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my 2 year old wont eat!!!
My nephew, who lives with me, wont eat anything. if he eats anything its unhealthy foods. the only reason he even gets unhealthy foods id because my sister (his mother) is so worried that he wont eat anything at all. I've read up on it and im sure he's more than just a picky eatter. he eats next to nothing at all. he gets milk at bed time and his mother gives him granola bars because he likes them and they arent as unhealthy as the candy he beggs for. the doctors tell her to feed im high callerie foods but her idea of high callerie foods are junk foods adn i dont know how to get it in her head that those foods arent good for him. i know she only give him thoes foods because she knows he'll eat them. but he seriously doesnt eat any healthy foods. and hever since he stoped eatting baby food, he wont eat anyting that looks like it like yogert or soups. Hes 2 years old and weighs 25 lbs. hes not lossing wieght but not gaining. the doctors say hes not mal-nutritioned.
i need some ideas on why he doesnt eat and what i can do for him....
Thank you to anyone who can help me
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I'd be willing to say that the problem isn't you, and it isn't him. The problem is his mother.
When he begs for candy, he probably gets it, or at least he surely used to get it by begging.
Granola bars are still packed with sugar and unhealthy for a growing child to eat. Though somewhat better than a candy bar, they are still technically candy.
She feeds him junk food for high calorie foods, which is also unhealthy for him to eat.
She needs to quit giving in.
I know, that's hard to do. I find myself giving in to my son, too, now and then, but I stand firm when it comes to what he eats.
Ever since he started on baby food, I've conditioned him to eat what is healthy for him. Believe it or not, his favorite snack is shredded wheat.
As he gets older, no amount of begging, crying, or refusal to eat will make me step down on that.
His mother has to realize that she is conditioning her son for an extremely unhealthy lifestyle.
Candy and junk food is a treat, not a daily diet.
He can put on weight by eating foods high in protein.
She has to realize that she is responsible for the health and well-being of that boy, and she needs to stop giving in to this whole junk food idea.
She has to realize that all of this junk food puts him at high risk for obesity, diabetes, malnutrition, rotting teeth, and many other health issues.
You got to try to make her realize that she is doing this to him.
Like YG said, if he doesn't want to eat the meal that is put before him, then he doesn't get anything else. When he gets hungry, he will eat the healthy dinner you have prepared.
I think a lot of kids are picky like that, but they outgrow it if they are taught to.
ygs-29/f
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I'm not that great with children's nutrtion, I'm not even exactly sure when babies stop drinking milk, but what if you try to disguise the healthy foods?
For example, smoothies are naturally sweet, and depending on what kind of fruit you use, you can add in some spinach, or carrot juice, with no added flavor, because the taste of the fruit overpowers the vegetables.
I understand you said he won't eat anything that looks like yogurt or soup, so why not serve it in a cup that isn't see through? and make it a very liquid consistency (lots of milk/juice!)
I hope I helped somewhat, or at least provided some ideas.
~Maria, 16
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I can tell you what worked for me. I have 2 grown children and 7 grandkids so I have a little experience with the finicky kid. :)
The main rule...When he gets hungry he will eat.
He really will.
What you have to do is take control and not give him choices. Choices can come when he is older and has learned to eat things that are good for him.
This worked on a picky eater nephew I took care of for a while. You make a meal. You very nicely tell him that this is what we are having for supper. Nothing else, this is it. He may turn up his nose ( mine did) and say I don't want any. OK you tell him. Thats ok. You don't have to eat it. I'm real sorry though this is all we are having. Make a big production of putting foil or something over his plate and tell him you will save this for him in the fridge. If he gets hungry later, it will be right here for you to eat. Then do not give him any candy or fun stuff to eat.
You will feel bad for him but if he doesn't eat it he will the next time. Just stick to your guns on this. It isn't going to kill him to miss a meal or two. If you start in the morning he will probably be eating by nightfall. IF he doesn't get sweets. Once he starts eating right you can throw in something bad for him to eat now and then. :)
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Kick up the ass and take control of the kid. Don't let the kid control you.
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My nephew was exactly the same as yours. Now he is 3, he has started eating a few proper foods.
If the doctors say he is okay and isn't malnutritioned, you shouldn't really worry. It's quite common and as he gets older, he will start eating good foods.
Give him a very small amount of food. If there is a plate full or too much on the spoon, it can look like alot to someone his age and he won't eat it.
Try foods which are easy to eat, like mashed potato. Eggs are good, so it's great if he can eat them. Try cut up hard boiled eggs/scrambled etc.
If your nephew drinks alot of milk, cut down the intake - substitute for juices.
Cut the skin off an apple and cut very small chunks of it. He may like it.
Maybe if he sees you eating the foods as well, he will want to try.
Most toddlers are very fussy eaters. It's a stage they go through.
"Be aware of how little food a young child needs. A TABLESPOON PER YEAR OF AGE (i.e. two tablespoons for a two-year-old) of starches, fruits and vegetables is an adequate serving size. As for meat or chicken, a serving is the size of the CHILD'S PALM."
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