Hi Moms...thanks in advance for any advice/ideas any of you may have. My son, 3 yrs.old, has always been a finicky eater. In the past few months, he has narrowed his eating choices to: anything chocolate, cheerios, carrots, graham crackers and, sometimes, peanut butter. We have just started a "new life" since I went back to work last week, full-time (unfortunately!). He has spent his whole life with my 24/7 and it is a hard adjustment for us both with him in "pre" pre-school and me working. NOW...he hardly eats breakfast, barely touches his lunch (forgoes "snacktime"), only wants chocolate milk/chocolate chip cookies when I pick him up and then eats NOTHING for the rest of the night. He sleeps in my bed and starts tossing and turning around 3:00am and says "I'm hungry mommy". I get up with him if he keeps tossing for awhile and then he won't eat ANYTHING I give to him (even his favorite waffle, etc.). I am very concerned and am hoping this is, at the most, his way of keeping some control in an unhappy situation. If any moms have "a lightbulb" moment, please shed some light on me! Thanks again.
Thanks so much for the well wishes and words of wisdom! I have definitely limited his access to anything chocolate. He is getting along much better in school and this morning when I dropped him off, he ran in to play with his friends before I could get his coat off!! He is also eating better. Again, thanks alot awesome moms!!!
I would say to give him the fruits and veggies he needs...no more chocolate...and snacks (goldfish, waffles, etc) if he at least attempts his meal. I wouldnt worry about it...he will eat when he is hungry...it will be tough at first but if you stick it through youll be that much happier for it. He is probably just feeling very insecure. Good luck to you and I hope it works out.
I had the same problem then i read dr. Phil's book and i learned that yes my child may not like changes and they may want to only eat certain foods, but you are the boss, to me it sounded harsh but if you keep in control when they are hungry they will eat and they will eat what you give them, my little girl is almost 3 now and she eats what ever i make to a point i know babys will not eat everything but there are always thisng at all 3 meals she likes i also do award good behavior if your child like grahm crackers then make it special let him know that is his special meal when he is at school pack fruit and grahm crakers the best of both worlds. I hope this helps and it is tough but man am i glade i stuck to my guns. Meal time is so easy now
Hi S.. My daughter is 12 years old now and is very thin (5'4 & weighs 87 pounds). I have taken her to the doctor many times over the years thinking that she wasn't eating enough, but the doctor assured me that she wouldn't starve herself. She will eat when she is hungry. Just make sure your son has healthy choices, and he will eat when he is hungry. Of course he misses you, but he will adjust. Kids are wonderfully resilient! Good luck.
I wouldn't offer him any junk food. You're looking at serious mental and health issues by feeding him crackers and chocolate. I'd offer him "real" food... fresh fruits, soups (kids love chicken noodle), and cooked wholesome vegetables. I've noticed that kids are more attracted to foods in season and as fresh as possible - boxed, processed foods are denatured. Remember, you're building a foundation for healthy eating habits. Here's a guide http://www.cookingtf.com/index.html
He most likely doesn't like the change and notices that you're anxious about his diet. The more relaxed you are about it, the easier the transition will be for him. He certainly won't starve.
Hi S.,
it's 'normal' for kids to not want to eat. but i think you should change a few things...get all sweets out of sight and reach. not to be offered even if he hasn't eaten for 12 hrs straight. it will take a few days, but keep offering him the three meals, and the two snacks or skips snacks altogether (i did for mine, as they'd fill up on snacks). it will take a few days for him to adjust. when he does and everything gets back so 'his normal' then you can 'treat' him with chocolate chip cookies, 1 for once in a while. that's it.
there are some cereal stuff quaker makes them, called dinosaur eggs, you use hot water which then makes these 'egg's turn into dinosaurs, pretty cool, and healthy. my kids who are picky eaters love those. let him pout the cereal into hiw bowl and let him watch you pour the hot water. he will see those change and the kids find it amazing.
waffles are ok, or plain or blueberry pancakes. mine use honey, or with nothing. don't offer them any kind of syrup, like chocolate or strawberry because it's just too sweet for the morning. i don't see anything wrong with giving chocolate milk but since he loves the chocolate part, take it away for a bit until he starts eating better.
same thing for lunch and dinner. you decide what he will have. he has to sit down and if he doesn't eat, that's alright, let him be excused but do not offer anything else. i had to do that at one point. and my daughters would wake up at night (those days i was trying to make the transition) and they would say i have a monster in my tummy. because they were hungry. now they eat most everything i offer. knowing how little i eat, my kids portions aren't big, but include the carbs, protein, veggies, and just before bedtime fruit.
so don't give up and don't stress. you just have to put your foot down and i promise after a few days of heartache you will notice a change.
good luck mama
