Trouble Feeding

Hi A.,

I don't actually have this problem, my girl eats everything. Well, not everything but a lot. I'm curious if you give her milk with her meals? Is she possibly filling up on milk and just not hungry after that? The other question I have is do you guys eat with her? Maybe she would have more interest in the food if she saw you eating it. I usually give E her dinner and if she isn't acting interested in it, I eat some saying "Oh this is great!" blah blah and she at least tries it. And sometimes keeps eating it. She definitely loves trying anything from our plate or anything that we are eating...

I'm sure I haven't said anything you haven't heard or read about before but I thought I'd put in my two cents! Good luck. (and btw, if the doctor isn't worried than she is probably doing fine!)

A.

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My own daughter spent much of her first two years fighting me over food. I was also very intent on trying to get her to eat, because she was so "petite." As it turned out, she had/has some real health issues. First we discovered that she has bilateral refluxing ureters, which means the tubes that connect her kidneys to her bladder are too big, so her urine dooesn't stay in her bladder like it should. This was causing a salt imbalance, and as part of her treatment we have to give her extra salt. She started eating and gaining weight immediately after that. We also recently had her tested for food allergies, because she was getting colds all the time, her weight was going down again, and she was being such a picky eater. Turns out she's allergic to dairy and eggs! When I found that out, so many pieces fell into place, and she started eating like a pig! She's still petite. But all along, I think she was telling me in her own way that she didn't like those foods because they made her feel yucky. Some kids gets rashes, some kids go into shock, some kids just won't eat the foods they're allegic to. You may want to make an appointment with an allergy specialist, just to see... And you may want to talk to her pediatritian about having her urine checked if she's prone to diaper rashes or pain when she pees.

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My son had the very same problem. I tried everything to help him. The only thing that worked for us were Herbalife kidshakes, they taste just like a milkshake from burgerking, so kids love them but they are packed with vitamins, minerals, and alot of protien. If you want to try it Get ahold of me, i can tell you how to get them. It does work and befor you know it she'll be good.

My best friend's little boy had the same issues at 16 months. She asked for a referral to the Guild School an evaluation. He was diagosed with a delay in language and textures in this mouth and received "food" therapy - a type of occupational therapy through the state. He is a bright, intelligent kid with an above average IQ, it was just the textures of food were causing him trouble. My friend's little boy is now almost 3 and is a great eater. Without getting it in check, her son would have ended up a very picky eater and not received proper nutrition.

A., My daughter turns 17mon on Tue and weighs only 19lb she is a very petite little girl as well.She is a VERY picky eater and I feel like I have tried every food out there. We are also battling constipation issues which makes the problem worse. Many of the healthy foods she used to like she no longer shows much interest. Her Pediatrician said he is not concerned because my other two daughters were very petite as well and she seems very healthy. Her GI specialist was so concerned at her 4% on the weight chart that he sent me to a Nutritionist who gave me several high calorie receipes if you want to know about any. Have you tried the standard toddler foods like mac n cheese, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, apple sauce,yogurt is great! I found that changing up a typical food sometimes works like melting cheese on her vegies or putting a little honey on her carrots. The Quaker Instant oateal packs are good too. You can mix healthy foods into a little something yummy like fresh fruit in yogurt or even ice cream. Try variations like banana bread instead of plain bananas. Even soft homemade oatmeal cookies can offer some nutrition. I found that she liked foods with lots of flavor such as spagetti or lazagna and I was feeding her more standard plain foods for babies or young toddlers. Eggo waffles actually have 5 grams of protein, I toast it and then microwave with syrup for 10 seconds to make it softer and she like that. How about scrambled eggs, or with melted cheese on top, mixed with ketchup? Sometimes just adding more flavor to something will change their opinion of a food they have been pushing aside.Smoothies with lots of fruit and vegies blended in can be a fun treat. Anyway I have to run for now but if you want some more tips or some of those receipes just let me know. Hope this helps...S.

This is tough...sounds like my mother's description of me when I was that age, but I ended up a normal height and struggling with weight!
Have you tried pesto on pasta? Very calorically dense. Full-fat yogurt? Eggs? How about pancakes? I used to make my kids pancakes and add cottage cheese and tuna to them. How about salmon? Try canned salmon salad, lots of mayo. Sometimes kids that age really like savory things.
Good luck...keep talking to the pediatrican or the nurses.

