Doesnt Eat...

He's probably substituting the milk right now for the food for nutrition. My son is 4 and still doesn't eat much. He lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvves juice though. Only one kind. Extremely picky eater. It is difficult as a mom to go through this, but the pediatrician says he will grow out of it. Keep trying different things from time to time as you can.

Do you offer fruit first, before other foods? My daughter loves all kinds of fruit. I offer fruit before I feed her anything else. Also, if he isn't eating much, I definitely would not offer chips or anything that isn't really, really healthy. The milk probably fills him up a lot too.
P. :)

I had the same problem with my oldest son. We used to call him an "air fern". He lived off of milk for the first several years, eating very little solid food. He was healthy and I gave him his vitamins everyday. He is now almost 8 and extremely bright and healthy. He has never missed a day of school and is above level for his grade. Now he eats all of the time! He is very athletic and involved in several sports. Talk to your ped., as long as he is growing and gaining weight, i'm sure he will be fine. Good luck. R.

My son is 3 now and has never really ate good. He only likes mac & cheese, peanut butter sandwich & yogurt. He also likes his milk and juice. I just took him for his 3 year well and the doctor said he is doing excellent. It is just very frustrating! But the Dr said that if you just keep offering him "other" healthy food he will eventually start trying new things... Make sure he is taking his daily vitamin. As long as he seems healthy and you arent worried about his health dont let it overwhelm you. I know it can be frustrating! Good Luck!!

Hi C.,

I was just reading the Jo Frost book - Super Nanny and its said that if a child is drinking too much milk, they fill up on that and don't need food. Try cutting back on milk and juice and give him just water or juice diluted with water. If he's healthy I wouldn't worry too much.

Jo

Other suggestions if you are concerned about him not meeting his nutritional needs - you can give Pediasure (even mix this with his milk) or mix his milk with Carnation Instant Breakfast. My daughter has always been a horrible eater and these are things the nutritionist we went to see suggested. At least that way you know he is getting his vitamins & minerals.

Good luck - and as the others said, cut back on the milk and continue to offer variety of foods.

I had the same problem and my advice: You should insist every hour give to your son variety of food, the milk is good but no more than 1 cup per day. Try food that remember his favorites characters for example dora's soup or blue clues's yogurt. small size portions, healthy choices and try making faces with the food or dare you son who is eating faster, like a play. The meal time must be funny!

I went through this with my son. I talked to my pediatrician about it and together we figured out that it was probably all the milk he drank. It was filling him up so he wasn't eating much. The pediatrician had me cut back on how much milk he drank and I think we went to 1% at that time too. His eating picked up then.

L.

I have a similar problem, but the pediatrician said just keep offering food. My son isn't a picky eater he just doesn't eat much at all. I call him a grazer, i just keep putting fruits and healthy snacks out for him and if he's interested he nibbles. He's healthy and gaining weight so I try not to worry too much. Maybe your child just isn't into sitting for 3 big meals a day?? I also limit his milk to 3 cups a day. Morning, after nap, and after he eats some dinner.

My sons are now 24 and 21, and I have a daughter who is 10. All of my children were picky eaters. I used to worry over the same exact thing. I used to joke with my pediatrician that my kids are surviving on vitamins and milk! They are all very healthy and were always in their right weight and height range.