Semi Food Strike

I don't think you need to worry. It sounds like she's doing the normal toddler thing, disconcerting to us moms but totally normal and not usually a problem. The best advice I ever got was from a doctor who said to look at the toddler's food intake over the week, not at each day. I remember my second baby seemed like he lived on a few handfuls of cheerios a day for a while but I just kept offering foods and eventually they do start eating larger amounts and a wider variety of foods. My son also went through a long time as a toddler when he grew taller and didn't gain weight, which seemed weird but he was perfectly healthy and his pediatrician was not concerned. So I say just keep offering healthy foods, relax, and don't worry about it!

My first thought was that she was eating too much when not at the table. You can try making sure that she only eats while she's sitting at the table, that way you'll be able to really see how much she's eating. And remember, they only need 1 tablespoon of food for every year of age.

At that age, my daughter would really only eat 2 meals a day. If she wouldn't eat breakfast, I knew she'd eat a good lunch and dinner. If she ate a good breakfast, I knew she'd be skipping lunch or dinner.

Once she no longer feels that walking is such a huge new thing, she will probably focus more on eating again.

This is completely normal for this age. Also remember that she was growing extremely fast that first year and her growth has slowed down significantly so she doesn't require as much fuel as she did before. Make sure she isn't filling up on milk and juice between meals, that will definitely squash her appetite. Also limit snacks before meals. If she doesn't eat much breakfast, offer her a morning snack, but say about an hour after breakfast so it isn't interfering with her appetetie for lunch etc. When you do offer her snacks, make sure they are nutritious and not just empty calories if you are worried about her not getting enough vitamins and minerals. Also, it is not about what she is eating within a day, but over the course of a week or so.

Hi,

Just remember, she will eat when she's hungry. She won't starve. Just allow her to go through her phase, and she will let you know when she's hungry. Just keep healthy things around for her to snack on. Consider that she may be also be a 'grazer' - people who prefer snacking many times a day rather than a 'meal' 3 times a day. What you may wish to do, though, when she's 'snacking' is have her sit at the table.

Blessings,
B.

My daughter is 26 months old and there are still days, like yesterday, where she hardly (and I mean hardly) ate any food at all and only drank milk and water throughout the day. That stresses me out horribly but she is taking in liquids and for whatever reason, she doesn't want food. She says she isn't sick and her behavior was completely normal so I let it go. There are days where she eats no breakfast, only drinks milk and then at lunch may have a few bites and then eats alot of dinner. Everyday is different with her appetite so I watch the big cues. Is she acting normal, pooping and peeing normal, etc. and if yes, I assume she's fine. I also have to remember that their stomachs are much smaller than ours and just a few bites and snacks of something can fill them up for awhile. Good luck and don't worry so much, when she's hungry, she'll let you know.

Hi A.. My daughter is now 23mos and still does this, although now she does eat one large meal a day. Don't worry it's just a phase. I keep plenty of healthy snacks around so when she does feel a little hungry she will eat a little something. My son did the same thing, it's normal, even the Dr said it is normal. You can try to only feed her at meals but I guess my style is more roll with the punches...my son is now almost 4 & eats normally- 3 meals and 3 snacks.... if you take your daughter to regular visits to the Dr he will tell you if she's not healthy.. just make sure she drinks a lot of liquids if she doesn't eat a whole lot..good luck.

My son is the same way - but less so as he does eat more and more the bigger/older he gets.

We just have to remember to offer *healthy* food choices. My son (6yo now) is old enough/smart enough to climb up and get snack foods/cereals/etc himself so I really do need to watch and educate him on food choices as I go along. (15 months old is still young for educating, but you definitely have a lot more control over the foods she gets at this point!!!)

My son was the same as the other poster who said her kid only ate 2 meals well - come to think of it, even my husband does the same thing - if he gets a big lunch, he barely eats at dinner!!

What helped me the most in getting my son to eat more "meal" food than "snack" food was to cut off the snack food - anything he hadn't finished, anything that was available and out, got put away an hour or so before dinner time. Sometimes it only results in 3 more bites being eaten than just 2 but it's more.

It is better for small tummies to eat 5-6 times a day, or in other words, breakfast, midmorning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner. Or think of it this way: breakfast, lunch part one (10:30-11ish?), lunch part 2 (1-2ish?), pre-dinner or lunch part 3 or after school snack - something like quesadillas, or the broccoli you're chopping for tonight's dinner (with dressing or something, ooh kids just LOVE to dip food!) or the chow mein noodles that you're mixing into the dinner casserole, etc.

I think your expectations are right when you felt that food would come second to exploring. It doesn't sound like the molars are the problem since she has an appetite. However, be aware that all the snacks may be why she is not eating much at meal time.

I remember when my baby was doing this (at 15 months). Don't worry, I can reassure you that she will be okay, my daughter is 8 and healthy.
It is a phase. She is more active now that she is walking and would rather explore and play than eat. Make sure to provide her with lots of toddler friendly snacks, raisins, cherrios, etc and let her go through her phase.
Because she is still interested in pleasing her parents (this also is a phase I have to say that goes away around 13.lol) bargain with her at meal time; if she asked to get down, tell her she can get down after 1 more bite, after she takes the bite, tell her she did such a good job you want to see it again. Clap, cheer and ask her to let you see her do it again. Then let her down.
This will become a game she likes to play for mommy and you will like it becuase you'll get to see her eat before she runs off and plays