She may be getting too much milk, and that will keep her from being hungry enough to want to eat anything else; milk is very filling. If she's still on a bottle, confine her milk (and any sweet drinks) to a glass, it'll slow down how much she drinks, and only give her water in her bottle. This way you can cut down on the quantity of milk she drinks, and don't allow her to have a glass of milk except after her meals, never before, or within an hour to an hour and a half prior to a meal.

I have struggled with this issue as well. I can say that it has gotten much better at 17 months than at 15 months. My doctor said I needed to stress much less about this... that my stress was contributing to the problem, sure easy to say, but it wasnt her child not eating! I made a conscious effort not to pressure him to eat or react poorly at mealtimes and it did seem to help. I also went to the Winco bulk food area and purchased a little of each of the healthy (ish) items so my son could try many new things with little investment. I did find a few things he would eat. He really likes raisins, wheat crackers, whole apples that he can hold himself and simple harvest apple cinnamon oatmeal. Best wishes, D.

As impossible as it may seem, most toddlers get adequate nourishment when they are allowed to feed themselves. My daughter who is now two, was barely 20 lbs at 18 months, and eats the same way. She eats maybe two spoonfuls of cereal for breakfast... later she will eat part of an apple, but sometimes she will eat an entire banana (where does she put it?!?) or a serving of cheese. She loves strawberries and grapes, too. I am learning what kinds of things she really likes and trying to make sure I offer those often, in addition to other foods. Since your pediatrician is unconcerned, I think you should just continue to provide healthy meals and snacks and let your daughter eat what she chooses from what you provide. Even when they get older, we can't force them to eat; we can just provide healthy choices.

My little girl is 18 months, and is a very good eater, so I don't know if this will work for you or not. Maybe you could allow her to help you make the food or snacks. My daughter lights up whenever I ask her to come in the kitchen to "help mommy make some healthy food for our bodies". We try to be creative with the names of the snacks or meals. She would eat anything I think if she helped make it because she feels so proud to be doing big girl things with mommy. I let her put ingredients in or on that would normally not be exciting to eat, but because she put them there, it is more fun to eat.

I dont know how to help get her to eat. I have the same problem, only my son is 4 and he refuses to eat meat, and cheese. I have had some success with Cottage Cheese and Yogurt. Its got some of the nutrients that they need, but some children are just very picky eaters. I usually use like peach or strawberry yogurt and he eats this like mad. Its filling and its good for him.

I have friends that have used services from the Kindering center to help with feeding or lack of feeding issues. They might also be able to help with her crying. Do you think she is hungry?

www.Kindering.org

This probably isn't the best solution but it has worked on my 17 month old grandson. Same problem, sit him up to eat and it all went to the floor. So I started feeding him off my plate. When I fill my plate I fill half for me and half for him. He stands next to me and I feed him off of his half. He will eat anything that comes off of grandma's plate. This works for Daddy's plate also. He doesn't know that he is eating food designated for him, he just thinks he is stealing grandma's food. At this point it was whatever worked. After a couple of months of this he is getting better at eating in his high chair. But on the nights or days he doesn't eat anything, I share with him and he gets a good dinner.

If she's eating cheerios, vegies, fruits, and whole milk I wouldn't worry at all. She gets plenty of protein from the milk. Cheese constipates kids quite a bit. Cereal bars are full of sugar. Just offer very small portions and don't make a big deal of it. When she's hungry she'll eat more. For a few more calories you might add ovaltine to her milk.

She is only 15 months. Do you still give her baby food? Maybe she is sensitive to textures and not necessarily food. She may not be ready for such big finger foods and want things you can feed her like the baby food in jars. Also, if she is filling up on milk or other liquids, then she will not be hungry for other solids.

