Almost 3 Yr Old Not Eating

Hi S.,

My daughter is almost 4, and she still doesn't eat well at all. She had speech therapy to deal with some of her oral sensitivity issues when she was one, but even with that she still never eats good. She is pretty small for her age...just barely 30 pounds (I guess she is in the 10th percentile for weight, 5th for height). But here's the thing...she's not starving, she doesn't get sick, she runs and jumps and plays like any other kid. It is hard for me to understand because I tend to have a problem with eating too much (emotional eater), but she just doesn't use food that way. I do hope that in time she will start to eat more...her hair falls out pretty easy so that is the only concern that I have, and I cannot get her to take a vitamin, but if you can get your daughter to take a vitamin, I don't think you need to worry. Kids won't starve themselves.

Take care.

D.

Hi S.,

This was a problem with my son - until he was twelve or thirteen! He was always smaller than all the other kids. Then all of a sudden, he grew! And ate! It was almost overnight. Now he is 22, and sometimes I watch him eat in amazement and can't figure out where he puts it!

My thoughts - some kids are just like this. Listen to your doctor. Be careful not to turn eating/meals into a daily control, or unpleasant, issue with her.

I know this makes your job harder. Try to get more nutritional impact in what she does consume. I recommend Via Viente. Very powerful whole fuit and minerals and tastes like grapejuice! Just 1 oz. is equivalent to 5 servings of fruits/veg! Be careful. Do your research on ALL products out there. Feel free to email me at gotvia.com/fptoz or call me at ###-###-####.

To your family's good health! C.

Hi S.
This is tough. I am so sorry about your dilima.
Now I would like to tell you our story. So write me if you want to hear it.
My advice
Tell the MD
If he isn't interested, tell him again.
Then say if you don't send me to someone who cares I will go elsewhere.
Then tell again and again.
It is easier to tell now than at 12.
Keep telling.
Don't assume it must be normal if you don't think it is.
God bless you
I hope to hear from you
K. SAHM married 38 years 4 adults 37,32, and twins 18.

I have watched my Granddaughter since she came home from the hospital 3 yrs ago. I went thru this too, and still am. No need to worry about it. You just have to offer her different things, hope you hit the jackpot so to say. Shae still will not eat veggies alone. I finally got her to eat carrots if I buy soups, with the carrots in there. Cook some up, dice them and add it to the soup. Now at least I get her to eat them.
Her Dr, said this is a stage, it is frustrating for us, but not to worry if she is not loosing weight. Hang in there. It will get better.
B.

They all go through spurts, try making her some milk shakes with instant breakfast or someother filler like that. it will give her more calories, that seems to be the biggest concern. make sure she takes her vitamins. Some day you will wonder why you ever worried because she will eat you out of house and home. LOL. If she will drink milk, then she should drink shakes or make some vanilla milk, a little bit of vanilla flavoring and some sugar.

OMG - I didn't notice this post when I posted my question about my 4 yr old! Boy do I feel like a dope! Sorry!

:)
M.

Don't worry about her eating. If she is within her weight chart she is fine. 3 y/os have tiny tummys and dont eat much. They are pretty much done with growth spurts and dont need that much food. If your doctor says shes fine ..she is. Keep nagging her about food and yo will create eating problems that can last her a life time. I'm sure you limit her junk food snacks, but dont limit healthy snacks, even yogurt and ice cream, cut up apples with peanut butter. Leave snacks around where she can help herself and make family meal time fun, by talking to her and having her share her day with daddy. Put a small amount of food on her plate and dont say anything about it. If she eats fine, if not just take her plate away at the end of the meal and dont say a word. And PLEASE PLEASE dont praise her for finishing her food. Thats obesity waiting to happen.

My daughter was like that. Very fussy eater, did not eat much, right from Day 1. Was always at the 10th %ile for weight. My hubby and I were on the slender side (at the time!) so her doctor was not concerned. He said he would be concerned if she started losing weight at any point, which never happened.

She is now a perfectly healthy 23 year old. My advice would be don't make a big issue about eating and certainly don't turn it into a power struggle kind of thing. Of course, listen to your doctor, but I don't think 50 %ile is a "magic " number that they have to stay above.

When my son when through this stage, it was just that, a stage. I now cannot get him to stop eating everything under the sun. Hang in there, as my son's doctor's office said, if it lasts more than three weeks, then there will be a good reason to start testing etc. Until then, just give your child whatever you can get into your 3 yr old.

We are conditioned to make sure our kids are eating all balanced meals a day, although as for an adult, there are times, were we just don't feel like eating. They are distracted with all the new toys, environment and other around, of course they do not want to sit and eat.. it would take from their playtime. Relax.. it will be okay!

Good luck.

Hi S.: I am having the same problem with my two year daughter. I have been told time and time again by the doctors, mothers my age and older mothers, they will eat when they are hungry. The doctor also said as long I get one good meal in her, she will be fine. Since Lily loves anything when it comes to breakfast, that's her big meal of the day. It will get better, my older daughter is six next week and went through the same thing. She still does not eat that much, but I console myself with the fact that I probably will never have overweight who need to worry about diabites. Good luck.