My little one just turned two this week, and now has decided not to eat. She's currently 24 pounds, but tall. She used to eat like a pig, and now will eat very little at each meal. She will drink a lot of water, or juice mixed with water, but I don't give it to her at mealtime, only afterwards. Now she won't eat but calls out for juice instead of eating. Is this a phase, or how do I get her to eat? She isn't a picky eater... yet. She'll eat what is in front of her, just not much of it. Worried about her weight.
As frustrating as it is try not to let this become a battle of wills , kids go through funny stages and she is 2 aswell which can be a trying age , as long as she does not have noticeable weight loss and you/your ped are not concerned then just ride it out , restrict her juice intake , don't offer to make her seperate meals and don't let her pick too much in between meals , she will come round in the end.
Good luck
My youngest daughter does that right before she goes on a growing spurt. One week she won't eat much of anything and then the next week she can't stop eating and all of the sudden her pants are too short =) I don't think you need to worry too much about it yet. She isn't losing weight and she is eating a little bit here and there. I would just continue to monitor her and maybe jot down what she is eating so that way if you decide to talk to her doctor about it (if it doesn't improve or she starts losing weight) you will have a written record to refer to. But for the time being I don't think it is anything to worry too much about. They also have those ensure drinks for kids but I don't know if she'll like them or not. They can be a bit pricey and my oldest (who was underweight) would drink them sometimes and then other times wouldn't want anything to do with them.
as long as her growth is on track don't worry about it. my son did the same thing and it drove me absoulutly crazy. give her a vitamin supliment and try not to let it bither you, she will start eating more when she's ready.my son has started eating more again recently and i'm glad that phase is over but now he is a super picky eater and he used to eat anything i gave him.
K.:
Hello! I'm sorry you are in this situation. I've yet to read other posts so bear with me.
I believe this could be one of two things. First - a power struggle (things like this happen at 2) or there's a health problem and this is her way to express it to you. I personally believe this is #1 as I believe that if it was #2 - she MIGHT be exhibiting other symptoms.....swelling, diarehha, vomiting, etc.
Most 2 to 4 year olds go through the phase of pushing their boundaries just to see what they are and testing their independence!!
I truly believe a parent makes a picky eater. I do NOT fix special meals for my kids. My pediatrician (and my sister (mother of 2) and best friend (mother of 3) whom I trust implicitally) told me a child will eat when they are hungry. Let her know that you are there to take care of her and she will eat what everyone else does. If she's hungry between meals, apples, oranges, bananas, etc. I would also talk with her day care provider and see what she does there. It's entirely possible that the food she gets at a day care center is TOTALLY different than what you give her (i.e., you use fresh or frozen veggies, they use canned).
DO NOT fix her a special meal. Give her small portions of exactly what you are eating.
I hope this helps!!
Best regards,
Cheryl
My son just wasn't a big eater. He would eat when he was hungry but he drank tons of milk so I think he wanted to drink his meals so he could run around since he couldn't sit still. (btw he has now been diagnosed with ADHD...big surprise there. He would eat when he was in a growing spurt but otherwise he would eat a few bites of everything and then be done. The dr said he was fine and healthy and stayed on his curve. The dr said to cut back on the amount of liquids he took in and he ate a little more but not a huge amount more. I wouldn't push the food. That's how kids get eating disorders since the food habits we teach now last forever. Also, is it a bad thing that they can push away a half eaten piece of cake or candy and say they are done? I wish I could do that. Talk to her dr to make sure nothing else is wrong and if she checks out fine try not to worry (though I know easier said than done:-)). Also when he was teething he didn't eat as much, and when he was hot and/or tired. Good luck.
If she is otherwise healthy and her pediatrician says she is not losing weight etc., this is probably a typical phase. Kids go hot and cold on eating and as someone said, it can happen before a growth spurt. You are smart to hold off her water/juice until after she has eaten solid food, so she doesn't fill up on liquids; also be sure to limit the amount of the liquids somewhat so she is hungrier by the next mealtime. One never wants kids to get too dry and it's great she likes water but be sure she's not guzzling a lot once she does get it, for now. I might cut out all juices and present her with actual fruit instead. Keep offering food at meals and your regular snack times. But above all do not let this become a power struggle where you're constantly trying to get her to take one more bite here, one more bite there, and she clamps her mouth shut -- that can happen so easily and it ends up being entirely about her abiility to say no, not about her hunger. Take it easy and get her checked out if you're worried but stay relaxed around her and don't push food too hard.
Hi there,
Unless this continues for some time, I wouldn't worry just yet. She may be getting her 2 year molars in, when that happens, they don't eat alot...too sore. Eating habits change after 2 as well...if it becomes an issue, talk to her dr.
Good luck!
