Question:
good advise I agree with everyone here,she trying to push your friends buttons. stay with one food or what ever your offering if she doesn’t like it tell her this is not a restaurant eveyones eating here but you. when shes hungry she’ll let you know. take care,krista momma to isabella
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->My (mom to the worlds #1 picky eater who now, at 7yo, will eat most stuff and >try anything once) advice is… >1. DON’T STRESS. 2yo anorexics are *very* uncommon. She’ll eat if she’s >hungry and left to her own devices. She’s obviously learned that she can >really push mommy’s buttons and get a *lot* of attention so mommy’s got to >get rid of those buttons. Give her healthy choices and let her eat what/when >she wants. Do NOT make her 3,000 different things at each meal when she won’t >eat the previous thing. Stand your ground, she will not starve. (Obviously, >she should be served things she could eat like green beans, mashed potatoes, >bread, applesauce whatever, not tacos or chili!) The natural consequence of >not eating is that you get hungry. Teach her this lesson. >2. Get her involved in cooking and buying groceries. Even a two year old can >(sorta) mix batter. >3. Look at what she eats over the course of a week, don’t be too concerned >over individual meals. >4. Ham it up when you eat yummy stuff. Most 2yo’s are followers. "mmmmm, this >is the BEST tomato soup I ever ate!!" makes it seem a lot more appealing! >5. Cut out the juice (or make it 50/50 juice/water). Cut down on the >chocolate milk, it shouldn’t be served with meals. A toddlers stomach is >about the size of their balled up fist so even a half a glass of chocolate >milk could really diminish her appetite. >6. She’s probably in a growth slump and not really that hungry. Be respectful >of the fact that her appetite won’t be constant until she’s done growing. >Remember that 2yo’s will not starve themselves. Don’t make it a power struggle >or you’re setting yourself up for serious problems in the future. >THIS TOO WILL PASS!! >Good luck! >-Alexis > I’m writing on behalf of my best friend who needs some advice (she > doesn’t get these newsgroups at home). Her daughter turned 2 in March > and she is having problems getting her to eat. She will take a bite (of > whatever, it doesn’t matter), chew it a little and then spit it out. > Today, we gave her pizza (which she likes), but she wouldn’t eat > it……she’d take a bite, chew it and spit it out. She maybe swallowed > 3 times. So, my friend made her a peanut butter sandwich and she did > the same thing. Finally, my friend made her oatmeal so she didn’t have > to chew it. > My friend thinks she just doesn’t want to chew anything. She thinks > maybe it’s her teeth…..but I tend to think it isn’t since she’s always > been like that. She’s never eaten meats…..no matter what type or how > it’s cooked–she won’t eat any of it. She refuses to even touch > veggies, and most fruits (she’ll eat bananas and that’s about it for > fruit). She’ll eat yogurt, nutrigrain bars and pb&j. She’ll drink > juice and only chocolate milk. > My friend is getting very aggrivated because every meal consists of her > spitting out her food. She’s getting most of her calories from > chocolate milk—-no, she’s not drinking so much that she’s not > hungry—she is hungry, she just doesn’t want to chew. > Any advice……
Response:
Treelo! You *know* the answer, girl. Repeat after me: From the age of one, it is your [friend's] responsibility to provide nutritious and balanced meals and your [friend's] baby’s responsibility to eat them. Tell her to stop being a short order cook, provide at least one thing at a meal that baby *should* be able to (i.e. usually can) eat and stop stressing. PS Mine act like they have trouble with sharp stuff (like yesterday I tried them on French bread and it wasn’t a big success) — but offer them a tortilla chip and SCRUNCH! that little problem just kinda somehow melts away … –Janet Triplets (10/21/96) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I’m writing on behalf of my best friend who needs some advice (she >doesn’t get these newsgroups at home). Her daughter turned 2 in March >and she is having problems getting her to eat. She will take a bite (of >whatever, it doesn’t matter), chew it a little and then spit it out. >Today, we gave her pizza (which she likes), but she wouldn’t eat >it……she’d take a bite, chew it and spit it out. She maybe swallowed >3 times. So, my friend made her