Toddler who wont eat! Argh!

mick0516@aol.com · July 2011

My 14 month old DD is teeny tiny and we're trying to bulk her up as the doc thinks she needs to gain some weight. We were doing fine with all the veggies with olive oil, cheese, butter, etc until the last few days its like shes eating less and less. Its driving me mad!

Anyone have a toddler who seems to want nothing to eat some days?!

Anyone who has the opposite problem, please dont respond. It just makes me feel more like crying than I already do.

Jeremy'sMom · July 2011

My toddler is quite a bit older than yours, but we've had the same problem for a long time now. His pedi doesn't seem to mind, but I do! He is so skinny, and has no interest in eating, even his favorite foods. I'm sorry, I have no real advice, but I can commisserate.

mick0516@aol.com · July 2011

Jeremy'sMom:
My toddler is quite a bit older than yours, but we've had the same problem for a long time now. His pedi doesn't seem to mind, but I do! He is so skinny, and has no interest in eating, even his favorite foods. I'm sorry, I have no real advice, but I can commisserate.

Well thank you! Sometimes thats all I need to make me feel better. Our pedi is trying to act non nonchalant but also having monthly weigh ins. I'm trying so hard not to care when she sits in front of a plate but doesn't eat when all I want to do is cry.

bugsmami · July 2011

DS didn't hardly even taste foods until around 14-15 mo. While he does eat more now, he's definitely had days where he doesn't eat much. Just keep offering healthy foods and different options. They just seem to be more interested in playing than eating alot. He went from the 97% at 6 mo to the 10% for weight at 18 mo. But he's still growing and happy and healthy... just works off all the calories he consumes.

Dreamsicle23 · July 2011

Some days DS eats nothing. Honestly - nothing. He's not that picky though, just some days he doesn't want to eat. He's also tiny, but he's still growing (slowly) so I'm really not that worried. Just keep offering food - it's her job to decide how much to eat.

DiscusCoach · July 2011

My DD slowed down when in pain with teething.

Try frozen waffles or frozen french toast (yes - serve it frozen for her to chew on).

mick0516@aol.com · July 2011

This is all so helpful to read. Thank you for your responses!

Go_Dawgs · July 2011

What percentile is she in, and has she consistently been around that percentile, or did she drop from a higher percentile?

DS is 14 months, and has always been around the 5th percentile. The pediatrician has never been at all worried - DS is just little, and as long as he doesn't have a sudden decrease in his percentile, there is no concern. Obviously I'm not a doctor, but being tiny isn't always a reason for concern.

There are times when DS doesn't eat. He wouldn't eat breakfast this morning, and had maybe 3 cheerios. Our pediatrician told us at his 12 month appointment that he will start eating less, that there will be days where we can barely get one meal into him, and to not worry because toddlers will eat when they are hungry and just don't need as much food. So I've tried really hard to just not worry when DS doesn't eat - although your situation sounds different if your daughter really needs to gain weight.

If she truly does need to gain weight, I would just try to make each food item as high calorie as possible. You can't force her to eat, but at least you can try to make the little she does eat count as much as possible. Don't let her fill up with veggies and fruit, as they have few calories. Give her plenty of whole wheat bread, and peanut butter on it. Do grilled cheese and butter the bread first. Maybe she'll drink a fruit smoothie with whole milk, fruit, ice, and some half and half. Avocados and almond butter have a lot of fat, but it's healthy fat. These can both be spread on bread or crackers. Stir olive oil and or half and half into oatmeal. Give her full fat cheese for snacks. Use half and half to scramble eggs, or put a splash of it in her whole milk to add calories.

LERAugust · July 2011

When DS was about your LO's age, he decided he didnt want to eat for like 2 weeks. I was horrendously worried and took him to the doctor. He had previously eaten very very well. I thought it was a toddler phase of exerting his independence; I was wrong (and embarrassed that I didn't realize it!).....he had 4 molars moving around. I knew they had popped through his gums and thought that like other teeth, once they're through they dont hurt anymore. NOpe -- molars are wider on teh bottom so they continue to hurt as they move in further. Treatment = motrin about an hour before eating. He was back to normal in no time. We unfortunatley took 2 weeks to realize all of this, so the teeth were done moving in about 3 days of giving motrin before meals, but it worked. We also gave him a mesh feeder filled with frozen fruit -- loved that. Good luck! It's hard!

pinkysun · July 2011

My LO's gag reflex lasted until about 2 months ago, hence he wouldn't eat and if he did eat, the food had to be extremely soft or just liquid. He went down to the 20th percentile for weight and I was very worried. So I started making smoothies and he devoured them and actually gained weight from them and went up to the 50th percentile for weight! So if he has a day that he won't eat I just give him one or 2 of these and know he has received fat, protein, veggies, fruit and dairy and sleep better at night ;-). I usually do 2 a day.

Here is my recipe: In an 8oz baby bottle or 12oz sippy cup,

1 pouch of pureed veggie or fruit (ie: Plum organics, Happy Baby, etc. Any combo of fruits and veggies is fine. If you don't already use these, you will be amazed at all the different veggies you can give LO with out them even knowing! diapers.com has tons of them!)

PS: the smoothies will be pretty thick depending on how much milk you add so you will need to cut the nipple hole a little or increase the opening in the sippy cup straw so LO can drink!

2 heaping tablesppons of FAGE Greek yogurt FULL FAT 100%. The Greek yogurt is amazing, double fat and double protein of regular yogurt.

2-3 oz of whole milk (enough to fill up the bottle/cup but leave room to shake)

Shake up the bottle until the ingredients are blended. Your LO will LOVE this. I use all kinds of fruits and veggies and these also cured some constipation he was having.

Also, not sure what your doc recommends, but I got the ok from my doc and started peanut butter at 18 months just because it has so much fat and calories. LO had no allergic reaction and loves to eat it off a spoon or pretzel sticks.

MamatoJackson · July 2011

A few things to try. Jackson's a decent eater but goes through phases.

Understand...

That toddlers may eat fine one day and not well the other. Toddlers like to eat lots of one thing at a time - It is okay if one day all your toddler wants is broccoli and string cheese. The next day, they may want only fruit. Try and look at getting a full spectrum of nutrition in over a week's time and not within the day.

Some toddlers who don't focus well on eating may do better sitting in a spot where there feet touch the floor. Try sitting them at a child's size table.

Toddlers love to graze. Set food out for them on a low-table and let them take bites as they go.

Try offering food in a unique way - Put chunks of cheese or veggies into a measuring cup. Take an ice-cube tray and fill it with a variety of different foods.

Food can come in liquid form, too - Make up a smoothie for your child.

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Toddler who wont eat! Argh!

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