Eating Habits

I went through this with my son when he was between two and three years old. He'd sit there with a bite of food in his mouth and just stare at me. It didn't matter what I did, what I fed him, what tricks I used... He just wouldn't eat. Of course, he was fabulous at daycare, but at home? Forget it.

After a while I just gave up. I figured he'd eat if he was hungry. Plus, at that age, his stomach was so small, that a normal portion to me was just gargantuan to him. I started scaling down his portions and as time passed, he started eating "normally" again. I'm pretty sure it's just the age.

Hang in there. I know how frustrating this is! I felt like I was letting him starve by not making him eat his whole dinner, but kids won't let themselves go hungry. :)

Hi M.,

I can remember when my son was that age. When I questioned his doctor about his eating habits he told me that my son would eat when he was hungry. That as long as he was eating his other meals that I really didn't need to worry...he might just not be hungry. Maybe the lunches and snacks your daughter is getting at daycare is enough to fill her up and dinner time is too close to the last time she ate. I had the luxury of being a stay at home mom so I knew what my son was eating but there were some days when he just wouldn't eat. He is now twelve and taller than me and very healthy.

I have found the best way to get children to eat is to sit down for a meal as a family. My husband works terrible hours so for the most part it is just me and kids, but it has so helped. The only time I have problems is when the TV is on and I am not sitting with them. We also have a house rule that they must try one of everything on there plate to be excused from the table. I agree with the other moms that you should limit snacks before dinner, and also, maybe you are eating to early or to late for your child. I used to finish dinner about 7 because my husband does not get home till after 9:00pm and boy that was hard on Emma & Stephen, I now have dinner ready between 5:30 and 6:30 depending on when we ate lunch and stuff. Also I have found with picky eaters thhe more choices you give them the pickier they become. Limit your choices for your daughter, you do not need to be a short order cook to get your child to eat. I wish you all the best, i think eating battles can be so frustrating for a parent.

Our daughter is a very picky eater. Her pediatrician told us that it's common for a child not to like green things one day and red the next. He told us to fix whatever we would eat for meals, if she didn't eat that's fine. She'll eat when she's hungry. We found cutting out snacks helps too and we don't give her juice or anything like that during the day. Milk at meal times and water in between. So far it's worked towards our advantage and now she tends to try more things. Good luck!

Have you tried the Can you show Mommy how well you can eat.... Can you show Daddy how good you eat...? That always worked for me. Also try can you show me 1 bite, 2 bites, etc. That way she is learning at the same time.

And I do agree with Jessica; if she is tht hungry she will eat. I do that with my daughter as well but I also don't let her eat at anything after dinner time except fruits and veggies, such as apples or carrots with dip. Definitely no snacky things or fruit snacks or breakfast bars.

Good luck!

Hi M.,
Welcome to Mamasource. Hopefully you'll find it as helpful as I have! One thing I try to do with my kids--and have since they were just toddlers, is to let them help make dinner. No matter how little they can help - you can help her stir the food or help her spoon out her dinner onto her plate, it makes them feel proud of the food and want to eat it. The older they get the more they want to help and if they see it being made and are contributing, it can make a huge difference!
Good Luck and hope this helps!

My daughter is the same age and is doing the same thing. I'm going with the she'll eat if she's hungry theory. I get sick of the battles. I do make her take x-number of bites before she can get down and that works. It can take a while and the table is cleaned up around her, but she'll eventually eat her bites and get down.