My 2 Year Old and 4 Months Toddler Is Eating Nothing!

don't take this the wrong way, but you care WAY too much about what he eats. and he definitely knows it. :) toddlers go on hunger strikes and food jags a lot...carson only ate hot pockets and pb&j, with milk or juice, for about a year. REFUSED to eat anything else. we rolled with it and the phase passed, just like his pediatrician said it would. just keep offering and don't look at him when he eats, act like you don't care at all. he'll eat. :) read amalah.com under the "noah" archives....she sums it up really well.

As long as he is growing and is healthy and energetic, I wouldn't worry about it. He'll eat when he's ready. I always worried about my son because he was the same way, not only wouldn't eat much but hardly any variety - mostly starches. The doctor said he's growing so he's fine. Well, he's 6'4" now (and weighs 150 pounds!) thin, but very healthy, never sick. So, relax!

If you don't have any medical concerns or aren't seeing any symptoms of illness than I would have to say this is just a phase. I would continue to keep him on a multi-vitamin since he's not getting the nutrients he needs from food and continue to offer healthy snacks throughout the day (not only at breakfast, lunch and dinner). You're probably already trying to make it fun but another idea is to cut the food into fun shapes or specifically buy things at the store with his favorite characters on them. For example, my kids love "Chuck E Cheese cheese sticks", "Kung Fu Panda/Barbie/Hot Wheels waffles", "Scooby-Doo Yogurt" and "Healthy Harvest Winnie the Pooh - Tigger Tales Pasta" to name a few.

I'm sure he'll eat when he gets hungry and make sure to push liquids like milk for calcium and hydration. We get water in the food we eat in addition to what we drink but if he's not eating then I'd always have a sippy cup handy. He doesn't seem to be running out of energy so I wouldn't make it a big deal because if you start to then he'll become worried about food too. Good luck!

My cousins little boy was like yours. Her doctor suggested stuff like Carnation Instant Breakfast in the morning since it's just like drinking flavored milk. You could give him that a couple of times a day, but don't over due the drinks because they won't eat. Other than that just keep offering him the healthy stuff through out the day. My daughter went through a spell where she wouldn't eat dinner and didn't eat much for breakfast or lunch. My doctor told me not to worry to much as long as what she was eating was heatlhy. A child is not going to let themselves starve.

Good luck!

Our son is the exact same way! He pretty much eats(I mean nibbles) scrambled eggs and pancakes every day. He's really not interested in anything else. We let him help stir the eggs and pancakes and that way he is involved and feels like he made his food. Maybe try letting him "help" and it may get him interested in eating a little more. Our son also drinks alot of whole milk everyday so I'm not too worried, but am glad to hear pretty much other kids do this too.

I am a mom of 10 children and I have to tell you we have been through this! For us it seemed like it was just a stage the child went through. I can remember being worried about each one during that age. I didn't give in with sweets either. And you don't want to force him either. But if he is energetic and doesn't seem sick, I would let him eat when the rest of the family eats and offer him a healthy snack. Eventually he will come to you and want something and you will be glad to give it! That is what I did.

L.

My son goes through spells of not really eating. They usually don't last too long, but I give him those pedisure drinks to make sure he's getting his vitimims. I gave my son half the can mid morning and the other half mid afternoon. But you should worry, this is all a normal phase these wonderful children go through. I think they do it just to worry us moms!!! :-)

Keep offering him healthy choices. Maybe keeping some healthy snacks out where he can see them will inspire him to graze a little bit in the afternoon. I know it's hard not to worry, but if he seems healthy and active then all I can figure is he'll eat when he's hungry! Giving him the vitamin is a good idea, so he can get some of the nutrients he needs. You may also be able to use a cookie for leverage...tell him he has to eat something healthy and then he can have a cookie. You may also be able to find a cookie recipe that uses healthy ingredients as well, like in the cookbook that Jerry Seinfeld's wife wrote. If it makes you feel better, my youngest had never been much of an eater either. Once he turned 3, he'll eat just about anything we put in front of him.