a peanut butter sandwich and she did >the same thing. Finally, my friend made her oatmeal so she didn’t have >to chew it. >My friend thinks she just doesn’t want to chew anything. She thinks >maybe it’s her teeth…..but I tend to think it isn’t since she’s always >been like that. She’s never eaten meats…..no matter what type or how >it’s cooked–she won’t eat any of it. She refuses to even touch >veggies, and most fruits (she’ll eat bananas and that’s about it for >fruit). She’ll eat yogurt, nutrigrain bars and pb&j. She’ll drink >juice and only chocolate milk. >My friend is getting very aggrivated because every meal consists of her >spitting out her food. She’s getting most of her calories from >chocolate milk—-no, she’s not drinking so much that she’s not >hungry—she is hungry, she just doesn’t want to chew. >Any advice……
Response:
My friend swears she’d gag on even small pieces of cut up food. The funny part is that when she was at my house or +AD4-anybody elses house for that matter, and her mother wasn’t around, she would +AD4-eat a cracker or other non-pureed food no problem (but not at home). +AD4- Boy, do I ever hear a fishing line being reeled in. By the way, your friend might try the Table Time foods – they’re food designed for 1 year +ACY- older kids (mine still likes the chicken and stars) – very soft foods. She can get several varieties, and give her daughter a choice – do you want chicken and stars or vegetable stew (or whatever). Then, leave it up to her daughter to eat as much or as little as she wants (she may want to spoon about half into a bowl +ACY- save the other half). However, do not keep opening different ones – one choice per meal. The table time foods are pretty well balanced, +ACY- taste quite good. This way, the child has a choice +ACY- the Mom isn’t a short order cook. Also, I stopped heating the food – my kid likes them at room temperature, and the food is fully cooked, so there’s no need to heat unless the kid likes it that way. Heidi
Response:
> Boy, do I ever hear a fishing line being reeled in. By the way, your friend > might try the Table Time foods – they’re food designed for 1 year +ACY- older > kids (mine still likes the chicken and stars) – very soft foods. She can get > several varieties, and give her daughter a choice – do you want chicken and > stars or vegetable stew (or whatever). Then, leave it up to her daughter to > eat as much or as little as she wants (she may want to spoon about half into > a bowl +ACY- save the other half). However, do not keep opening different ones – > one choice per meal. The table time foods are pretty well balanced, +ACY- taste > quite good. This way, the child has a choice +ACY- the Mom isn’t a short order > cook. Also, I stopped heating the food – my kid likes them at room > temperature, and the food is fully cooked, so there’s no need to heat unless > the kid likes it that way.
She was getting the Table Time foods on occassion…..but her daughter won’t eat meat or veggies so that leaves pretty much nothing but noodles/pasta for her to eat. I think she stopped buying them because they were going to waste. I think what I wrote was a little confusing……she doesn’t eat pureed foods any more and she does eat regular foods at home (when she doesn’t spit them out), but during her long pureed food stage (until 15-16 months—she’s 25 months now) she would gag on anything but pureed food at home, but only if her mother was around (ie; she’d eat fine if she was at my house). -Treelo – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Heidi
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Is she teething at all? if so get something like anbesol (dont know if you get it over there or not) and put it on just before dinner and then feed! Worked with my two sometimes! Susan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> It may not be very comforting advice but the child will eat when she’s > hungry. She’s not going to let herself starve. Fix her one thing and if > she doesn’t want to eat it then she doesn’t eat. Like the pizza the other > day….if it had been me with Kelsey she would’ve gotten the pizza and > nothing else. I wouldn’t have fixed her the sandwich or oatmeal. >This is my thought too. But, when I suggest it, she says "no, it must be her >teeth that’s making her not want to eat." So, she feels bad about not giving >her something softer. ><snip> > Your friend also > might want to make her chocolate milk with ovaltine instead of hershey’s or > nestley