Moms - Grand Rapids,MI

I have always heard and stands true as long as they are getting the bottle they usually do not have a regular eating habit. I still would suggest taking it away, he will eventually eat, believe me some would never get off the baba until you take it away. Good luck!

yes, he needs to stop getting strawberry milk. like right now. yes, he needs to be off the bottle. don't give him pediasure, it's even more filling than milk. just stop giving him bottles and stop giving him strawberry milk. don't make a huge deal about it, just say it's "all gone". give him what you have. he's perfectly capable of eating it, and when it's the only option he will. just make sure you're making healthy balanced meals. he will be fine. it's probably been going on around a year because the general rule is to have them off the bottle around a year. he's ready for big boy food.

time to make the transition to Big Boy! Time for the bottle to leave the home. Time for you to be the parent & not give in on the milk issue. If you continue to allow him to have milk instead of eating.....then nothing will change.

No forcing, no coercion.....just simply offer the food & allow him the same time that you enjoy for your own meals. When you're done, offer him one more chance at eating.....& then put the plate in the frig. The next time he's hungry....offer that same plate again. Eventually, he'll get the idea that you mean business & he can't live on milk alone. It will be difficult, but it is seriously time for him to understand that you are in charge & he needs to eat!

Depending on how serious you are, he's ready to pitch the baba and become a big boy. Once that bottle is gone his appetite will get better. When you cook something fragrant and come in from outside and say "Mmm, mommys spaghetti sauce smells so good, do you smell it?" You will help him get in touch with his sense of smell and taste. In the mornings I would cook toast in the toaster and the aroma would waft through the house, my boys loved their toast with their morning cereal. Start him on healthy things that taste good and keep a variety ready to prepare all thru the day. But when dinner time comes I'm a firm believer that the toddler should sit at the table and eat what the family is eating......in bite sized pieces of course. Milk is meal in itself however it doesnt have near the nutrition a toddler needs, offer him some milk in a cup at dinner, but only if he tries a few things on his plate first, work at it slowly and he'll come around.

My kids never took a bottle and they went to a sippy cup very easily. There are such a variety of sippy cups that you will find out that works for him. He can sit at the table and eat with the family and when he doesn't have his bottle then his appetite will increase.

no more strawberry milk lol. If he is hungry he will eat. He will not starve to death. If you offer him food and he doesn't eat put it away and offer more at the next meal. Try to give him some things he will like at each meal. a fruit and veggie stuff for snacks. don't fall for the "he will only eat cheeto's thing" lol. if all he is given is healthy stuff its what he will become accustomed to eating. the pediatrician will tell you to stop the syrup milk and give him nutritious foods.

My oldest son was/is a big milk drinker. And he was really into chocolate milk. My pediatrician advised mixing my own chocolate milk, so that I could gradually reduce the amount of chocolate in it.

My son is 3.5 years and still will chug his milk. So at meal times, he sits down with his food first. After he eats a few bites then he can have his milk. We still have to remind him to set it down or he'll drink it ll. Another thing we do is fill his cup only 1/3 to 1/2 full. This is when he's drinking a sippy cup. If he's using a big boy cup we only put about an inch in.

He'll gradually start eating more when you reduce his milk intake. Also, toddlers are known fo eating big one day and then like a bird the next.

Good luck!

I know what you mean cuz my 4 1/2 yo has been going thru that for awhile. And he is skinny mini! The dr said he's healthy though. Kids go thru those phases every so often. I would suggest taking away the bottle or only giving it to him in the morning and/or night. My youngest is 16 mo and we only give her a baba right after she wakes up (only during week when we have to drop kids off and go to work) and one before bed. And I DEFINITELY would stop the strawberry syrup. It may not make him eat more but make what he does eat be foods that are healthy. He'll eat when he's hungry.

