Small 2 Year Old That Won't Eat

My daughter will be 3 in 2 months and only weighs 26 pounds. Each child is different. She does not have much of an appetite. She typically eats about 6 bites and says she is done. I know that she does get 1 good meal a day. her doctor says that she will let you know when she is hungry. as long as she is getting 1 good meal a day, then don't worry too much about the other meals. the other thing i have done is that i give her pedisure (which gives her the extra nutrients and stuff she needs). he will come around, but may take some time, espeically if he is a picky eater like my daughter.

This might not having anything to do with the problems that this little one is having but since you don't know, it won't hurt either. When my nephew was born, he did not have the suck/swallow reflex. They had to feed him through a tube directly into his stomach. When he was old enough to start solid foods, they tried just about everything to get him to eat and he just wouldn't. They did swallow studies that were inconclusive because they showed that he could swallow just not very well. It wasn't until he was about 5 that they finally found a doctor who got it right. His tonsils were so enlarged that the doctor was amazed that he could swallow at all. The took out his tonsils and adnoids and he was eating on his own in no time at all. His case was kind of severe and if your little one can eat then this might not be related at all but if there is physically not quite right, it could be hard for them when the have a cold or allergies or something that makes those passage ways smaller because they are irritated. You might try give him milk shakes or smoothies and a straw when it seems that swallowing is hard so that the little one is still getting something down. Liquids are easier to swallow and if it is an irritation that is causing some of the problems, the cold might help a little. Good luck figuring it out!

Tell the mom to have her tested for Cystic Fibrosis. I know, sounds totally off the wall but after my 2 yo was diagnosed w/ it six months ago, I hate to see anyone else go through it and it really sounds like one of the symptoms of CF. Those are also my LO's measurements at that age. HTH. Just rule it out. www.caringbridge.org/visit/kenziechrisman

Has the doctor check to see if he has acid reflux? That can cause kids so much pain in their throats that they don't want to swallow, then they don't want to eat. Both of my kids had acid reflux as infants. Our doctor told us to get on top of it ASAP, or they would associate eating with pain and not want to eat. Thankfully they both grew out of it.

Have you tried soft foods like mashed potatoes, jello, pudding, soups, applesause, and/or PediSure???? Try freezing the PediSure and giving it to her like ice cream. This works REALLY well with Alzheimer patients (except its Ensure) Or make milkshakes with the PediSure in it, in place of the milk.

Was she premature at birth? this could be related to her 3% height/weight issues now.

I personally had enlarged tonsils when I was little. My mom and grandma say it would take me like 2-3 hours to eat one meal. At the time, doctor's didn't believe in removing tonsils at such a young age. My mom was persistant and found a doctor who did just that when I was 5. I also had "asthma" that cleared up once my tonsils were removed.

Yep, have them check his/her throat. My brother in law used to chew chew chew and turned out he had webbing in his esophagus that caused it to be difficult to swallow. Once, that found it, the docs did a few out patient prodedures to get rid of it.

Good Morning K., if they are still chewing they are getting what they need. Are they still drinking ok?. You might try some yogurts or jello, pudding in the low sugar. They might have a sore throat since you said it might be a little swollen. Hopefully Dr. will pin point the problem and all will be ok.

God Bless
K. Nana of 5

My eldest was very similar to this...only one good meal a day and pick the rest of the time...he was on acid reflux meds from about 6 mos to 18 mos and allergy meds at the same time. But the big one that went undedected until he was 3 1/2 was fluid on the ears... And NO he didn't have a lot of ear infections...just one or two and only one of those was serious... THAT was dedected by a Speech Therapist NOT a peditrician so a visit with an ENT may be a recommendation.

Also, softer foods seemed to make my little man much happier (PBJ, mac & cheese, pudding, jello, cheese, yogurt, etc.). As long as they are thriving they will be fine...