My daughter is the same way, especially in the summer. Right now, I am lucky to get her to eat one full meal a day! It is so hot outside, she doesn't want to eat. She drinks a lot during the day, mainley ice water. But she might eat about 2-3 bites of breakfast, 2-3 bites of lunch, and at least 4 cups by the time I pick her up from the babysitters. In the winter, she eats like it's going out of style! this has been her pattern since birth, and i've been told that is completely normal. She is a happy, healthy 3 y-o.

The serving size for a toddler is very small. I never did stress much over it, as they always looked and acted healthy. Your child will go through another growth spurt and then they will eat eat eat again. Don't stress out mom. I think the serving size for a toddler is one or two tablespoons.

My daughter went through this same little phase. Her doctor told me not to worry about it. My daughter was always in the 90-95 percentile for height and weight. She was a big baby and stayed big for her first 2 yrs. She wasn't overweight...she was just chunky. Anyways, her doctor said that as long as she got the equivalent of 2 teaspoons of food a day, then she'd be fine. If your son isn't losing energy, which my daughter never did either, and if he's eating at least 2 teaspoons of food a day and isn't saying he's hungry, isn't losing weight, and isn't getting sick, then just try your best to encourage snacks that most 2 yrs. olds like (animal crackers, fig bars, popsicles, crackers, etc.). He'll eat when he's hungry...believe me! My daughter has always taken vitamins since she was a few weeks old. I noticed you said he takes vitamins, that is a plus too! :)
If you want, you could try Pediasure. Tell him it's a milkshake. Put it in his cup or sippee. This will give him all the nutrients he needs.
If he starts to lose weight, get sick, or lose energy, then that is when you need to be worried.
Good luck!

why keep offering different options....you're not running a restaurant! Just offer 2 choices, keep it simple....& relax. You'll both survive this phase, & as long as your child continues to grow & thrive....he should be OK.

I like most of the ideas posted....with one more thought: let your child help choose his groceries at the store. I used to give my sons coupons...as in "H.'s our cereal coupon, it's your turn to pick". This allowed them autonomy, while limiting the # of options. & yes, as young as 2, children can match pictures. & if you're using store brands, just pull 2 or 3 items & let your son choose. This method also helps prevent the "give me's" & the "I want's".

HI! My youngest was that way too. He was healthy and active so my doctor said not to worry. Sometimes, he would go two days without eating more than a bite or two. I worried a lot and offered good food which he often declined. He loved ice cream and cookies though! We just kept trying to introduce new foods and limited the sweets intake. He is now four and will eat a variety of good foods. He still has food jags occasionally; however, it is much, much better. Hang in there! Kati

My mother said my brother was like that. And her doctor said he would eat when he's hungry and sure enough, he did. Keep offering him healthy choices and he'll eat when he's hungry. My brother had a really high motabolism and was a skinny kid all his life. He is still sort of skinny, but is definately not a kid any more. We used to call him the human garbage disposal, cuz when he got older he ate everything. Don't worry about it, yet. He'll eat when he's hungry. Good Luck and God Bless.

Good Morning Alejandra, Little people go through stages just like adults do. Our 3 yo gr son is doing what your little one is doing. He starts out most mornings wanting pancakes. Which i fix for him, then by 9-10 he says he is hungry but doesn't want any snack I offer. At lunch time it is the same thing, he doesn't want anything he has had boo coo times in the past. Not grilled cheese or nuggets, PBJ, nothing. Yesterday he had one of the lunchables he picked out the nachos. He ate 5 chips with a little salsa and said he was D..
He used to eat everything that didn't move ;) Veggies, chicken, fruit, etc. He loves ham but now he only tears it into pieces and says he's D.. He drinks alot of water, juices, sugar free things, milk and does have vitamins every day. He has always been in the 95% in his age group in weight and height. We noticed he is getting taller again and slimming down you can see his little collar bones now and his rib's. Last Dr app. he weighed 43 lbs and was 3' tall.
He hasn't lost any weight just getting taller.

