Toddler Not Interested in Food

Small children really eat very little--if he eats a good breakfast let it go at that --also skip spoons --sit him in a highchair and give him some finger food--cooked baby carrots,those baby meat sticks,mixed vegetables and small pieces of fruit--not raw,everything cooked and in small pieces.Do not make an issue of eating!When he is hungry he will eat--also --do not give him a lot of milk or juices.They are full of sugar and fill him up so he thinks he does not need to eat.One item at a time is good --if he starts to throw it on the floor just clean off the tray and put him down--try again at the next meal time.If you make it an issue he will be in control and believe me you do not need that.

I have a fourteen month old that about a month ago was doing the same thing. I cut back on fluids and he started eating more. We started regular food at a year though, never went to Stage 3 foods. I also notice that with my two oldest that when they go through growth spurts they eat everything but then a few weeks later they hardly eat.

I have had the same problem and have talked with my pediatrician and other senior experienced moms such as my mom and mother-in-law and they say just keep trying bring new foods home. I did this and it is starting to work. I also feed my daughter cereal and oatmeal in the evening to help her feel full for bedtime. Also they say that they easily get your "number" and know if they refuse to eat food you will not try other foods. I found this out with my 14 month old. My daughter likes goldfish applesauce yogurt and cottage cheese.

You sound like me!! I have 2 boys - 3 and almost 2. Both are somewhat picky eaters but both used to be TERRIBLE. Wouldn't try anything new. I stopped most baby food at about a year. I never gave them Stage 3 babyfood - neither liked it and would kind of choke on it. There are a few things that helped them be get better at feeding themselves - Gerber stars (if they don't chew them, they melt in their mouths and help keep them from choking and they taste good), oyster crackers, and bananas. I always worried that they weren't getting enough to eat and they must be starving. But you know what? They eat when they're hungry. Try cutting down on snacks between meals. I was so worried that they were starving that I was feeding them too many snacks, so by lunch or dinner they weren't very hungry. At breakfast time I hadn't given them a snack so they actually ate!

The reason behind the lack of interest in eating is because he is inbetween growth spurts. It happens, but its frustrating to watch. My 3 yr old hardly eats at all too, she has since she was 2, but man you know when she is in a growth spurt, she eats 2 whole plates of food each meal, and a ton of snacks inbetween. It passes as they reach school age and again when they become teens. Watch out for those teenage years too, my brother use to eat only one meal a day, it started when he got up and ended when he went to sleep!!! lol Good Luck!

Kids have texture issues, things feel funny in their mouths. He will eat if he is hungry for sure. When my son went through that stage, I would offer up "regular" food and if I didn't feel like he had eaten enough, I would feed him some of what I know he will eat before he goes to bed- maybe ask your dr about giving him some Ensure as well. I use ensure when my son is ill and not eating well-at least I know he is getting some nutrition.
As far as playing with food- it's just what they do- don't worry about that.
Also, you say he drinks well- you might try waiting to give him a drink until half way through the meal- my son always drank so much he would be full and not eat- even now- he only gets a little drink with the meal- then afterwards I will give him more.

My little guy is a picky eater too, it seems like the only foods he really likes are all one color-beige! Some days he eats a ton, other days it all ends up on the floor or in the dog! Toddlers are picky, frustrating little creatures sent to turn our hair gray at an early age, but the way I figure it, whatever they eat is better than nothing so, I don't think it is a good idea to withhold food just because it might not be as nutritional as you would like it. You can tell the way a child plays with his food if he wants it or not, so give him something he likes and he will probably get bored of it after a while. My son went through his chicken nuggets and fries phase and that lasted about a month, now he is into plain old rice and fish sticks! He will not eat what I want him to so I give up! He can eat rice everyday until he gets bored of it then I will try something else. I have noticed that if I don't act to interested in what my son is doing in the hi chair that he will watch me eat and he mimics me by trying something and if he likes it he will keep eating it, if not it is on the floor. Maybe you are worrying too much and making mealtimes too worrisome for him, so relax, he won't starve, he will eat when hes hungry enough. But, I would definitely cut back on the fluids and just keep trying new stuff, he will find something he likes. Good luck, and thank you for sharing, I sometimes feel like I am the only person who worries about this stuff so much and it helps to know that other moms worry about it too!

I haven't had this problem yet, but my friend has. What helped her was cutting back on fluids, especially milk, before meals. She has an 19 month old and she limits his fluids to 24 oz per day; approx 12 oz milk, 4 juice and the rest water. She tries to give the fluids only after solid food has been eaten. This helped but some days, he still just plain old doesn't want to eat.

Hello A.!

Based on my twelve years of childcare experience I have learned that sometimes toddlers simply don't want to eat. They have their times when they devour everything in sight and there are also times they would rather play with their food. You should encourage them to eat but if they are not interested, do not force them to.
When it's time to eat, set the food on their plate and encourage them to eat. If they play with it for a little while it's okay. Watch and see what they do: do they start eating their food soon or do they do just play with it? If all they do is play with it, it means they are not hungry. If they throw a temper tantrum because they don't like any of their food, you should say: "Honey, this is your food. If you're not hungry, you can go play. It's alright if you don't want to eat, but you are not going to get anything else."
Toddlers can learn to eat what's in front of them. I promise you it is possible. It could be very difficult for a while, they may even go to bed hungry, food could end up on the floor etc. Stick with it though. Be kind and gentle, learn not to get frustrated, don't raise your voice. They will eat their food when they hungry enough.
One more thing, you should consult other moms and a food specialist if you feel like you could be making better choices regarding your child's diet.
Bottom line, every child has their food preferences. They should learn to eat what's on their plate. You are the parent, you are the decision maker, you can make it happen.

E. T.