My 16 Month Old Son Won't Eat Hardly Anything

Hi M.!
I know it's frustrating! I get so stressed out when my daughter refuses to eat. My pediatrician says that she'll eat when she's hungry and she will not starve. I still have a hard time just letting it go. Something I did after my daughter turned 1 was to mix a little Pediasure into her milk. I would only give it to her AFTER meals, so it wouldn't fill her up. This just added some extra nutrition and calories. (She's little). She loved it.

I would try to avoid treats, junk food, and snacks (especially between meals). When my daughter snacks, she doesn't eat well. You could use the treats as a reward for eating a good meal.

My daughter is also on the Juice Plus gummies. Her pediatrician recommended these and we started it around 15 months. She loves them and they taste like candy. They're all natural and contain 17 different fruits and vegetables. I just feel better knowing that she's getting all that extra nutrition. Many doctor's are recommending it today....it's awesome. Our whole family is actually on it now!
Here's more information:
www.takejuiceplus4life.com

Finally, "Love and Logic" parenting books (by Jim Fay) have great techniques in dealing with the food throwing. Basically, you say "Uh-oh, all done" and you remove the plate or object immediately. He'll learn very quickly what will happen if he throws it on the floor. I highly recommend these books.

Good luck and I hope things get better!

A.

M.,
Make sure, like someone else said, limit his drinks before a meal. Don't offer a lot of sweet stuff to get him to eat or he will never eat the other things. You have to stop stressing over this. Keep saying to yourself, ,He will eat when he's hungry. If he is hungry he will eat. Let him determine when he eats meal. It nice to have a family meal together but when there little they aren't always hungry when you are. Also as someone elso said, when you think he is hungry put him in the chair to eat, if he acts up get him down and try again later. Don't make him something different just offer it to him later. Sooner or later he will eat. You can try saying, "would you like toast or a bagel. Maybe let him choose from 2 things but don't keep making the list bigger he will never be able to make up his mind. If he does not pick one you pick one for him and say that is that. Be firm. You have to be tougher than him. Children can be very willfull. You have to be strong. Stonger than him.
Since he dose not eat very good definetly give him a vitamin.
Lonie
47 year old mother and child care provider

I have a hard time with veggies and my son so some of the things I've done to sneak them in.... Spinach Quesdillas, Bean Quesidllas, Mac and Cheese with broccoli cut up real small. Wholefoods has Itsy Bitsy Raviolis in the frozen section that I put cooked grated carrots in. And then there's the cut up sandwiches: Hummus, tuna melt, pb (no jelly; he doesn't like the sweet)....Tortilla and eggs....Tostada with beans and cheese cut in 4 (I was surprised he picked this up and started eating it - He'll even eat it in restaurants with lettuce!) Fish Sticks....I need some fresh ideas.. I hope these help!