I would stop the milk....at least quit putting the strawberry syrup in it. Maybe that could be his dessert. If all he wants is his strawberry milk, he is probably craving all that sugar in the syrup. Like you already know, toddlers can be very picky eaters....clear til they are 3 or 4. Keep healthy food around to snack. Offer fun things like a banana w/ peanut butter and raisins on top...."ants on a hill", grilled cheese cut into fun shapes, a cup of frozen peas or cheerios for a "walk around" snack that is not too messy, kids love to "dip" things...you might try strawberries w/ yogurt to dip. I also used to make a milkshake w/ ice cream or yogurt, add in a banana, a little vanilla and some wheat germ. You can "trick" him into eating well. Most toddlers LOVE spaghetti...I would toss in a small can of V-8. He definetly needs more than milk. Anyway, again I would use that strawberry milk as a treat and see what happens. This will pass...all the best and good luck!

How much milk is he drinking? If it's more than 3 cups per day it could definitely be filling him up too much.

I wouldn't make too big a deal so as not to get into a long power struggle, that's for sure! I do think the sugary milk is an issue in terms of this substituting for what he needs nutritionally. Kids will always choose a sweet over real food. Also it may affect his teeth. He may refuse to eat sometimes but I'd get him off the bottle and limit the sweet milk to a very small amount after he eats. Maybe he can help choose and prepare the food (plastic knife etc.) and make it interesting finger foods. Maybe you've already tried that. Some kids take awhile to decide to eat. I'd eat as a family as much as you can and make light of his refusals but make mealtime enjoyable. Eventually he'll eat. You may want to give him vitamins each day to help with the deficit of food.

Ok, I totally understand where you're coming from. My DD was a great eater when she was younger, and now that she's 3 1/2, she's picky as heck and refuses to eat. Fine...I have my methods for her.
What you are describing sounds more like my son. He's almost 15 months, and he's NEVER been a good eater...had silent reflux as an infant and didn't take his bottles well even then. Now he does what you describe...often takes a bite or 2, spits it out, throws it, cries. We've transitioned to a sippy except at bedtime, and I limit his milk, but even the peds said to add some Carnation Instant Breakfast to it or Pediasure because he was falling off his weight curve and not getting the nutrition that he needs. Don't feed him and if he's hungry he'll eat? Uhhh...nope...not this kid...he's cry and fuss and scream and throw his food, but he won't eat it (even if it's something he's liked in the past...which is few and far between). Needless to say, I'll be talking to his pediatrician at his next appt in a couple weeks to see if there's anything we need to work up.
Pickiness is one thing...refusing food when hungry is another.

Don't they learn to manipulate quick! :)

Yes absolutely stop the baba! At 2 years old he should only get 12 oz. of milk per day. He should also get fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein. No more strawberry syrup!!!! That has more sugar then soda! That's why he's chubby, but not eating. He's drinking more calories then he needs, also why he's not hungry.

You've got to develop a thick skin. Kids know that they can scare you into giving them their way if they refuse to eat. Lets face it, we don't want to starve our kids. I'd start by giving him water to drink. You can add the milk to cereal, or mix into things like mashed potatoes or creamed soups. Keep his calorie intake in his foods, not his drinks. Its important to learn to drink water. Juice has a lot of sugar in it, even if its 100% juice. So eat the whole fruit and drink water, its much better for you! Our family does juice as a special treat, never regularly.

At 2 years old he's capable of understanding you, so let him know at meal times (3 per day) that he needs to eat what's on his plate. If he refuses, then don't give in to milk. He can have water if he's thirsty later on. No snack, just wait for the next meal. He might test you and refuse to eat for a day. Stay firm, if you give in its all over.

Also don't get guilted into feeding him mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, frys, pizza, burgers etc... He needs to eat REAL foods. A lunch idea is, some green beans (start with 2 beans, he HAS to eat them), a slice of tomato, mashed potatoes and a small amount of protein (meat, beans, egg, nuts, cheese, tofu). Or for breakfast, a few slices of fruit, small bowl of oatmeal, or cheerios (regular, not sugar encrusted) with milk, a spoonful of scrambled egg. If he eats it all, he can have more. If he eats what you'd consider a good size meal, reward him with a small cup of milk. Only give milk in a cup if he's eaten his food.

It might be slow going, but consistency is your friend here! He will learn to eat, he won't starve himself. We all have a few foods we don't care for, that's normal, but if they only have a few foods they like then there is a problem.

Best wishes!