healthy and has a lot of energy. I try to offer her food when it's time to eat. If she eats great, if not I try not to worry so much. I also try to find new foods to offer her. She does like to eat her veggies if they have ranch. She'll also eat her chicken and eggs if there is ketchup. I give her gummy vitamins everyday, she loves those, it's like candy. Don't worry to much. As long as she seems to be active and happy and growing, she'll be fine.

Hello! my son was the same way and what I did was found away to make him like the foods by telling him it was his favorite cartoon friend favorite food. He likes cheese and ranch, so if I can't get him to eat I either put cheese or ranch on it like potatoes or chicken and I have no problem. Give it a try! It worked for me and my son is healthy and gaining weight.

N. B.

HI D.,

Wow, you have really been the backbone of your family, haven't you? Here's a great resource for feeding kids: Child of Mine, by Ellyn Sattler. You'll feel much better after reading it. She has all sorts of suggestions for meals and snacks, and a realistic view of how to get food into a kid.

It sounds as if your great-grand is just a small, healthy child. Keep offering her a variety of healthy food, and relax!
C.

im a mother of a 3 yr old girl who weighed about the same as your grandchild did when she was about 2 yrs old. i would'nt worry about the weight or the small portions they eat. the thing about toddlers is that they have sporatic eating habits ... one day she can eat as much as me and the next day she can eat as much as a bird and anywhere in between. their bodies are self regulating and know exactly how much they need. the only thing i would watch out for is if your grandchild is being distracted by playing or other things while she is eating. pls dont worry.. its all natural and perfectly normal!!!

try a book called the Super Baby Food. It has recipes for toddlers. It is a good one.

My step-daughter was always a VERY picky eater when she was young. We found a children's fun cookbook - & she loved the pictures of hot dogs made into octopuses & other fun stuff & she wanted to make them all & eat em' up!! Good luck & God Bless!

Hi,
Just to add something I didn't see in your responses: I've had food allergies all my life, which places me squarely among the last generation of kids who grew up feeling crummy and not knowing why (food allergies weren't recognized yet). I doubt your granddaughter has an "allergy" to starchy foods per se, but it might be safe to say they make her feel lousy. I clearly remember being stuck in my highchair and avoiding foods that made me 'hurt' or 'sick.' e.g.: Spaghetti gave me headaches and I felt sick clear down to my bones -- Twenty years later, I found out I was allergic to rosemary, the key ingredient in Mom's sauce. Same story with several other foods. Mom felt terrible when we both realized why I'd been a picky eater all those years. (It wasn't her fault, though!)

Your granddaughter is avoiding starchy foods? I'd check out glucose-free options. Look at the ingredients in your pasta and see if there are any common links to other things she avoids. Processed foods are a nightmare -- they have so many things hidden under so many different names that it's tough for a normal person to tell what's what. Stick to really simple foods and start a list of what she avoids. Then adjust her menus.

You're pretty safe if she's a veggie eater - there are SO many options to fill out a healthy diet for vegetarians. Soy's a great resource. It's when they'll only eat fat and carbs that you need to worry.

And, btw, my youngest is the same way: rail thin and frighteningly light appetite. Around age 4, we noticed a pattern -- for about three weeks every 'once in a blue moon' she'd eat like a teenage quarterback. That kid could clean out the fridge and ask for seconds! Then POOF! the appetite would disappear as fast as it came. About two weeks later, sure enough, all her pants were hi-waters. She'd grown about three inches... and still thin as a rail. But she's the fastest runner in her class and she's healthy as can be. (For what it's worth.)

Good luck!
:-)
PS: You ROCK for being such an involved and caring part of your family and church! That's what family is supposed to be like -- bravo!

I also have a small baby. He is 16 pounds at 13 months. My doctor recommended trying more avacados, hummus (good for dipping veggies), beans, and when my son hits two I can give him peanut butter. I try to sprinkle cheese on his food when I can. If she eats dairy try to buy whole milk products like Yo-Baby yogurt.

I don't think you can stimulate her appetite or make her eat more, but you can offer her more healthy foods that have protein and "good" fats. Sounds like you are doing a good job so far.

W.

Dear D.,

I have strong feelings on this issue - I went through something similar (it is a LONG story that I won't go into right now) - what I do want to say is that we are all different - my baby was tested and when the doctor couldn't find anything wrong, told me that I would "be crucified" (her word choice!) if she did not start gaining weight - it was awful! I about killed myself trying to get her to increase her intake - I don't believe in force-feeding babies, but that's about what it came down to - with her crying EVERY time I fed her. (This whole episode started at 4 months) Eventually I was able to use an insurance change to go to another pediatrician - who, when I asked about my baby's size at 2 years, saw no problems . . . As far as adding calories to Nevaeh's diet, have you tried peanut butter or grilled cheese sandwiches. Remember, you all are teaching her how to eat and she is picking up habits that will last a life-time - be grateful if she only eats when she's hungry - I wish I could say the same (=

Good luck and
God bless!
B.