quik. Ovaltine has added nutrients. >She does get Ovaltine…..I should have said that in my post. > Limit her milk to just one or > two cups. Give her juice or water the rest of the time. But not within an > hour or so of eating. Don’t want her to fill up on those empty calories. > She may also want to consider giving her a vitamin. >She talked to her doctor about a vitamin supplement, but he said that as long >as she’s drinking ovaltine she doesn’t need one. >-Treelo > But I would advise to > give it at night before bed. I was giving Kelsey hers during the morning > and she wasn’t wanting to eat much. I ran out of vitamins one day and for > the couple of days before I could make it to the store Kelsey ate like a > horse. I started giving her the vitamin at night instead. Somehow it was > filling her up. > Hope that helps some. > Lisa > Mom to Kelsey (3) > — > Visit my website… > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/9283/
Response:
My two do this all the time – I give them apple and they chew away and then spit it out! Don’t know why – I’m not worried though – they seem to get enough food its just a nuisance for the mess – i think its one of those "it will pass in time" things! Susan http://twins.cjb.net – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I’m writing on behalf of my best friend who needs some advice (she >doesn’t get these newsgroups at home). Her daughter turned 2 in March >and she is having problems getting her to eat. She will take a bite (of >whatever, it doesn’t matter), chew it a little and then spit it out. >Today, we gave her pizza (which she likes), but she wouldn’t eat >it……she’d take a bite, chew it and spit it out. She maybe swallowed >3 times. So, my friend made her a peanut butter sandwich and she did >the same thing. Finally, my friend made her oatmeal so she didn’t have >to chew it. >My friend thinks she just doesn’t want to chew anything. She thinks >maybe it’s her teeth…..but I tend to think it isn’t since she’s always >been like that. She’s never eaten meats…..no matter what type or how >it’s cooked–she won’t eat any of it. She refuses to even touch >veggies, and most fruits (she’ll eat bananas and that’s about it for >fruit). She’ll eat yogurt, nutrigrain bars and pb&j. She’ll drink >juice and only chocolate milk. >My friend is getting very aggrivated because every meal consists of her >spitting out her food. She’s getting most of her calories from >chocolate milk—-no, she’s not drinking so much that she’s not >hungry—she is hungry, she just doesn’t want to chew. >Any advice……
Response:
> > My friend is getting very aggrivated because every meal consists of her > spitting out her food. She’s getting most of her calories from > chocolate milk—-no, she’s not drinking so much that she’s not > hungry—she is hungry, she just doesn’t want to chew. > Any advice…… > Before everyone is convinced that this is just a ‘picky stage’, I’d have > the child checked to make sure her jaw and facial muscles are functioning > properly.
Great advice and I’m glad you brought it up…..but, she has been checked out and her pediatrician says all is normal. She talks like there’s no tomorrow (she can even say her ABC’s and count to 10 which I think it pretty good for a 25 month old). She’s been funny with certain things since she was an infant…..she wouldn’t tip her bottle and would only drink it laying completely flat–her mother tried desperately to get her out of that habit but she would scream bloody murder if she wasn’t allowed to lay completely flat to drink. For the longest time, she wouldn’t switch to a cup for the same reason…..she refused to tip it. She’s over that though and drinks from sippy cup now. Even with food, she’s never been good about chewing (which is another reason I don’t think it’s her teeth)…..her mother kept her on jarred pureed food (like Gerber Stage 2 food) until she was15-16 months old despite the fact that we all tried convincing her (my friend) to just cut up "big girl" food for her and leave it. My friend swears she’d gag on even small pieces of cut up food. The funny part is that when she was at my house or anybody elses house for that matter, and her mother wasn’t around, she would eat a cracker or other non-pureed food no problem (but not at home). -Treelo – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My youngest went through something similar — didn’t like to chew things, > preferred soft foods…we thought it was just a stage….. > Until we also realized that by age 