My Son Won't Eat

Carnation makes a product called 'Instant Breakfast'. Its basically chocolate milk mix but its fortified with all kinds of vitamins and minerals. My 17 month old and 5 year old really like it!

K., all 4 of my kids have gone through this stage. Its starts right about 2 years old and ends around 3-4years old. It is very frustraiting. you're so worried they're going to starve but they don't. I reccomend fixing their favorite foods and be prepared for alot of leftovers. If they insist on just snacking get healthy snacks, grapes, baby carrots, make melon balls, Gerber has alot of healthy toddler snacks in the baby food section that all my kids love to have. There are also vitamins that are liquid that you could put in his milk in the morning and add some chocolate to hide the taste and then you know he's at least getting his vitamins. Honestly this stage lasts about a year to a year and a half but like I said its only a stage they go through and as long as you offer food all day that's healthy he'll eat something and be fine. DO NOT force feed your son, I did that when my oldest went through this stage because I didn't know better and it made her throw up and then she was scared to eat for a couple of days, it totaly backfired on me. Just keep up your patience with him. Good luck!

C.

P.S. Make sure you have at least one family meal every day. Where the whole family eats together at the table. This will allow your son to see how his mommy and daddy eat and be able to mimic you and learn not only to eat what he's given but also proper table manners. The child having his own table in the kitchen or wherever and/or being allowed to walk around during meal times may be suggested by early childcare experts but I find it totaly impractical. Children need to learn how to sit and eat properly at the table. All my kids do, from my 7yr old to my 22 mo old all sit at the table for every meal and snack and they have good proper table manners and there is no need in our house for the "kids table" concept and yes my 22mo old is starting this stage too where she just sits there and mashes all her food together but she is still sitting there and does take a few bites of food and she doesn't get down until I tell her too and she as well as the other kids put their dishes in the sink when they're done. Sorry to go one some more like that. good luck really. You and your son will be fine.

Hi,your not alone when my son turn 2 it was the same thing and the not eating was going on for quite some time his doctor told me it was normal but like any mom the doctor's answer wasn't normal for me. I want my son to be healthy, all I can tell you is to try to feed him food he likes, at least that is what I did, everyday I asked my son what he wants to eat or what he feels on eating that day, I make food fun for him like making happy faces on the plate with food and making him my little helper on the kitchen,know he eats 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. Know I know what he likes. He likes homemade soups, he loves pasta so I please him not because I want to spoil him but because I want him to it and know it seems to be working, he just turn 3 and happy mom. I hope I was able to help

Start to convert the milk over to water doing 90/10, 80/20 etc til all he's getting is water, then he won't be getting nearly as filled up as he was/is with milk & he should get more interested in foods. And obviously stick w/the stuff you know he'd love, don't dive right into weird looking veggies or meats.

I would check if he has food allergies, food may not agree with him so hes backing away. when he does eat keep track of what it is. my mom used to do those instant breakfast shakes for my brother and put an egg in it to give him more protein.

Power struggle time. If a child at his age is hungry, then they will eat. Instinctively they will not allow themselves to starve. He is figuring out he has control over his eating, not you. Do not show him your stress. A child can go a few days without solids and be okay. If he goes more then 3 I would talk to your Dr. Try putting Pediasure in his milk to make sure he has the nutrition he needs during the day. Do not let him snack before a meal, set him at the table and just try every single day. Maybe try a reward chart for every time he eats half his meal? If he has no appetite, it is time to see the Dr about it.

Take him to the doctor.

If he will eat soft foods you could boil, mash or puree and give him soft foods, or maybe a liquid diet if you find he will drink. Maybe you could challenge him to eat before he does anything else, or make a game out of it. If all else fails and the doctor is concerned too you might need to feed him through an IV in the hosptal. I hope it doesn't go that far. Good Luck!

Babies need a source of iron by the time they are 6 months old. Most formulas have iron in them but since your son is almost 2 he is probably on whole milk which doesn't have iron or many of the other nutrients your son needs. Milk is very filling so it should be limited to the recommended amount per day for his age. A balanced diet of protien, fruits and vegetables, grains and dairy are very important. I suggest feeding him his meal first and then follow up with the milk as a reward for eating well. Putting chocolate or other sweeteners in his milk will make him less hungry too plus can cause some health problems. The Nutrition Specialist at Memorial Hospital can give you some great advice too. God bless you and your son.

Hi K.,

I would take him to his doctor too. I call to my pediatrician when my son didn't want to eat, all he wanted was milk. They warned me that food was more important for him and I should reduce giving him milk. He shouldn't have it before any meal so he is not full of milk and is hungry to eat. It helped with my son. But I would call to your doctor, there may be something else going on.

J.

This is often in relation to a sore throat or fever.
Claudia

He's possibly getting in some molars. I wouldn't want to chew on food if I had some big teeth coming in. Give it a few days and you will probably see him start to eat again.
J.