3-Year Old Diet Gone Wacky

My son suddenly stoped eating when he was around the same age. We tried to force feed him and it got worse. It became a control issue. At that age the only thing a child can control is what they eat. So I followed some advice after many different things failed. The advice was simple - put her food down and you eat like you normally would, if she refuses to eat then put her meal in the fridge and serve it again at the next meal. Continue doing this until she starts eating again. She will eat when she is hungry. The best part of this is you are not getting angry or fustrated with her. You just offer her the meal and either she eats or she waits until the next meal to eat. Since the child gets no reaction from refusing to eat the child can't use it as a way to test boundaries. She will learn quickly to eat or go hungry. My son is now almost twelve and still stuborn, but he knows eat or go hungry. He chooses to eat.

What I'm wondering is your daughter familiar with a sippy cup??? Then I would start giving her milk out of the sippy at meal times and water with snacks. you don't want to confuse her. My daughter had no problem at all. She's now 13 months and we just took her bottle away and did what I had just told you and everything couldn't be more of a breeze. The older they get, the more set in their ways and the they know what they want. So don't be surprised if she doesn't like this new setup you have going for her. But hopefully she will adjust. You mentioned that she's potty training herself. Are you helping her with that????????????????Don't you think that she handling a little too much by HERSELF for a 3 year old. Too many changes all at once I think!!!!!!!!!

Don't worry yourself over this. My older son suddenly stopped eating at about that same age. He would eat bagels and cream cheese only. We were a military family at the time and my hubby was over seas. I kept thinking he'd (my husband) would think I wasn't taking good care of our child. This went on for at least two months. Sometimes I could slip in a pb&j sandwich, but those were few and far between. He had been a great eater previously. He loved fruits and veggies even. Then one day he started eating normally again. Now he's a healthy, happy almost 14 year old. No harm done. As someone posted previously, a child that age will not starve themself. If she's hungry, she'll eat (or drink). Also as to a previous post, a child potty training herself is not a parent's laziness. I found (through 2 children and 2 sibling MUCH younger than myself) that it's easier for parent and child to let the child go at their own pace. If they're not ready and you push them it will take even longer than if you let them do it themself. So pay no heed to the harsher critics here.

Our doctor suggested putting a little bit of Nesquick in the milk. A serving is 2 tablespoons so I started with 1 teaspoon. The most I put in now is 1 tablespoon. It worked like a charm. On the flip side though, our girls are 5 and 2 1/2 and won't drink plain white milk. It's probably just a phase

From my understanding our Ped thinks it's important to have the whole milk till 2 years of age for the calories and the fat. If your daughter is 3...I would not worry too much. It would be great if she would still drink milk...but I would just make sure she gets her dairy and calcium in other ways.
Maybe the not eating is just a result of being on the bottle for so long and having a hard time adjusting.
You and she will figure it out:)

Does your daughter like chocolate or strawberry milk? Nestle's makes sugar-free syrup that flavors the milk without the added sugar of regular chocolate or strawberry milk (these are also good on ice cream, frozen yougurt, etc.
If she's still eating cheese and yogurt, she's probably getting her calcium, and if she's still eating some veggies, it's a whole lot better than wanting junk food only.

She's probably getting ready to hit a growth spurt. I found my kids wouldn't eat much just before a spurt then they'll eat me out of hose and home. They aren't big on milk either. I can sometimes get them to drink it with their cereal but most often they go for the cheese and yogurt. When she gets hungry she'll eat and drink. Remember to try for a balanced week instead of a balanced meal, too. Sometimes they'll put away one food or another for awhile then pick it back up later. Keep offering healthy snacks, too. Try to stay away from crackers and such. Good luck - S.

I am sorry but I just have to ask why was your daughter using a bottle still? Also you have never tried prior to potty train? I just don't understand.. I dated a man once that had a three and a half year old that still used a pacifier and I just thought it way pure laziness on his part. As far as her hardly not eating this does happen from time to time my son eats more some days and less other days I wouldn't be concerned

I have experienced those changes in eating habits with both of my kids. I have a 2-1/2 year old and a 12 year old and both of them go through phases where they eat little or they eat only certain foods. When they hit a growth spurt--watch out, they'll eat everything in sight. I didn't like to drink milk when I was a kid either, so my mom would take me to the store and I could pick out any cereal I wanted as long as she could put the milk in it--it worked like a charm. I do that for both of my kids too. Cold cereal or hot cereal--many good choices out there. A little cereal and lots of milk. You could buy her one of those plastic bowls that has the attached straw on it. My son loves his straw bowl and sucks up all his milk when he's done eating his cereal. You could also take her to the store and have her select her own sippy cup or regular cup. Kids like to make their own choices at this age. If she likes yogurt, try more of the kiddie yogurts instead of adult yogurts for the flavors.