2.5, he also wasn’t speaking clearly > at all. He was still jargoning heavily and getting frustrated because he > obviously wanted to communicate, but no one could understand him. > We had him evaluated, and discovered that his jaw and tongue muscles were > underdeveloped, causing a delay in his speech — and causing the bulk of > his ‘picky eater’ problems. > Speech therapy and specialized preschool, where he got specific therapy > to strengthen his jaw and tongue muscles did the trick. Now he chews > like a madman <g> — and *now* is a truly picky eater <g> — but his > speech is crystal clear. > I’d eliminate any physical problems first before passing it off as a > ‘picky phase’, especially since the child appears willing to try to eat > chewy things. > Leah > — > "Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant? I’m halfway through my > fish burger and I realize, Oh my God….I could be eating a slow > learner." > –Lynda Montgomery
Response:
<hangs head in shame> I actually many times considered trying the tv solution, but in our house it wasn’t practical, thank goodness. –Janet Triplets (10/21/96) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Treelo! You *know* the answer, girl. Repeat after me: > From the age of one, it is your [friend's] responsibility to provide > nutritious and balanced meals and your [friend's] baby’s responsibility to > eat them. > Tell her to stop being a short order cook, provide at least one thing at a > meal that baby *should* be able to (i.e. usually can) eat and stop > stressing. >I’ve told her this repeatedly…..I told her again today as a matter of fact. I >knew the answer, I just wanted to post the message here to see if anybody had a >different idea (ie; to make sure I wasn’t suggesting something cruel)….. >My friend today said she’s going to wait until she knows she’s done teething >before drawing the line with meals. Personally, I don’t think teething has much >to do with it because her daughter has always been like this. What my friend >doesn’t understand is that her daughter is playing her like a fiddle and no >matter how much I, my husband, and her own husband tell her that, she just keeps >giving in. Her daughter wouldn’t eat, so she put a TV in the kitchen to >distract her with Barney tapes during meals (I think she’s crazy–and it didn’t >work too well anyway)….but now, if Barney isn’t on during meals, she screams >bloody murder. To each her own!! >-Treelo > PS Mine act like they have trouble with sharp stuff (like yesterday I tried > them on French bread and it wasn’t a big success) — but offer them a > tortilla chip and SCRUNCH! that little problem just kinda somehow melts away > … > –Janet > Triplets (10/21/96) > >I’m writing on behalf of my best friend who needs some advice (she > >doesn’t get these newsgroups at home). Her daughter turned 2 in March > >and she is having problems getting her to eat. She will take a bite (of > >whatever, it doesn’t matter), chew it a little and then spit it out. > >Today, we gave her pizza (which she likes), but she wouldn’t eat > >it……she’d take a bite, chew it and spit it out. She maybe swallowed > >3 times. So, my friend made her a peanut butter sandwich and she did > >the same thing. Finally, my friend made her oatmeal so she didn’t have > >to chew it. > >My friend thinks she just doesn’t want to chew anything. She thinks > >maybe it’s her teeth…..but I tend to think it isn’t since she’s always > >been like that. She’s never eaten meats…..no matter what type or how > >it’s cooked–she won’t eat any of it. She refuses to even touch > >veggies, and most fruits (she’ll eat bananas and that’s about it for > >fruit). She’ll eat yogurt, nutrigrain bars and pb&j. She’ll drink > >juice and only chocolate milk. > >My friend is getting very aggrivated because every meal consists of her > >spitting out her food. She’s getting most of her calories from > >chocolate milk—-no, she’s not drinking so much that she’s not > >hungry—she is hungry, she just doesn’t want to chew. > >Any advice……
