Eating Habits of Children

Sounds like he's healthy and getting what he needs. Kids this age use food as a way to have control. I'd say, tell him to eat what you make him or don't eat at all. He's eating well at school and he'll soon learn that if he doesn't want to feel hungry at bedtime he'll eat at dinner time.

Do you try suff he likes? That might be a good ida to do. And ask at daycare what kind of foods he eats there then try the same foods at home. That might work or it might not. Then if that don't work ask you dr. about it he or she might be able to help you with that.

A. - Your son is fine (especially if he is healthy and gaining weight). Kids won't starve themselves; they will eat or let you know when they are hungry. He is probably eating a big breakfast or lunch at daycare ... does the daycare give you a note at the end of the day that has everything he ate written down? Some nights, my daughters will eat me out of house and home ... but other nights, they won't eat but one or two bites. =) Just be sure to offer good food to him (veggies, fruits, etc.). GOOD LUCK! =)

First of all - don't worry so much. Unless he's underweight or losing weight - this is a perfectly normal thing. My daughter is 3 1/2 and hardly eats anything. Some things you can try is to make the foods he is offered more fun - like ants on a log (celery (or a pretzel stick) with peanut butter (or marshmallow fluff or cream cheese if you're concerned about his age and pb exposure) with raisins on top - let him help you make it. Parents magazine has run articles about fun foods in the past - check out their archives. You can also make a funny smiley face with an apple slice and raisins or mini-marshmallows for teeth - again pb is usually the "glue" but there are other options as mentioned above. Good luck and relax - keep offering healthy fun choices and eventually he'll find something he likes.

I have gone through this (and still) with all 3 of mine(12,7,5.) Your ped will probably tell you the same thing mine did. Kids will not starve themselves. If the food is there for them to eat and they are hungry, they will eat. If he is gaining weight, is healty, etc. He is fine. Good luck! It only gets better from here!

Kids eat when they are hungry.At Day care all the other children are eating so he eats. So turn off the tv and sit with him and eat.If tv or other noises are going on he will want to see what is going on and only eat a small amount because his curiosity will be up.As long as he is healthy you should not worry.Remember their little bellies are very small.

It is sooo normal for kids to go through stages of eating well, and then other times they eat so little you wonder how the heck they're getting the nutrients to live! Children eat when they're hungry. My youngest son is 22 mos old and he eats the same way right now... hardly anything at all! Soon he'll hit a growth spurt and eat eat eat... I'm sure yours will too! =)

Best wishes,
S.
(SAHM to 4 boys)

Hi A.,

I have a 2 year old daughter who eats like a champ at daycare but I can't get her to sit and eat at home nearly as well, breakfast is almost impossible. I'm positive that there is power in numbers. At school all her friends are sitting near her and eating the exact same things as she. I always see a difference if we reduce distractions and my husband and I are eating at the same time and the same things as our daughter. That type of dinner is very difficult to pull off with our schedules. Don't stress, as long as he's eating quality foods at daycare and still gaining it's not always worth the stress. I've found that pushing her to eat only makes things worse. If there are good quality foods that your son does enjoy keep them on hand. Kendra loves fresh fruit so when nothing is working I pull out an orange or strawberries.

I honestly think kids at this age will eat when they are hungry. Keep offering healthy choices!! As long as he is growing and feeling ok, I think he's fine. Good luck!!!

Don't sweat it! He's a toddler and they go through phases like that. Keep offering him healthy choices. Kids are the best at regulating when they are hungry. They don't overeat like lots of Americans. Make sure he is staying well hydrated and he'll eat when he's hungry. A couple of great ideas for when they do this and you want to get your bang for your buck at meal times. The Sneaky Chef and Deceptively Delicious are great at sneaking veggies into their food. I personally, think getting him involved with cooking might help out as well. Taking ownership in a meal makes it more exciting for little ones. Ya he's little and I'm not saying to put his hand in the stove, but Rachael Ray's YUM-O has some great kid friendly food prep things. Plus, all of the proceeds go to the YUM-O organization which helps feed the nation's food banks. I get my little guys in the kitchen doing little things (mixing, adding ingredients, pouring water or oil in, etc.) It makes a huge difference in their appetites when it's something they helped me with. Hope this helps.

i'd find out what they are feeding him at daycare and how much.

One thing I've learned from raising 3 kids is they will eat when they are hungry. If he is normal height and weight, he is fine. Make sure that you don't give him sweets or in between meal snacks. And that you sit at a table for dinner in the evening and insist that he sit there too. He doesn't have to eat, but give him a tablespoon of everything and make sure some finger foods are involved. It will be all too soon when he is eating you out of house and home as a teenager!

He sounds normal. Most 1 year olds only eat one big meal a day (sounds like he's doing that daycare). The other meals may only be a few bites. At that age, my kids always ate well for breakfast, so-so at lunch and 1 or 2 bites (literally) at dinnertime with a few (healthy!) snacks between meals.

He's fine if he's healthy and gaining weight. Remember that for a 1 year old, a serving size is a tablespoon. That's like 1 or 2 green beans! If you are still worried, write down everything he eats for 1 week. I'm sure at the end you'll find that his meals balance out, he's hitting all the food groups and he's getting plenty to eat. Kids won't starve as long as they are offered a healthy variety of foods.

FEED ME I'M YOURS by Lansky

As long as your son is thriving don't worry. Most kids go through such a stage. Don't be surprised if you find yourself wondering how can a kid that doesn't eat grow. Somedays your picky toddler will wolf down anything they can get their hands on and others they will refuse to eat outright. As long as you continue to offer a variety of foods they will thrive. It will be tempting to offer them their favorites.
But if you limit what you offer you feed into their pickyness. Good luck and this will pass in a couple of months. Also they eat better at daycare becasue your not there and its a novelty to them. My kids did this too.

A.,
I wouldn't worry about how he eats, you say that he is
healthy and gaining weight, it looks like you are worrying
for nothing. Besides his body will tell him when he needs to
eat, so stop worrying and just enjoy the little guy, cause they don't stay little forever. I know how fast they grow up,
I have a daughter who is now going to be 27 in alittle over
a month, she is married, but has no children of her own yet.
Good luck

K.

Probably getting more attention by not eating!!Stop trying to force him to eat---he will eat when he is hungry.

As my physician used to tell me, children know what their bodies need automatically when they are little. If they are hungry they will eat. As long as you fix him small portions of food, sit down with them and eat at the same time, he will eat if he is hungry, if not then he won't. Just be sure to fix him healthy foods and snacks. He is gaining weight and doing well. Don't sweat the samll stuff.

Haven't read the other responses, but I just saw something on this the other day. My kids are beyond this age, but I wish I would have had this idea then. First, if he is gaining weight DO NOT WORRY that means he is totally healthy. I know as a mom that's hard to do, but it is true. At meals, start out with nothing on his plate and ignore any of his behavior, he will then see everyone else eating and enjoying and they will want to join in and will ask for things to be put on their plate and maybe even eat of yours and that's ok. It was on the new show doctors, I'm sure you could watch it on the computer, it was on yesterday. The one family they showed it totally worked for. They said begging and pleading and trying on these other ways to get kids to eat causes them to "rebel" against you. Hope this helps.