2 Year Old Suddenly Stopped Eating

Hello M.,
Kids will go through phases where they will not eat what they liked before or eat only one thing. Try to cut down on the snacks and beverages (like juice) because it fills them up. I noticed that if my 2 yr old snacks anytime later than 3:00Pm she will not eat dinner but will want a snack later on before bed. Remember children's tummies are little. i read somewhere that you can gauge portions by their age. 1 yr= 1 tablespoon full, 2 yrs= 2 tablespoons full.

That is normal for that age. Eating takes time out of playing and they think that they might miss something. It will change again so just hang in there. Just remember when kids are hungrey they will let you know so follow the signs and try not to give to much juice that can make them feel full try giving him more water through the day and that might help otherwise just listen to him he will let you know when he is hungrey.

Hi M., I have a 2 year old as well and my friend has a 3 year old and they seenm to go through that stage, my doc said it's normal in the 2's because there are no more big growth spurts..........so don't worry and as I heard a long time ago and it's seems to be true, if you have a house full of food your children will never go hungery!!!! I mean really if they are hungery they will tell us OK? I hope this helps hang in there

Cathy

Most children do outgrow this and it is nothing to worry about, try a multi vitamin or like pedia sure and such if you are really worried about nutrition but at the same time there are those kids that are just that picky. my nephew eats nothing but cereal. it will be thanksgiving and there will be tons of food and snacks and desserts adn he'll have cereal for dinner. he's 8 now, and he has always been this way. other than driving his family crazy with worry and being on the thin side he is an active, incrediably bright little boy, and at no real risk. my son on the other hand at 2 would only eat bananas for three weeks and i was told not to owrry it's normal and he is now the only 5 year old i know that asks for broccoli for dinner, either way it's nothing to really worry about, you may have a stage or a very picky eater but they won't starve themselves, they really won't. good luck.

Yes this is normal, but maybe instead of just allowing candy, make him eat something healthy to get the candy--it works if you keep trying and trying.
Try mixing cheerios in different thigns, my daughter loves it in natural peanut butter with a little honey. And in yogurt.

Not to worry M. this is just a phase. I have 3 boys they are 4, 3, and 14 months. I have experience with this. It will pass, just keep offering other food, don't give him the candy but you can give him all the cheerios he would like. They are really good for him. He will get on these kicks every now and then. My oldest ate scrambled eggs everyday for about a month when he was 2. They get stubborn and they want what they want. Kids always want candy and if he can see it he will want it, so I would just throw out all candy and junk for the time being. Or just hide it and dont eat it in front of him.

My son (4) hasn't eaten a vegetable in a year and a half. The doc keeps telling me that as long as he has a multi-vitamin he is fine. His diet consists of Candy (when we allow it), chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, white rice with soy sauce and taco meat. He is developing fine...I know it can be nerve wracking. You are not alone. Good Luck.

Hi M..
I have a daughter who is two and I have taken her to the doctors for the same problem and they all tell me that it's just a phase and they will grow out of it. So don't worry it's just a phase that all 2 year olds go through.

N.

My daughter who is 4 went through the same thing and my dr suggested as long as they are getting extra dairy products they are fine and this is just a phase.

She eats everything these days!

Thanks
L.

My almost two year old is doing the same thing...Only she does it a week at a time. There will be a week where she doesn't want anything, and the next week she'll eat anything I put in front of her. Just make sure that you keep offering food to your little one. Good healthy food...so when they do eat you know it's nutritious. Kids won't starve themselves. If it's something that you're worried worried about though, go to your doctor and make sure there's nothing physically wrong. Good luck and happy meal times!!!

My 2 year old son is doing the same thing!! He used to eat chicken nuggets at least once a day, and now he wants nothing to do with them!! He seems to be eating fine at day care, so I don't stress when he doesnt want to eat at home. However, my pediatrician told me that parents control the quality of food, but toddlers control the quantity of food. I don't give in to his wants of food, but when he is hungry, he does eat. He drinks plenty of milk and chocolate milk, so I think he is fine. Aren't two year olds fun?? Stressful at times, but I LOVE him at this age!! Don't stress!!

C.

Hello M.,
I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter. Yes, you should take him to the doctor to make sure they is not medical reason for this change. The doctor can also let you know just how picky this age group is about their food.
Second this will drive you crazy, but at this age they like something one day or the whole week if your lucky, then they don't. like it and won't eat it again for weeks. The doctor told me just to keep offering them good food choices and when they get hungry enough they will eat.
The other option she told me was don't give them so many liquids before meals.
Cut back on any snacks that you give them if they won't clean up the little bit of food you do offer them.
My doctor assured me the kids will not starve themselves.
Just put some food on the plate and wait. There will be nights when you will put a whole plate full of food down the drain. Just give them small samples of stuff. If they want more they will ask for it. That way you may not have to throw to much away. Just wait until he comes up with verbal reasons why he wont eat something.
My daughter comes up with all kinds of illness to keep from eating something she doesn't like.
As long as they are not losing to much weight from this I wouldn't worry.
I have found that they more sweet snacks they are exposed to then the less real food they want. I have found this out the hard way.
I am not kicking myself for this mistake and trying to reverse my mistake.
My doc told me this week to offer things like cheese, yogart, thin slices of fruit and veggies. Even ham,turkey, chicken slices.
I hope some of this helps. Good luck
Good Luck

When my now 7 year old turned 2 she stopped eating also. The only thing she would eat was doritos and hotdogs. Everyones advice was that when she was hungry she would eat. That's all I ever got. I just fed her those sure things, and offered her everything else, and eventually she started excepting the other things too. I think it was a power play with Storrie, and finally she got bored with it, and doritos and hotdogs. Good luck

My daughter went throught his phase. I just let her eat finger food and did not make her sit at the table. I found that while she watched teletubbies or barney or something that was of interest she was willing to eat more. I also made my own type of ice cream. I took her favorite frozen fruit added yogurt to it and she loved it. I at least felt she was eating something healthy.
Good luck.

My 2 year old daughter is doing the same thing. It is a pahse that all kids go through(my son who is now 4 did the same thing about her age). I would worry thinking back on what she had eaten during the day. But my dr said it is normal and she would gorw out of it. I can tell she's starting to eat a little more. If you are really worried then I say call your dr. but know that all kids go through it.

I have the same problem with my 18 month old son. The only thing he will eat right now is french fries! His doctor told me that it is just a phase, so don't worry about it.

Hi M.!

I have a 2 year 4 month (28 month)old daughter. When we took her to her 2 year check up the Pediatrician told us she would probably lose interest in food because she wanted to run around and play. She said to keep offering healthy foods and she will eat when she is hungry. Since your son is still happy to eat cherrios and candy, it's probably just a Power Struggle (of which there will be many more). Sometimes it helps to cut food up into shapes, try new things, offer a choice, but DON'T give in to the candy! Make sure he's taking a vitamin and if he goes a few days and doesn't eat anything at all, then call the dr. I have a cousin who's son is 3.5 and he will only eat pasta and bread. All kids are different. I'm sure he's fine. Good Luck!!