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’m writing on behalf of my best friend who needs some advice (she > doesn’t get these newsgroups at home). Her daughter turned 2 in March > and she is having problems getting her to eat. She will take a bite (of > whatever, it doesn’t matter), chew it a little and then spit it out. > Today, we gave her pizza (which she likes), but she wouldn’t eat > it……she’d take a bite, chew it and spit it out. She maybe swallowed > 3 times. So, my friend made her a peanut butter sandwich and she did > the same thing. Finally, my friend made her oatmeal so she didn’t have > to chew it. > My friend thinks she just doesn’t want to chew anything. She thinks > maybe it’s her teeth…..but I tend to think it isn’t since she’s always > been like that. She’s never eaten meats…..no matter what type or how > it’s cooked–she won’t eat any of it. She refuses to even touch > veggies, and most fruits (she’ll eat bananas and that’s about it for > fruit). She’ll eat yogurt, nutrigrain bars and pb&j. She’ll drink > juice and only chocolate milk. > My friend is getting very aggrivated because every meal consists of her > spitting out her food. She’s getting most of her calories from > chocolate milk—-no, she’s not drinking so much that she’s not > hungry—she is hungry, she just doesn’t want to chew. > Any advice……
Before everyone is convinced that this is just a ‘picky stage’, I’d have the child checked to make sure her jaw and facial muscles are functioning properly. My youngest went through something similar — didn’t like to chew things, preferred soft foods…we thought it was just a stage….. Until we also realized that by age 2.5, he also wasn’t speaking clearly at all. He was still jargoning heavily and getting frustrated because he obviously wanted to communicate, but no one could understand him. We had him evaluated, and discovered that his jaw and tongue muscles were underdeveloped, causing a delay in his speech — and causing the bulk of his ‘picky eater’ problems. Speech therapy and specialized preschool, where he got specific therapy to strengthen his jaw and tongue muscles did the trick. Now he chews like a madman <g> — and *now* is a truly picky eater <g> — but his speech is crystal clear. I’d eliminate any physical problems first before passing it off as a ‘picky phase’, especially since the child appears willing to try to eat chewy things. Leah — "Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant? I’m halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my God….I could be eating a slow learner." –Lynda Montgomery
Response:
No child will starve themselves. Many 2 year olds go through a phase where they live on air and dirt. The child should be offered one favorite food & that’s it – your friend should not be a short order cook. This is one of the few things a child this age has control over – how much (or little) she eats. And, in addition to probably not being that hungry, there’s the extra added bonus of making Mommy dance. Heidi
Response:
> Treelo! You *know* the answer, girl. Repeat after me: > From the age of one, it is your [friend's] responsibility to provide > nutritious and balanced meals and your [friend's] baby’s responsibility to > eat them. > Tell her to stop being a short order cook, provide at least one thing at a > meal that baby *should* be able to (i.e. usually can) eat and stop > stressing.
I’ve told her this repeatedly…..I told her again today as a matter of fact. I knew the answer, I just wanted to post the message here to see if anybody had a different idea (ie; to make sure I wasn’t suggesting something cruel)….. My friend today said she’s going to wait until she knows she’s done teething before drawing the line with meals. Personally, I don’t think teething has much to do with it because her daughter has always been like this. What my friend doesn’t understand is that her daughter is playing her like a fiddle and no matter how much I, my husband, and her own husband tell her that, she just keeps giving in. Her daughter wouldn’t eat, so she put a TV in the kitchen to distract her with Barney tapes during meals (I think she’s crazy–and it didn’t work too well anyway)….but now, if Barney isn’t on during meals, she screams bloody murder. To each her own!! -Treelo – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> PS Mine act like they have trouble with sharp stuff (like yesterday I tried > them on French bread and it wasn’t a big success) — but offer them a > tortilla chip and SCRUNCH! that little problem just kinda somehow melts away > … > –Janet > Triplets (10/21/96) >I’m writing on behalf of my best friend who needs some advice (she >doesn’t get these newsgroups at home). Her daughter turned 2 in March >and she is having problems getting her to eat. She will take a bite (of >whatever, it doesn’t matter), chew it a little and then spit it out. >Today, we gave her pizza (which she likes), but she wouldn’t eat >it……she’d take a bite, chew