With the vegetables she likes, try drizzling some olive or other healthy (my Dr. told me canola works too) oil. You might also try using the baby cereals again to sneak in some mashed meats and veggies.

alecia... i had that same baby! he is 5 now (almost) and in the past year he has started to eat stuff, or try stuff... (henry was ALWAYS in the less that 3% in weight on the charts)... i think he is in the 15 % now. but still.

i KNOW what your going through, and the stress it causes, but i assure you... you should just relax. it will all sort itself out. it will. if your daughter ONLY wants to eat cheerios. let her (that's what my brother in law told me... and he is a family practioner) *the other thing our doctor told us, was to give him instant breakfast... a full serving a day. ONLY THING is brush her teeth.

and REALLY... just relax, because it is all fine. the other thing our doctor said, was if he's hungry, he WILL eat. i hope this doesn't sound too bossy (us moms can be that way sometimes...) but i know your pain/frustration/worry intimately and really it is going to fine.

***i just read the ladies stuff before me... and i suppose the other thing to say (which is good advice), is follow your gut. if you feel like it is more than just no interest in food, or just fussy eating then, by all means, you should follow your heart. there is nothing like a mother's intuition. mine has NEVER steered me wrong.

good luck!

It sounds like she consistently doesn't eat. Not just a day here or there?
My daughter has trouble gaining weight so we mix carnation instant breakfast with her milk. Extra calcium, protien and calories plus she get choc or strawberry milk.
Try other new high calorie foods like hummus.
My 16 month old is just wanting to feed herself with fork or spoon so some foods are more fun currently.

Hi A.,
If I were you I would go to a different pediatrician and get their oppinion/input. It could be that she does like the foo just not what it does to her. Does she act funny after eating, like she's uncomfortable? Or are you or your husband really petite? If so she may just not need much to eat, her stomach is only as big as her fist. My daughter is going through a picky phase and when it comes to something she doesn't like we'll do reverse psycology and tell her that the meal isn't for her or that she doesn't need it or that she won't like it, all in a silly voice. One other thing that I do to get her to eat more is I won't give her anything to drink for about an hour before till after she's eaten, fluids can fill their tummies up real quick.

Try taking the instant breakfast and mix it with half and half. I know to you this sounds like a no that healthy, for them, the extra fat and calories is great. I used to do this for my son. My son used to live on milk too. At the time, his Dr. said to cut back on the milk so he would be hungry for solid food.
Good luck.

You might try feeding her yourself. I've noticed with my son, that when he feeds himself he doesn't eat near as much as when I sit down and feed him. You may already do this, but it works well for me : )

Both my boys have gone through stages like this and although its stressful, they usually grow out of it. I haven't had a chance to read the other responses yet, but I imagine that they mentioned this is the age when kids are testing their independence & they are just too interested in playing to sit and eat! With my oldest son however, we discovered his aversion to food was linked to an underlying oral motor planning disorder that also affects his speech (he's almost 3 now). Watch you daughter when she eats to see if it looks like she's struggling with the mouth movements it takes to eat. Also, a lack of talking/babbling or limited babbling (my son only said da at that age) can be a red flag. This is something to run by your doc if she does have the red flags I mentioned. Good Luck!

It sounds to me like she drinks milk and fills up on that, not wanting real food. I would limit her milk intake (maybe one cup in morning and one at night), and give her a water cup the rest of the day. Milk is enough to hold her over for a while, but she needs to drink alot of it as it doesn't hold her like real food would. My sister has had this problem with most of her kids, and limiting the milk worked as it made them hungry for real food. Don't worry that she'll fade away, she'll eat if she gets hungry.

I fortunately do not have a picky eater....but I was given a book for Christmas. Deceptively Delicious written by Jessica Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld's wife). It seems to have pretty good recipes.
I also made what I call Goolosh Bottles - if your little one is still eating a bottle. I would put milk (heat first like 35 seconds) and then add the Oatmeal and some either baby foods or applesauce and mix it together and feeding my son it as a meal. I would take a knife and slice the tip of the nipple to make an X to make the hole a little bigger. Some people agree with it and some people dis-agree with it. I would sometimes get laughed at by my friends, but my response is atleast I know that he is eating good and getting the nutrients that he needs. What the pediatrician said about the bottles is that he is worried about the tooth decay. Well, my response about it is that you just let her have it for a meal, not to take to bed or carry around.
I hope that this helps. Good luck with your picky eater.

My pediatrician told me about the pediatric drinks, I think they taste nasty, but my son would drink them but they get expensive, so he told me to take carnation instant breakfast and put it in milk, and it is essentially the same thing. I was supposed to do 16 oz milk to one packet, and he still loves it, it is the only way I can get him to drink milk because it comes in chocolate.