Hi,
I've read most of your responses, some are quite good suggestions! Not sure if someone already covered this: eliminate all juice, stick to water & milk. Juice is essentially empty calories and a very good appetite suppressant. When my son was a toddler, he had had a tiny appetite too...we stopped juice...and the appetite improved. I'm sure you also avoid giving her other simple sugars and other sweets too. Well, good luck, don't worry too much. =)

p.s. if you absolutely have to have juice...dilute it at least 50% with water.

have u tried putting ketchup on things? i swear my 2 year old son will eat anything w/ ketchup on it..i've seen him even dip fruit in it..ew! let her dip for herself she'll have more fun..try different sauces. does she get a lot of exercise? my son also eats better when i don't give him too many snacks between meals.

Oh goodness my toddlers LOVE pasta, potatoes, cheese, and breads. Go ahead and add them into her diet she may REALLY love them and they are good for her. You may see her eat more just by offering those things. Like your great-granddaughter, my toddler's do not like much (if any) meat either. Don't be too concerned about her weight, my toddlers ALWAYS start out tiny then at about 10 to 12 years of age they hit a huge growth spurt where they're right where they are suppose to be.

My daughter is 3 1/2 and only weights 23 Lbs. She is completely healthy, and normal. I would say as long as the doctors think she is fine, leave it at that. I dont ever make my kids "finish their plate" or anything. If they don't finish I don't let them have snacks or dessert after, but kids will be kids, if she is healthy, don't worry about it. My daughter didn't get to forward face on a carseat til she was about 2 1/2 because you have to be over 20 lbs to forward face. Her younger brother on the other hand was forward facing at 14 months. He is 14 months younger then her, and weights almost 8 lbs more then her. They eat the same amount (appx) but her metabalism is just much faster then hers. I wouldn't worry unless the doctors do. BTW my daughter was considered failure to thrive til she was 2 becasue she was so little. Turns out everyone just wants her metabolism! I love that she still fits into 3-6 months shorts, I havn't had to buy her summer clothes (besides shirts) since she was born! She just keeps getting taller! They are a bit daisy duke on her now, but she has the legs to pull it off!

Does she like soup? My fail-safe food that always gets eaten up by my little girl is soup. She'll eat almost anything in it too. She prefers a clear broth, can be tomato or chicken, as long as she can see through it. You could add some little egg noodles or barley, some beans. See if she likes matzo balls -- you can cut them up, of course.

When my daughter was a Baby, I bought a little cookbook called "Fead Me, I'm Yours" at The Right Start. If you're a baker, you could try her recipe for enriching baked goods. I think it was called "Cornell's Triple Rich Flour" it boosted the nutrition by adding soy and two other flours. If you can't find the cookbook, email me and I'll scour around for it. Not sure where it is at the moment, but I know I didn't get rid of it.

All the best,
Colleen

D.,

Instead of trying to get her to eat more, try adding good fats to the stuff she is eating. I add olive oil or flax seed oil to my 19 month old's veggies. Avocados are a great source of good fats and my son loves them. He'll also eat guacamole and hummus (which are also good sources of fat and hummus also has quite a bit of protein).

Just in general, as long as she's healthy and developing well, I wouldn't try too hard to fatten her up. Everyone thinks fat babies are healthy babies but not necessarily. Fat babies tend to end up being fat kids who turn into fat adults. I do monitor what my kids eat and give them a good variety of healthy foods (and access to plenty of protein and good fats in their diet) but I definitely don't try to stuff them. Some kids are naturally small. My older son is like that. I figure it will be bad enough for him to go through life being kind of on the small side. I don't want him to have to deal with being short and fat. I'd rather he learn to regulate his own eating and eat until he's full and then quit. Most of us learn to overeat as children (clean that plate!) and it is a habit we carry to adulthood and one of the reasons so many of us are heavy.

If it ends up being a medical issue, there is a prescription you can get from your pediatrician that will stimulate her appetite. My babysitter uses it on her daughter who has a heart condition and it un-healthy underweight. I can't remember the name of it but your doctor should know.

Keep in mind that a portion is the size of the palm of your hand. The palm of the hand of a 23 month old isn't very big. So make sure your expectations for a "portion" are realistic.

Just a thought,
T.

In my experience, when Pediasure is given, there is little desire for the kids to eat their food.

You might want to check her for parasites. Lots of kids have them and the usual bloodtests only check for the main ones.

My kids have all had parasites - probably from all of the organic fruits and veggies we eat...since there are no pesticides used. We just give them 2-3 sprays each day for about 2 weeks and ther stomachs feel better, etc. It's homeopathic. We get it from our naturopath when no one else could figure it out.
http://organicpharmacy.org/search.php?searchterm=ParaPro

Hi D., you probably know more about this subject than i do, I would give her what she does like, they have kids meals now with chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, thinngs like that, my daughter is 19 and still is not a big meat eater, if she is healthy and Ok maube you don't need to worry to much, I would be more worried about her leaving the state. J.

My daughter has always been tiny and a picky eater too. I've brought this up with her ped and he told me it's not a big deal. Kids at this age won't starve themselves. My daughter is 4 and is still between 28-30 lbs. She has always been in the 5th percentile...