it and spit it out. She maybe swallowed >3 times. So, my friend made her a peanut butter sandwich and she did >the same thing. Finally, my friend made her oatmeal so she didn’t have >to chew it. >My friend thinks she just doesn’t want to chew anything. She thinks >maybe it’s her teeth…..but I tend to think it isn’t since she’s always >been like that. She’s never eaten meats…..no matter what type or how >it’s cooked–she won’t eat any of it. She refuses to even touch >veggies, and most fruits (she’ll eat bananas and that’s about it for >fruit). She’ll eat yogurt, nutrigrain bars and pb&j. She’ll drink >juice and only chocolate milk. >My friend is getting very aggrivated because every meal consists of her >spitting out her food. She’s getting most of her calories from >chocolate milk—-no, she’s not drinking so much that she’s not >hungry—she is hungry, she just doesn’t want to chew. >Any advice……
Response:
I guess this isn’t really advice but my ex was like that all his life and now at 29 he still won’t eat hardly anything that he has to chew.whatever the advice you get is try it . my ex mother in law just let it go and always says with a smirky smile " I never made my son do anything he didn’t want to" Now look where he is only eating mashed food or soup. No Joke Kerry-Lynn Mom To Noah
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> It may not be very comforting advice but the child will eat when she’s > hungry. She’s not going to let herself starve. Fix her one thing and if > she doesn’t want to eat it then she doesn’t eat. Like the pizza the other > day….if it had been me with Kelsey she would’ve gotten the pizza and > nothing else. I wouldn’t have fixed her the sandwich or oatmeal.
This is my thought too. But, when I suggest it, she says "no, it must be her teeth that’s making her not want to eat." So, she feels bad about not giving her something softer. <snip> > Your friend also > might want to make her chocolate milk with ovaltine instead of hershey’s or > nestley quik. Ovaltine has added nutrients.
She does get Ovaltine…..I should have said that in my post. > Limit her milk to just one or > two cups. Give her juice or water the rest of the time. But not within an > hour or so of eating. Don’t want her to fill up on those empty calories. > She may also want to consider giving her a vitamin.
She talked to her doctor about a vitamin supplement, but he said that as long as she’s drinking ovaltine she doesn’t need one. -Treelo – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> But I would advise to > give it at night before bed. I was giving Kelsey hers during the morning > and she wasn’t wanting to eat much. I ran out of vitamins one day and for > the couple of days before I could make it to the store Kelsey ate like a > horse. I started giving her the vitamin at night instead. Somehow it was > filling her up. > Hope that helps some. > Lisa > Mom to Kelsey (3) > — > Visit my website… > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/9283/
Response:
My (mom to the worlds #1 picky eater who now, at 7yo, will eat most stuff and try anything once) advice is… 1. DON’T STRESS. 2yo anorexics are *very* uncommon. She’ll eat if she’s hungry and left to her own devices. She’s obviously learned that she can really push mommy’s buttons and get a *lot* of attention so mommy’s got to get rid of those buttons. Give her healthy choices and let her eat what/when she wants. Do NOT make her 3,000 different things at each meal when she won’t eat the previous thing. Stand your ground, she will not starve. (Obviously, she should be served things she could eat like green beans, mashed potatoes, bread, applesauce whatever, not tacos or chili!) The natural consequence of not eating is that you get hungry. Teach her this lesson. 2. Get her involved in cooking and buying groceries. Even a two year old can (sorta) mix batter. 3. Look at what she eats over the course of a week, don’t be too concerned over individual meals. 4. Ham it up when you eat yummy stuff. Most 2yo’s are followers. "mmmmm, this is the BEST tomato soup I ever ate!!" makes it seem a lot more appealing! 5. Cut out the juice (or make it 50/50 juice/water). Cut down on the chocolate milk, it shouldn’t be served with meals. A toddlers stomach is about the size of their balled up fist so even a half a glass of chocolate milk could really diminish her appetite. 