Need Help Ladies! My 3 Year Old Refuses to Eat Anything!

My first born was the same way. He would only eat mac-n-cheese, grilled cheese, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and grapes for a really long time. When he was around 8, the whole family had a 24 hour stomach virus-- his lasted a week because the doctor said his body didn't have the "reserves" from healthy foods to kick the virus. Since then, he gets it that he needs to eat healthier. I know it's different because your son is 3, but I'm telling you this as a cautionary tale to make sure you do whatever you can to get healthy FOODS (not just vitamin suppliments) into his little growing body. You have to get creative... Think of things this way--- try something you know is healthy and put it on his plate-- just a small amount. Don't force him to eat it but encourage and maybe even bribe him to take just one bite... Let's say scrambled eggs, for example, Then if he won't eat it, try the same food in a different form-- like you can dip the uncooked scrambled egg with bread and now you have french toast! Put syrup on it and he thinks it's a sweet treat but you know it's a sneaky way to get an egg into him!! My 2 year old eats french toast several times a week and if he eats nothing else that day but a cookie and juice at least I feel good about getting that egg into him-- and I use whole wheat bread so he gets that, too! A few bites of banana and it's a good day! Also, the juice I give him is the "Healthy Kids" version of orange juice, which is packed with extra vitamins (read the label compared to other OJ), so even watered down he gets a bit of something other than sugar from his juice.

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this is serious.
http://www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_diag.jsp?pid=1084

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There are some great liquid vitamins at the health food stores and there are books upon books just for picky eaters. Have him pick out recipes with you and help you make them even. You're online, you can check for creative recipes there. Pancakes (made with oatmeal-or even regular ones are better than none-HOMEMEADE, please;o); spaghetti with extra veggies pureed in there. It's extra work, but well worth it. My first daughter is the same way. What about smoothies made with either milk or yogurt? Or banana bread? (all of these things are to be made at home please, so there are no additives!!!) I also use Superfood (it's a juice made with broccoli, apples, bananas, kiwi, garlic, pineapple, some other green stuff) and the "arrangement" with my daughter is that she either has to drink it or she has to eat veggies! Her only other saving grace, I think, is that she'll eat a decent variety of fruits...thank goodness! Good luck to you. I know how hard it is for you when your child isn't eating! Hugs to you!

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Have you tried asking him what he wants to eat? Maybe if given a choice, he will choose something. I know if I ask my kids what they want to eat, 9 out of 10 times they choose pancakes!

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Hi N.,
Sounds to me like this is more than just a picky eating issue (the vomiting would worry me). Unfortunately, I do not have any advice for you other than to find a new pediatrician if your doctor does not offer you better advice. A qualified pediatrician should be able to advise on the best strategy for dealing with issues like this, as it seem it could be detrimental to his health if he is seriously eating nothing. Even if there is nothing wrong medically and is is just a behavioral problem, your ped. should be offering advice and help.

I had to go through two other pediatricians before I finally found the one we are with now who truly knows his stuff, and is able to provide advice and support on any issues my kids have. I have some to realize that for every great doctor out there, there are many more who aren't.

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