Worried About Sons Eating or Lack of It

Yes, I dealt with this. It was a bit scary. My son lived basically from milk between the ages of roughly 2 and 5, but he's always been healthy and happy. He is 9 now and still on the lower end of the growth chart, but he eats well and isn't picky at all, but still only eats when he is hungry. Often his brother asks for icecream and sweets and he is just: "no I'd rather have a glass of milk".

If the doctor says don't worry about it I think you really shouldn't. But I know how hard it is not to worry. I've been there.

My sanity stretched a lot further when I accepted that there are 3 things in life you absolutely canNOT force a baby/toddler/child/preschooler to do:
1. Eat
2. Sleep
3. Poop

Try to be patient; your son will eat when he's hungry. Just try to offer him healthy choices, so that when he DOES eat, he'll get his vitamins and nutrients that his body needs instead of the sugar that comes with donuts, cake, cookies, etc. Milk is also considered a food because of everything that's in it. Milk is actually very filling, so if you'd rather he eat, offer him food first. However, try not to make a battle about it. As long as his pediatrician says he's healthy, offer him healthy choices :)

This exact question was asked my a mom of an 18th month old.

Here was my answer, it it fits your son too.
Do not make a big deal out of it.

As moms we feel like failures when our children will not eat. Instead we should be following the lead of what our children need.

Many children go through different eating stages as their bodies grow. Sometimes, they seem to refuse to eat and other times, they seem to be starving.

Just offer the foods you all eat and if he eats nothing, just have him drink milk. Do not break down and give him junk, just so you feel like he "ate something" that will teach him bad habits about food. Instead allow him to follow exactly what his body wants. Right now, he is just not hungry.. Not a big deal.

Hang in there. This falls into the normal area of their growth..

Our 3 yo grandson is much the same. One thing we've found helpful is that when we are at the table, we expect the children to sit with us until everyone is finished eating. We encourage the child to eat, but don't make a big issue of it. Often, when he sees that his lack of eating is being ignored, he will clean up his plate. If he doesn't, we still don't make a big deal of it. Some days he eats really well and on other days he's a picky eater, but he's healthy so we don't worry.

The more you push, the chances are the more he will refuse. At meal time have him sit at the table and offer him food and a beverage. If all he does is drink his milk, that's fine. When he's hungry he will eat.

My son was like that. He liked dairy and wheat. So we got to the point where we stopped the wheat and greatly reduced the dairy. He was almost 4 at that time. The new rule was here is what you are having for dinner. Your choice is to eat it or not eat it. Don't make a fuss. He didn't eat for a day or two and then he got the message. You have to stick to your plan. Now, he is 6 and eats tons of veggies and fruits. He is till off of wheat, but he does have some dairy. We prefer raw dairy and I prefer sheep or goat, not cow. The amino acid which makes up the protein in sheep or goat milk is different than the cow protein.

I have read that the proteins in cow milk (casein) and wheat (gluten) fill the opiate receptors in the brain. Kids can get a high or satisfaction from them, so they don't eat fruits or veggies. The only way to get around this is to remove the milk or gluten. He will be mad, upset and angry. But you will thank me in a year or two if you decide to do this.

Read "How to get your child to eat (but not too much)"

Excellent book.

Don't give him so much milk-it's curbing his appetite just enough to get by without eating much. Give him 1 cup of milk 2 times per day at snack time and then only water or extremely watered down juice the rest of the day. He will be hungrier. Serve 3 meals and two snacks a day at approximately the same times. If he requests food/milk at another time tell him he has to wait until the next snack or meal. He wont' get it at first and will probably cry for milk, but hold your ground. He will start to realize that you are in charge of the food/milk/eating. He may not each much food, but kids don't always need a lot of food. Sometimes they eat more, sometimes less. As long as he is eating some food on a regular basis he should be fine. Give him water at meal time when there is a larger amount of food to eat or choose from. Unless he learns to start to filling up on water before eating - then withhold liquid until halfway through the meal. If he eats decently, you can give him additional milk at the end if you want. Just stay calm and if he doesn't eat at one meal/snack time, he may eat at another. Liquid is a good "filler upper" I've learned we have to limit my daughters liquid intake before meal time or she doesn't eat much. She doesn't get her drink until she has eaten 1/4 to 1/2 of her food. Often once she gets her drink, she wont' eat any more food but since she's had some food we are happy. She is very energetic and healthy. Also be sure to give him healthy fruits, veggies, cereals, snacks etc. Good luck.

My kids all went thru that. My daughter was the one who only drank milk. She ended up getting constipated. So dr. Said to start diluting her milk. We did and she did not like it, so she slowed down on the milk and started eating more. Then i no longer diluted the milk. Also, when they didint finish their food, I would just leave it on the table and say ok you can take a break but you have to come back and eat it. All three of them did this and as they were playing and running around they would pass by their food and grab a bite here and there. When they were done they would show me that they ate all their food. I would act so excited and encourage them
with something like " I knew you could do it!"

Try offering him food before you give him anything to drink, especially first thing in the morning. We've had to do this with our almost 3 year old, and it has worked wonderfully. He had gotten to the point where all he wanted to do was drink, particularly when he had just woken up. And yes, you will meet with resistance, at least initially, but as long as you don't make it a battle of wills (as in, you remain firm about eating before drinking but don't lose your cool if he refuses to eat), you should see an improvement fairly soon. Another thing that helps is to get him running, playing, jumping...anything to burn some energy. The more physical activity he gets, the more appetite he will have.

Make milk shakes with a banana and other fruit in it. Put in brewers yeast and
serve him that for breakfast. If he wants to drink his lunch do similar things with blue green algea and other nutritional additives.
Get a book on blended milk shakes. Start out with ones that are not too thick and make them thicker over time. If he will eat a cut apple give it to him or apple sauce. Yogurt in the milkshake is also a good additon. Make certain it is the kind without sugar and with natural enzymes.