22 Month Old Won't Eat!!!

My son is only about a month older, and we've experienced the same problem. But I've learned he will eat when he's hungry. I also found that my son likes foods that I never would have thought to feed him except that he tried my food and loved them. He loves tuna sandwiches, pimento & cheese, refried beans, & any kind of rice. He also really likes the big chef boyardee, b/c its easy for him to eat. He likes mexican & italian food.

Hi J.,

Make sure you are communicating with your son when you are preparing his meal. Ask him to come to the kitchen and help you. You can make some mac and cheese together, make a sandwich, etc. When you let him use a real glass for his drink and a real plate for his food (a dessert plate is fine), this lets him know you trust him. Sit down with him for his meal, and let him feed himself. He may only eat small portions at first, make sure you do not give him any milk before his meal. It is easy for little ones to fill up with milk, then they are not hungry.

Don't worry about the mess with food, remember he is building self-esteem and trust through these practical life lessons.

May I suggest some reading: Montessori From the Start, The Child At Home from Birth to Age Three. Authors Paula Polk Lillard and Lynn Lillard Jessen.

I hope this helps, keep in touch! -J.

There reakky isn't much that you can do except keep trying.If he only eats banannas and peaches give them to him as breakfast and snacks.Also try giving him V8 fruit fusion drinks it gives him the vitamins he needs and try pedisure bananna shakes.Most toddlers become picky at this stage my son only eats apples and other fruits during the day.My peditrician said that it was okay aslong as i give him the nutrients that he needs.

He might be going through a stage where he really isn't hungry. Once he says no, put him down, let him go. If he is hungry he'll let you know. I wouldn't worry about it to much...although that is hard to do. Bargaining works too.... two more bites of peas and then you can have a bite of banana. Remember hiding the mashed peas under the applesauce on the same spoon...it might still work now.
A.

first dont stress it 2nd hes not going to starve himself he will eat when hes hungry my son 2yrs in about 2 weeks has days where he will eat and soem days he wont. I sometimes leave a bowl of cheerios out where he can get to it if he gets hungry, that way I know hes getting something and its good for him. theres nothing wrong with eating peaches and bananas all the time at least its fruit and not just crackers. when my daughter was a baby some days the only thing she would eat was Goldfish crackers other days she would eat ANYTHING you put in front of her.

dont stress it you cant FORCE them to eat all that does is create tention and frustration in all parties involved.

HTH and good luck,
B.

My 27 mo does the same thing! There are days when all he wants is to drink yogurt smoothies, goats milk, and juice. Don't worry, it's normal. Try offering a "snack tray" for him to munch on through-out the day *hugs* It's frustrating isn't it?

I know it is hard to believe, but kids even toddlers know when they are hungry or not. So, maybe your turly isn't hungry when you try to feed him. How much liquid does your son get in a day? It is really easy for kids to fill up on fluid and then not eat. I would try maybe cutting down on his liquids and see it that makes a difference. Also, once he starts saying no, playing with his food, throwing it on the floor or handing you his plate I would just take it away and say to him, "Oh, I see you are finished eating" and let him leave the table. He could also be acting this way because of the attention and reaction he is getting out of you.

I know it's stressful, but don't worry your son will not let himself strave. Good luck.

For us it was macaroni... and the fact that he got hungry if he didn't eat. After dinner snacks were only what we had for dinner...or cereal. He is finally eating...most of the time at least.

Hey there. Don't worry you are not the only one. My two year old does the same thing. Except he does not throw the food on the floor. You will have to work on that. One thing that helped me was that my boys normally drink milk with there dinner and gulp down the milk before they ever begin to eat. So now I have stopped letting them have their milk until after they eat and that helps. When they say they are done, keep telling him he needs to eat one more bite and so on. Good luck, let me know if you have any other questions or if it works. :)

-K.

Good morning, I have to agree w/ the other moms...my 27 month old has always gone through these "non eating" spouts and there's really nothing to do about it - they'll eat when they are hungry.
Just make sure to offer snacks, nutrional, and plenty of liquids to him in between meals.
Good luck,
M.

My three year old is still that way. He eats and walks away from the table. This worried me so I took him to the Doctor, He told me not to worry that he is gaining the weight, but in different ways. From his milk and little things he eats. When they get hungry they will eat. I try not to force him because that will only make it worse. So I wouldn't worry so much UNLESS he is losing weight.

K.

My niece used to do the same thing. She would go thru little spurts when she didn't want to eat anything. There really isn't anything we did to get her back on track. She would just do it on her own. He'll begin to eat. I would just make sure he's getting plenty of whole milk to help on the nutrients that he's missing right now. GOOD LUCK!!

My 28 month old does the same thing. She will eat in spurts, but there are days that it seems she doesn't eat much of anything. It makes you wonder what fuels their endless energy. He'll eat. Eventually. Keep offering healthy choices.

i had the same problem with my son at that age and the doctor told me he will eat if he's hungry!! so i wouldn't worry over it to much cause a child will not starve themselves!!!!

T.

Hi J....I think you and I are raising the EXACT same child!! My son, 21 months old yesterday, is doing the EXACT thing....and only eating peaches, bananas, kiwi or mandarin oranges. We try everything. He's not losing weight or looking unhealthy, but all of the fruit makes him have very loose bowel movements. I have been told by other mothers that as long as he is eating regularly and eating things like fruits, he will be fine and this is just a phase. I swear, we thought we were the only ones going through this. =)