My (Almost) Two Year Old Son Won't Eat Should I Be Alarmed?!?!?

Savannah:
My son anddaughter both did the same thing. A child will eat when their hungry. Sounds like your doing a wonderful job. He gets healthy snacks and your offering him the food. I too am a daycare provider and my sone at 3 still does the smae thing ever so offen. I just keep with the food routine and he eats when he is hungry. I would give him the chewable vitamins, like flinstones and watch the labels that have iron, don't get too much iron. As a daycare provider, you have so many people to reach out to and ask for help. If your on a food program ask your rep for advise they always seem to be able to help. Good luck and keep up the good work!!

My son turned 2 in April, and has been going through phases like that since a couple months before his birthday. I just stay strict with him... if he doesn't eat his food, he doesn't get anything else later when he gets hungry (which actually isn't even a problem... its like he is not hungry at all... accept when grampa sneaks him dessert after I say no) He will go weeks not wanting to eat, or just eating little bits, and then suddenly eat a lot for a while and then back to nothing. Most toddlers go through that, and it is ok because they will not let themselves starve. They are not growing as fast anymore, so do not need as much as they did when they were younger. My dr says that as long as his weight is healthy he is fine. I know it is hard... but I try to not worry about it. I always feel like I am a terrible mother starving my child when I take a full plate away that he hasn't touched, that i should force him to eat something so he isn't going without food... but he will eat when he needs to and you can't really force it down their throat. I know he will be fine. He has been back and forth with this for a while now, but is still healthy and gaining the weight he is supposed to.

As a mother to seven children I would say to just relax. As long as your child is healthy and your healthcare provider has no real concerns I would jsut let it go and go with the flow. In time your child will come around and honestly if you make a big deal out of it your child will see this as his way of getting your attention. Remember your child will not care if the attention is positive or negative - getting it is what is important.

p.s. I ran a licensed home daycare for six years and just quit in March to return to school for massage therapy :o)

First off- Congratulations on the BLESSING God has given you! Are you going to find out what it is??

Ok now for your 2 year old - I have a 2 1/2 year old boy who was/is very similar - he has gotten much better now though.

Don't worry about it - He will eat when he needs to he is not old enough to decide oh I shouldnt eat - for whatever reason.

A good way to give him the french fries he likes is to make your own! www.wholesomefoods.com has some great recipes for them! Then they are not fried and they are good for him!
And the web site has some great snacks to offer as well!

God's Blessings
J.

Sounds a bit like a growth spurt. But I'd get rid of the juice. It may be all natural, but it's still sugar. As long as he's getting a variety of foods (sounds like he is) to choose from he'll be fine nutritionally. My son is 2 1/2 and he eats like a bird too. He'll grow out of it by the age of 14 :) As long as his height and weight are progressing, he's fine.

Savannah,
I think that you should really discuss this with his doctor at his 2 year old well child check. Also, keep in mind that the gummy vitamins don't have iron which is an important mineral that kids can get deficient in.

First off, congrats on your next blessing.

Now to respond, my 4 year old only eats half of what you 2 year old does and she is thriving. Food is only one of the few things these kids can control at such a young age. Don't force the issue, if he's hungry he'll eat. Or if he doesn't (as my 4 year is coming to find out) her body will tell her not to skip meals.

Best of luck and keep up the great veggie feeding!

I have four children and all of them have went throught this same stage at about two years of age. Little ones eat when they are hungry. It seems like your little one is eating healthy foods. Just keep offering him healthy foods during mealtimes and he will eventually grow out of it and start eating more.

D.

When my son turned 2, I was told by a public health nurse that he'll probably go off food and just want to snack. So I should just have snacks available for him all day long. He never did, so I thought it was a bunch of whooey. My now 26 month old Daughter has gone off her meals, but asks for snacks all day. I'm reluctant to let her snack, 'cause we've always been "you eat what's given to you" to make sure they were hungry during meals times, so they eat. However, I may have to change my plans.

It sounds like your little guy eats healthy when he does eat. I think that's very important. Also, if they drink to much juice or milk between meals they wont be hungry. You may want to look into that.

Best of Luck.

Hello Savannah,

Congradulations on the new baby, I am expecting my 3rd in January, wasn't planned, well not my plan but surely God's. I am excited and nervous at the same time as I was when I had my second baby,but we will all adjust. I have 2 boys Camden who will be 4 on Sept 5th and Tavin who turned 2 on May 8th. I am married to a wonderful man Thomas we own a business Bever and son's landscaping, just to tell you a little about me and my family ;-). I give my boys pediasure when thier eating habits seems be to poor,but I don't think it is anything to worry about. My boys are always going in spurts when they don't eat meals and then they will have spurts when they eat constantly and they still go go go until no end just make sure of the liqiuds, but you know that. My boy's like the vanilla with added fiber and the chocolate, you can find the chocolate at Cub foods. Well I hope your son's appetite return's soon, good luck and God Bless. Melissa

Wow! This sounds exactly like my 2 1/2 year old boy when he was that age. Except your child actually is still eating healthy foods! I do think its a phase, my son is back to eating now! At the time and it may sound as though I'm exaggerating, but I'm not! It was one day he ate everything! Loved friuts and veggies, would eat anything I made for dinner, meatloaf, spaghetti, chicken you named it and it wasn't a problem! Then one mornig he woke up and decided to go on a hunger strike! It got so bad that he stop eating sweet foods that you would think any kid would love to have, doughnuts, cookies. My doctor said that it's very common and at around the age of 2 (depending on the child) they hit a plateau. Up until then they are going through dramatic growing phases both physical and mental and need more calories. I woulndn't worry, it sounds like your doing a great job! One thing that I felt that was like gold during this time was pedilyte drinks (In fact I bought them straight from the manufacter by the cases!)

My daughter went through this too -- but at 3 -- she literally didn't gain weight for a year while growing a couple of inches and went from toddler pudge to quite thin. The doc said this was all totally normal and not to panic -- particulary if her eating habits weren't impeding her activity level. I'd imagine it's the same for you, but if you're really concerned, I'd contact your pediatrician -- mom knows best!