With Corbin I can tell him if he doesn't eat it now he can have it later. Usually gets thrown out when he goes home.
He does eat some at home but still not like he used too. His thing now is fish sticks and chips. He used to eat everything in sight, broccoli, cauliflower, even Brussels sprouts Eweeeeeeeeeeeeee lol salads, Mac & Cheese now he won't at all.
We just keep trying and if he doesn't eat it, he doesn't get extra snacks later, like a cookie or sugar free ice cup.

Keep trying Alejandra, as long as their isn't anything wrong physically he will come around sooner or later.

Good Luck to you and I hope other Moms & gr moms have better advice then what I gave.
K. Nana of 5

Alejandra, this was too my concern with my daughter. I have been told not to worry about it, that they'll eat whent they are hungary. But in the back of my mind, I was always concerned about my daughter getting the nutrtion that her body needed. Then a wonderful friend told me about Isagenix. Isagenix has programs for adults and children. As for the children, it would consist of a shake a day. Kids love shake and you can add in their vegetable and fruits as well. My daughter loves these shakes. Some moms actually put it on icecream, because at least they are getting all the nutrition they need in a day. So my daughter has taken this shake since she was a baby. My whole family does this. Their is so much more even for the adults and it has made a major difference in my life as far as added energy, naturaly weight loss, my cholesterol is in balance now and so much more. It boils down to, if we give our bodies the nutrition that it needs, our bodies will function the way they were intened to function. So if you are interested in hearing more about it for your little ones or for you family, give me a call. You can also check out some amazing websites like www.drdrgivemethetruth.com and www.cleansedforlife.com. I can also send some information to you to read for moms and nutrition for their kids.
Just let me know if you're interested.
S. Graf
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The only thing I could eat all day was a biscuit that I would portion out for the whole day and ice tea with lemon. But, about 12 weeks, I tried peanut butter on a saltine cracker and that made me feel better. It could be because I was almost through the sickness or it could be that it may have helped all along. I would eat a couple of those and it would settle my stomach. Eventually I could eat a little more. I was sick until almost 15 weeks, so hold in there. Everyone is different. I hope you feel better soon!

I was just searching to see what I could do about my 18 1/2 month old son. We are going through the same exact problems. He used to eat very good, but recently he hasn't been eating at all. He loves meat very much, probably his favorie food, but the last week he hasn't been eating anything. Like you said about the cookie, he loves them and will eat them if he has the chance. If he does get a snack, it is something healthy for him that is nutritious to make up for him not eating anything. My son is also very active and none of that has changed, and he doesn't seem to be sick either. I was just seeing what you ended up doing to help your son in getting him to eat.

First and foremost you have to remember that your child will not starve. From what you have written, he is eating something. My cousin's son did this for quite awhile. It used to bug the heck out of me that she and her husband would literally spend the whole day trying to get him to eat. What a power play! She used to give in quite a bit with sweets. Over time, his eating got better. She made more of a point of balancing his diet. He's still not a big eater.

My biggest piece of advice is to not make eating a power play, he will eat when he is hungry. His eating seems to be affecting you way more than him. His needs may be changing and you need to really think about your expectations. He may not need to eat as much as you think he needs to eat.

Having said that, you may want to try different "cookies" cheese cookies, chicken cookies, peanut butter sandwich cookies. You can make a lot of things cookie shaped.

Like many parenting issues, it's a matter of balance. You want your child to eat, but you shouldn't turn the house upside down getting him to eat. He's part of a family and he needs to fit that unit. Yet, he is an individual that has his own likes and dislikes and those should be respected too.

Anyway, good luck, relax and know that he'll be fine.