Mamas & Papas -
By way of follow up to my last question. Another difficulty we are having with DS is that he won't eat, or won't eat much in a crowded situation. Seems he's too distracted by people, and activity going on around him to focus on eating. This is difficult for us, because caring family and friends, butt in and say, that kid must be hungry, why don't you try to feed him again. We also know he must be hungry and are inclined to try to feed him again, but he won't eat. Yesterday we went to a cousin's first birthday party. DS (20 months) had eaten lunch at our house, then napped from 1-4. He woke and we gave him milk. Then left the house and went to the party. All the while, at the party, he refused to eat, even his go to favorites like watermelon. When we got home, he had beef stew, turkey with lentils, spinach and peas, followed by apple sauce.
Any tips on how we might get him to focus and eat while we are out and about? Your tips and suggestions are really much appreciated. We will be going to Australia for the month of August. We'll be traveling around and visiting with family. Many of our meals will be in unfamiliar and crowded settings. We need to figure out how to sort this out before we get there.
Thanks a bunch, F. B.
Thanks a bunch -
I think the plan, going forward, will be to wait until he gets acclimated, make an effort to feed him, in a chair, in a quiet spot, and if he refuses, leave it at that. I don't want to be the parent who is chasing her kid around poping bites into his mouth hither and tither. Cake and ice cream won't kill him, neither will waiting till he's in the car or back home where he can eat without distraction. Hopefully, this feeding in a chair business will slowly take hold. At least we are making the effort to get him eating in new surroundings.
Best to you all,
F. B.
Let him graze. I know with my boys, if we go to a party or big get-together where we're not having a sit-down meal, they just come and go and eat what they like.
If it's a sit down meal and he won't eat, don't press the issue. Just feed him at home.
its a party why not let him play and have fun? sounds like he didnt starve in those few hours? Pick your battles. If it was a sit down dinner, I'd say he'd have to comply and sit but its a toddler birthday party. You cant expect a 1 year old to want to eat when playing is to be had. Feed him before next time.
When it's pointed out, state "He's TOO BUSY to focus and eat, I suppose."
You can head this off a bit by giving him something to eat PRIOR to your arrival, then you can honestly say "He did eat something right before we arrived, because we knew he's be TOO BUSY to focus and eat.
He can then have a another nibble when you leave, or after he's checked out the new surroundings, etc.
My kids never each much in a party setting either. I try, but they are just too busy!
I've just come to accept that they won't eat much at the party, and I will have to give them something when we get home.
If I were you, I'd just make sure you have some sort of snacks available after the "fun".
I wouldn't worry... if he is hungry he will eat regardless of location.
That said, try to arrange for quiet time during each day where he can decompress a bit. Then try feeding him.
Good luck!
My son was the exact same way. Crowds and eating with other people just got him too excited to eat. It's something that he eventually grew out of. In the mean time we learned to feed him before we went places. If that wasn't possible, sometimes we'd feed him "on the go", which meant we'd give him bites of food here and there while he was playing. We did learn that if we could give him warnings, like "we are going to stop playing and eat in just a few minutes" it seemed to help. We also had him eat away from the crowd and brought his portable high chair we used at home with us and we could usually get him to eat a little more.
My son is the same way at family outings - we just feed him each time he comes arond. A grape here, french fry there, bite of hot dog, whatever works. Honestly, just tell them he IS hungry but there is just too much going on, he will not stop to eat, when he is ready he will eat. Try to find a quiet place to take him to feed him where you are if possible. Here is the thing - the food has to be more fun and interesting than the people - good luck!
Honestly - in a crowded situation, party, event, etc - I make sure they are hydrated if it's hot outside and have something with 'calories' like milk if it's not hot and don't worry too much about food. I figure they will eat when they are hungry and will tell me. Plus, no one ever died from eating cake/ice cream for a meal! LOL
Tell them he just ate a huge meal. Right before you came. That if he ate another bite he might puke. If they insist on you trying something pointedly ask if there is a mop and some towels nearby just in case.......
Both our kids are like this (ages 8 and 2). I can now force the 8 year old to sit and eat something at a group situation, but he does not want to eat much. Our kids just do not care about food. I never found anything that would work. We just keep trying...we will take the kids away from the crowd and have them sit with us to eat. If we are away from all the action sometimes the 2 year old will eat a teeny bit. Then when we leave she is hungry. My plan is to just keep doing this and eventually she will outgrow it. I will be interested to see what others write.