Sounds like she is working on other skills right now. At 3, she will return to eating when she settles in to being potty trained and has some time to get used to the change s in her life. However, if she isn't ready to drink milk, I wouldn't worry about it, she can get the nutrition she needs from other sources. My kids still don't drink dairy milk. They use rice milk on their cereal. If I am not mistaken broccoli contains more calcium than milk does.

When her life settles down into a regular routine, her appetite will pick up. I think as adults we should follow her example, when we have a lot going on and are stressed out over a new job, don't eat your way to relaxation.:)

I wouldn't stress about it. If she's eating other items and getting her calcium other ways. All toddlers go through a non eating phase or change there habits. Go with the flow chances are she'll get over it and want the items again. It's just a sign of independence. My daughter used to love peas then she didn't want them anymore for a few months. Even though I'd offer them. Now she's back eating them again. Keep offering, chances are she'll come around. This is a good time to introduce things that maybe she hasn't had yet....

Kids change. Good she is off the bottle, continue to give her a lil milk as long as she eats some diary I think its fine. My daughter does not drink too much milk but she eats other things that make up for the lack of milk.
Keep up the good work.. Do not be too worried about her eating, she will eat if she is hungry and do not upset her but force feeding, just if she asks for dessert or something other tell her NO and explain why you said NO.
Good luck
C.-
Part two, sorry I just read some other responses.. YOU are the parent and that is your child. You do as you see fit, and do not let anyone else tell you otherwise. I would pass on the nequick with the milk cause if she likes it then she will want that all the time sugar free or not !(see do not listen to me either he he but you can if you want )
Does she take a vitamin ? If she takes a vitamin I am sure it has calcium in it. Sorry one of my problems is I can not stay quiet.. Good luck again..

all 3 of my kids have gone through a strange little time were they did not eat that well, my son is 3 now and is doing the same thing, just offer her food and drink often, she will eat when she is hungry--I still had my kids sit with us at meal times, sometimes they would eat and sometimes they didn't. If she is a healthy 3 year old (which it sounds like she is) a few missed meals wont hurt her, just make sure when she is eating they are healthy things. My second daughter does not drink alot of milk, but she will eat cheese and yogurt drinks and things--she is healthy as a horse. Just relax and have fun, 3 is a fun/crazy age.

Ok, so I know this is going to sound harsh, but I'm telling you a child will not starve themselves. Only offer her healthy choices. And, not many choices. What's for dinner is for dinner and that's it. "Picky eaters" are created by parents who allow this to happen. Trust me, I am a mom as well as I have been in the child care field for many years. As a director of a preschool I have seen a lot. And as I said, I know this sounds harsh. But, it works. If she thinks you are going to worry about her and give in, she's got you right where she wants you. It's already started. Why was a 3 year old still on a bottle in the first place? She should have been off of it a long time ago. So, start fresh. Make sure she knows that you mean what you say. Give her milk. She needs it to be healthy. Talk to her like a grown up, not a baby and explain to her that you only want what's best for her. I promise you, if she's thirsty and hungry, she will eat and drink. Just don't offer her choices. You need to decide what's best for her and stick to it.

I would not force a child to eat. Some days kids eat some days they dont. I dont worry about it. Also I would not offer her a bottle. My pediatricain told us to stop the bottle at 1 year. It is not good for the teeth,

MY daughter is 2 and still has the bottle.. but I am trying to get rid of it. If one day she decided that she was done with the bottle I would be thrilled. It is time for your your girl to be abig girl.. no more bottles.. I would pack them up and put them away so you cant go back to them.

she will eat when she is hungry.. dont worry.

I have gone thru that many times I have 3 boys who at times will hardly eat any thing and others they want to eat any and everything. I really wouldn't worry so much. childern just like adults go thru stages of "their own" If shes ready to get rid of the "jug of milk" that most kids use their mouths to hold I say HUrray for her and you. But about the milk maybe she's bored with the taste try strawberry milk or you can make her smoothies w/fruit and/or yogurt and have her help or you taste then she can make it fun! And I'm not really sure how to react by yourself and husband forcefully trying to make her eat. It's a power thing your allowing her the control. Hope this hleps and relax a little:)