My 2 year old wont eat for me. I make him what he likes, hot dogs, and he wont eat. My mom has no problem and day care he is so so there but at home, forget it. Now he is waking up in the middle of the night crying cause he is hungry. (Just to let you know, I am not getting up to feed him, I let him cry back to sleep:()
What do I do?
I think someone hit it square on the head: he is in a power struggle with you~
It is a matter of him controlling with you (and yes, only you as it is at home) what he does or gets from you: dinner, lunch, etc.
I would not worry, as long as he is gaining weight and this is the important thing! If you are overly concerned, you can always contact the ped!
Let your child take charge. Have them tell you what they want to eat (give them choices to choose from to make it easier). Then have him help you make it. Try doing silly things like cutting a sandwich with a cookie cutter into a star or football. Make a face out of veggies on his plate. Or worst case, bribe your kid with a treat if he eats enough :)
Hi L.
I think everyone has given you great ideas/suggestions - but here's one I haven't read yet.
A friend of mine has a daughter that didn't eat either - but was hungry. Turns out - she's got ciliac spru - which is an allergy to gluten (wheat) - which is in sooo many things. Maybe take your child to the pediatrician just to get his/her input. My friend struggled for years until they figured it out. her child didn't want to eat b/c it made her feel sick.
Hang in there!
We recently had a food revolution relating to this same issue, okay, we have had several through the years.
1. No snacks after 4pm
2. This is whats for dinner. Your choice is eat or not.
3. This is when we eat. If you don't choose to eat, I'm sorry, that you will be hungry later.
4. Eating is good for you, but so is being hungry
5. Eat some before juice or milk
6. Only water between meals
7. Good eater can have seconds of whatever they want (we don't often have dessert)
These were hard to get the hang of, cause my kids were always on the low end of the weight spectrum. BUt when growth spurts happened, they could out eat us, so I have stopped worrying, fighting or pleading.
S.
My 21 month old daughter will do the same. Anybody else's house she'll eat great. Out to eat she does okay but at times at our house forget it. It seems like she eats only one meal a day and I do carry snacks (healthy ones in a cooler) wherever I go.. cucumbers, string cheese, applesauce, bananas, etc.. Like today she had hardly no lunch or dinner so I cut up a hot dog before her bath and told her to try to geat a few pieces while mommy gets your bath ready. It worked. I think we have to figure out ways (Like a game) to get them to each something at this trying age, don't you? I keep telling myself its the age. The doc agrees as well!!! Hope I helped
It is a phase. Some kids at this age are "too busy to eat" He is also learning that he has the ability to control situations. I wouldn't give him all the control- give him 2 choices- if he does not decide- pick one for him. If he doesn't eat, save it until he is hungry. Even if it means feeding it to him at the next meal! Kids will not starve- when he is hungry he will eat.
We have the "bite rule" at our house- you have to take one bite for every year of age of what has been made for the family meal- then you can have xyz (you can use other things besides treats- we use a favorite book, extra time in a bubble bath, a call to grandma) in his case he would have to take 2 bites, then he could have a treat or something.
If you don't nip it in the bud you will be making one meal for your family and another one for him for a very long time!
having him help in the kitchen is another great idea. kids love to play with their food!
Our Ped says if they are not eating well- we should feel free to give them some pedisure or carnation instant breakfast (which is cheaper and you can get the no sugar added)
L.,
Do you sit on the floor and play with him when you both get home from work and daycare? If not, then my guess is he just wants to play. By delaying dinner for an hour or so and giving him that play time he will probably be ready and hungry after spending time with mom.
This will also give the two of you special time together that you both need after long days at work and daycare.
Good luck.
You are doing the right thing. He will eat when he is hungry. This is most likely a phase. How long has it been going on?
In the meantime, I know of an excellent children's vitamin that can ease your mind. Let me know if you want details!
S.
____@____.com
L.,
Toddlers know when they need food and when they don't. I have 5 boys and they all went through this stage. My younges is 18 months and hes going through it now. Sometimes it seems he will go for a week and not seem to eat much of anything, then all of a sudden he seems to be starving and eats a lot, and you know a growth spurt will usually follow.
The biggest thing and I can't stress this enough is do not make this a battle. I know it is worrisome when they aren't eating but you really can't let on to your child that it bothers you at all that they won't eat. Just offer healthy choices at meals and snacktimes.
If hes growing well and not losing weight, I really wouldn't worry about it. It sounds like a very normal thing. If it is really bothering you call your pediatrician and ask, I am sure they will tell you the same. Good luck to you.
:) Relax. Give him choices (don't bother making one of them hotdogs - maybe he's just bored with them) and he'll eat. If he's not hungry fine, but personally, I'm not sure how long I'd let getting up in the middle of the night to eat, last. He's at the age where the first testing of the terrible twos makes it's debut. Presumably he is eating in the middle of the night. Were it my child, (and you may certainly feel differently!) I honestly would likely tell them, "I'm sorry your tummy is grumbly. If you had eaten your dinner like I told you to earlier you would feel much better now. I'm always trying to help you make the best choices... BUT the middle of the night is NOT when we eat, silly. Let's hurry up and get back to sleep, and before you know it, it will be morning and we'll have a nice big breakfast!"
Also, don't let him know it's stressing you out, all it does is make it more fun knowing he get a rise out of you. He's not going to starve himself to death, so just stick to your reasonable guns (like 2am is NOT time for food) and let it roll off your back. He'll be back "with the program" before you know it. Toddlers! What's a mother to do?!?
I wouldn't worry too much. I am of the opinion that letting kids cry during the night isn't emotionally healthy. I'd feed him and keep working on it. He's still very much a baby. I wouldn't make a huge power struggle out of it. He'll tell you if he's hungry and then he'll be willing to eat something. Parenting is a 24x7 deal. I wouldn't cook up a big meal, but I'd give him a couple of choices and let him have something. Kids are a lot of work - that's for sure!