6. She’s probably in a growth slump and not really that hungry. Be respectful of the fact that her appetite won’t be constant until she’s done growing. Remember that 2yo’s will not starve themselves. Don’t make it a power struggle or you’re setting yourself up for serious problems in the future. THIS TOO WILL PASS!! Good luck! -Alexis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’m writing on behalf of my best friend who needs some advice (she > doesn’t get these newsgroups at home). Her daughter turned 2 in March > and she is having problems getting her to eat. She will take a bite (of > whatever, it doesn’t matter), chew it a little and then spit it out. > Today, we gave her pizza (which she likes), but she wouldn’t eat > it……she’d take a bite, chew it and spit it out. She maybe swallowed > 3 times. So, my friend made her a peanut butter sandwich and she did > the same thing. Finally, my friend made her oatmeal so she didn’t have > to chew it. > My friend thinks she just doesn’t want to chew anything. She thinks > maybe it’s her teeth…..but I tend to think it isn’t since she’s always > been like that. She’s never eaten meats…..no matter what type or how > it’s cooked–she won’t eat any of it. She refuses to even touch > veggies, and most fruits (she’ll eat bananas and that’s about it for > fruit). She’ll eat yogurt, nutrigrain bars and pb&j. She’ll drink > juice and only chocolate milk. > My friend is getting very aggrivated because every meal consists of her > spitting out her food. She’s getting most of her calories from > chocolate milk—-no, she’s not drinking so much that she’s not > hungry—she is hungry, she just doesn’t want to chew. > Any advice……
Response:
I’m writing on behalf of my best friend who needs some advice (she doesn’t get these newsgroups at home). Her daughter turned 2 in March and she is having problems getting her to eat. She will take a bite (of whatever, it doesn’t matter), chew it a little and then spit it out. Today, we gave her pizza (which she likes), but she wouldn’t eat it……she’d take a bite, chew it and spit it out. She maybe swallowed 3 times. So, my friend made her a peanut butter sandwich and she did the same thing. Finally, my friend made her oatmeal so she didn’t have to chew it. My friend thinks she just doesn’t want to chew anything. She thinks maybe it’s her teeth…..but I tend to think it isn’t since she’s always been like that. She’s never eaten meats…..no matter what type or how it’s cooked–she won’t eat any of it. She refuses to even touch veggies, and most fruits (she’ll eat bananas and that’s about it for fruit). She’ll eat yogurt, nutrigrain bars and pb&j. She’ll drink juice and only chocolate milk. My friend is getting very aggrivated because every meal consists of her spitting out her food. She’s getting most of her calories from chocolate milk—-no, she’s not drinking so much that she’s not hungry—she is hungry, she just doesn’t want to chew. Any advice……
Response:
It may not be very comforting advice but the child will eat when she’s hungry. She’s not going to let herself starve. Fix her one thing and if she doesn’t want to eat it then she doesn’t eat. Like the pizza the other day….if it had been me with Kelsey she would’ve gotten the pizza and nothing else. I wouldn’t have fixed her the sandwich or oatmeal. If she didn’t want to eat it then that’s ok. She wouldn’t have gotten any snacks until the next meal. Your friend might want to let the daughter be more involved in the choosing of the meal. Let her pick a side dish to go with it or something. If she doesn’t want to eat then she doesn’t get offered anything else. After a few times of this she’ll figure out that she’s not going to get anything else and should eat what’s offered. Your friend also might want to make her chocolate milk with ovaltine instead of hershey’s or nestley quik. Ovaltine has added nutrients. Limit her milk to just one or two cups. Give her juice or water the rest of the time. But not within an hour or so of eating. Don’t want her to fill up on those empty calories. She may also want to consider giving her a vitamin. But I would advise to give it at night before bed. I was giving Kelsey hers during the morning and she wasn’t wanting to eat much. I ran out of vitamins one day and for the couple of days before I could make it to the store Kelsey ate like a horse. I started giving her the vitamin at night instead. Somehow it was filling her up. Hope that helps some. Lisa Mom to Kelsey (3) — Visit my website… http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/9283/
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