As long as she doesn't have any health concerns, i'm sure it's ok.

It sounds as though Neveah has an excellent diet, metabolism and knows her own hunger signs. If the doctor's are not concerned with her weight, then you shouldn't be either. I was raised with the mentality of "you're so skinny, you need to eat" and "finish your plate" and it's hard not to push that same mentality on my children.
This is something that many of us as adults spend hundreds of dollars trying to learn. Grazing throughout the day helps stimulate her metabolism (anyone of us who has ever been on a diet has been told to eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day) and to eat healthier snacks, more fruits and vegetables and less starches.
The only concern would be to make sure she's getting enough iron if she's not eating as much meat. Otherwise, I would say leave her alone. The only thing I would suggest is perhaps cutting down on the "liquid diet" as much and let her fill the hunger needs with more of her favorite snacks. :)

Hello D.,

There are good acupuncture points that can be massaged (Pediatric Tuina) in order to stimulate the appetite... If you would like more information and you are in Las Vegas, please do not hesitate to contact me: Rhee's Acupuncture Clinic: ###-###-####

Acupuncture and Herbal medicine are excellent therapies for children. Since children are developing, these therapies will help the child gain strength, if they are constitutionally weak.

Good luck,
O.

Hi D.. I think your doing a great job. Thats great that your little one likes veggies. Thats half the battle. I wouldn't worry too much, childrens appetites fluctuate. She will eat when she is hungry. Try to give her a multivitamin. Somebody suggested puting ketchup on food to try to get her to eat. Personally I think thats a bad idea, ketchup is loaded with sugar. Let her learn how to appreciate food without drowning it. Anyway, good luck to you. ~A.

Hi D.,

Neveah sounds like my daughter's clone, right down to the preferring veggies and light grazing.

My daughter, child of two tall and substantial parents, weighed in at 22 lbs at 27 months. Even though her ped said she's fine, he did say he wanted her to gain.

Do you know what worked? Absolutely nothing...UNTIL, a couple weeks after our doc visit, she started going to a three hour per morning daycare with kids her age...and she partakes in full of every snack (they have snacks for younger and older toddlers and because I mentioned her need to gain weight they offer her both) plus a full lunch! She has put on more than a pound in less than two months.

At home, she remains the same little nibbler as always, even when I make the exact foods she devours at daycare. But the daycare head, a former first grade teacher now raising her own kids, says Kyra watches the others and gets into the spirit of chowing down, invariably asking for seconds. They call her their little "social eater."

Kudos to you for helping to raise your great-granddaughter and helping your granddaughter to have the opportunity to graduate. I hope you all share lots of visits if they move.

Don't worry. Children this age eat what they need. Often we try to encourage more, but all we're doing is setting up habits for overeating later in age. I would actually be celebrating the wonderful healthy foods she is eating. Most children this age turn their noses up on veggies. WOW! I could only wish I had your problem! It sounds like your great-granddaughter has a balanced diet (the pediasure helps) and is getting exactly what she needs.

Hi, what a great grandmother you are for stepping up to help. I would suggest taking every opportunity to feed her. I have seen kids that simply "graze" all day long and that's why they aren't hungry at "lunch" or "dinner" time. As long as throughout the day you can justify that she is eating healthy and she is continuing to grow she should be fine. If she is very active, she could have a great metabolism which is why she would be grazing. Keep feeding her the healthy snacks, veggies are great! See if she will eat granola bars, nuts and beans (high in protein). Be creative with the food too, there are some great kid-friendly websites. Oh, very important to have her start taking a children's multivitamin. Watch out for the one's with all the fructose and coloring! Here is a link to the one my 33mo old son takes...
http://www.melaleuca.com/ps/index.cfm?f=ps.productDetail&...

Best wishes,
C.~

http://www.HelpUStayHome.com
http://www.ToxicFreeFamily.net

I suprised to learn that the number of taste buds vary greatly from person to person. The more taste buds a person has the less they need or desire any condiments, salt or pepper. The less they have they may add lots of pepper and extra tasts to the food. I have a picky eater and she supersing likes peppery foods. I can get her to eat a bit more with flavoring the food a bit more. With your little one she might need less extra taste like plain carrots or she might need ketchup, pepper, salsa, cheese or some extra taste. Just a thought, I wish you luck!

K.

Hi. I also have an underweight 2 year old. I started giving him vitamins (2 Gummy Multi-Vitamins) an hour before dinner or lunch and he eats all his dinner and asks for more. I tried them my self and they taste like candy and they do make me more hungry too. I started giving them to my son at 22 months. He is now 26 months and has gained 4 pounds. Good Luck.

Stop feeding her so many snacks. A two year old can go 3-4 hours between meals. She will resist you at first-she will think she needs to eat the second she starts to feel hungry. Grazing all day she probably does not get all the nutrition she would get from actual meals filled with protein. It's also a social issue. Children need to learn to eat with the rest of the family. Picking at food is not healthy for establishing an eating routine.