DD Won't Eat, getting very frusturated.

Sept.07Bride

My DD is on the small side, probably around 20lbs right now and is 22 months old.  She was a preemie so she's always been small.  She has always been a VERY picky eater, but in the past week or so, she hardly eats anything at meal time.  She'll eat a few bits of something,and then cry to want out.  I don't let her out right away, I try to get her to eat some more, cause I don't want her thinking the second she wines she can get out.  But it's getting very frustruating cause I KNOW she's not eating enough but I don't know what to do.  I can't obvisouly shove the food down her throat.  lol.  Any ideas or suggestions or anyone go through this with a picky eater? 

Thanks in advance for your help/advice!   

Crazycrustacean

When M does this, I break out some purees & see if maybe her teeth are bothering her & she doesn't wanna chew. 

If not, then I just let her snack all day. If a few bites throughout the day is all I can get her to eat then at least if she grazes, I know she's getting enough. 

heaven81906

We have been going through the same thing off and on with dd. She is also small for her age (19lbs) and goes through phases where she doesn't want to eat much. She loves milk so we give her that some days after meals when she hasn't eaten a lot. She will love something for the longest time and then out of the blue refuse to eat it and never try it again. I've learned to not make such a big deal out of it and not constantly tell her to eat. Most times she will eat more when we're not watching her. Beleive me I know how frustrating it is and wish I had some suggestions.

102503Natalie

I'm right there with you.  DD will like something for a few days and then turn her nose up at it a few days later.  I seriously don't know what to feed her most days, and I've resorted to feeding her crap like hot dogs and chicken tenders b/c at least she'll sometimes eat that. 

This is probably not a good thing, but it has been working for us. DD absolutely hates sitting in her high chair for extended periods of time.  She's good in her chair for about 10 minutes - then she wants to get out.  If I make her sit there longer, she will throw all of her food off the tray onto the floor.  So, to avoid that mess, I've been taking her out and putting her tray on the coffee table.  Then she walks around and comes back to her tray to nibble the rest of her food.  She's actually eaten quite a bit this way the last few times I've tried it.  I think the restriction of the high chair is the issue moreso than a lack of appetite. 

However, this causes issues with us when we go out to eat now b/c DD wants to get out of her high chair in the middle of our meal.  It's a catch-22, I guess.

102503Natalie

Another thing I've noticed is that if I watch her eat or talk to her while she's eating, she won't eat.  If I try to feed her, she turns her head.  If I just put the food on the tray and go on about my business, she will eat more.

stephm0188

It's pretty typical for this age.

I sit down and eat and don't offer him any. It's a surefire way to make sure he's pawing at me and demanding I share.

And I'm only kinda kidding.

NJLH

I posted something similar earlier. It started about a week ago...my DD just stopped eating. She used to love to eat. Now, she throws it all on the floor or chews and spits. I was thinking of taking her to the dr tomorrow. She's very small and I'm scared she's losing weight. Hope u get some good advice.

victoria1977

102503Natalie:

I'm right there with you.  DD will like something for a few days and then turn her nose up at it a few days later.  I seriously don't know what to feed her most days, and I've resorted to feeding her crap like hot dogs and chicken tenders b/c at least she'll sometimes eat that. 

This is probably not a good thing, but it has been working for us. DD absolutely hates sitting in her high chair for extended periods of time.  She's good in her chair for about 10 minutes - then she wants to get out.  If I make her sit there longer, she will throw all of her food off the tray onto the floor.  So, to avoid that mess, I've been taking her out and putting her tray on the coffee table.  Then she walks around and comes back to her tray to nibble the rest of her food.  She's actually eaten quite a bit this way the last few times I've tried it.  I think the restriction of the high chair is the issue moreso than a lack of appetite. 

However, this causes issues with us when we go out to eat now b/c DD wants to get out of her high chair in the middle of our meal.  It's a catch-22, I guess.

I could have written this. I do the same thing. Some days it works, some days it doesn't. I also still give purees every once in a while when I am desperate and he is willing to take them.