my 2 year old child barely eats... he only drinks his milk.. what will i do?

SHAREEN SANDHYA - posted on 10/15/2012

my baby girl only wants her bottle most of the time. she eats but very less and she is only 9kg-underweight

Tamara - posted on 09/26/2012

Thank you ladies! You have all been helpfull. My 2yo daughter is a "non eater" too. I am def going try less milk!

Sunanda - posted on 09/16/2012

i have baby girl .she is only 2 years & 6 month. she is very much bad eater. she is not to keen any anything ( lays, chocatate, sweet, mc'donald's burger etc) not also household food & fruity also. i m working. i m very much worried.

Beth - posted on 08/06/2012

I haven't read through the other responses, so I may be repeating what others are saying but my advice is to give less milk. Put food in front of him at meal time (it helps if meal times are relatively at the same time each day). He may refuse a couple of meals, but eventually he will eat. And don't allow the milk to replace a meal.

Deanna - posted on 07/16/2012

My children got milk at breakfast. I also kept in mind that their stomachs are or should be the same size as THEIR closed fist. I also keep in mind that they are kids and will go through spurts. When they eat more they are getting ready or going through a growth spurt. They won't starve as long as you provide three square meals a day. Nerve wracking I know but keep all of that in mind and you will be fine. :)

Stacey - posted on 07/13/2012

Mine is a milk lover too. I've started giving him no sugar added juice and vegtable infused juices to cut him back off the milk. He loves it because his older sibilings drink them too. You can try to maybe offer your little one a cool new cup, but tell them milk isnt allowed in it. My son has cups for milk, water, juice. All different. He gets excited for a cool new cup. And I found once I cut him back from milk, he's been slowly eating more.My son is also a snacker, not a meal eater so I find it's easiest for him to leave his meal with my at my desk and he comes to me for bites when he wants them. It takes 20-30 mins some days, and I hate feeding him that way!! But he eats very little, so this method helps us!

Mallory - posted on 07/13/2012

My four year old still barely eats! The doctors have assured me as long as you keep presenting food they will not starve themselves and they will eat when they are hungry! I would suggest offering the milk after the meal instead of with it.I also used Pediasure until she was about three. That can get expensive, so if you decide to try those the generic brand works just the same and make sure to get the ones with fiber. (They can constipate them.) Just be patient and consistant! As long as you are offering it he will eat when he is hungry!

Stive-lee - posted on 07/08/2012

my girl had not eay for 4 days know she drink her mailk but not eat what should i do ????????

Laura - posted on 10/17/2011

No its not OK a child's brain is growing rapidly till they are three years old and the fat in the whole milk helps. Ask your per first before you switch to skim or 2 percent

Laura - posted on 10/17/2011

No its not OK a child's brain is growing rapidly till they are three years old and the fat in the whole milk helps. Ask your per first before you switch to skim or 2 percent

Holly - posted on 07/28/2011

you are going to have to cut out the milk. it's making him too full and he won't eat. my youngest tried the same thing. i let her drink milk for breakfast and not again until after supper.

Jodie - posted on 10/04/2010

there is no worries about a kid whos not eating but make sure your not reflecting that on them.. saying you dontlike or ewing somethin is a quick turn off for kids and food. if mommy and daddy dont ike it then even if they did the day before they dont eather.. my son is 2 and eats more than i do.. not big on his meats but chicken nuggets always solves that.. a kid that only eats fruit is nothig to complain abot that is all a baby needs if thats all you can get into them. just like sometimes your not hungry so can a a baby but dont take it to heartgive a different option dry cereal snacking healthy and making good drink decisions.. AT 2 YOUR BABY SHOULD NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT SODA IS. IT IS BAD FDOR THEM AND RUINS A GOOD DIET FOR YOUR BABY FASSTTT..

Sarah - posted on 09/30/2010

It's just a phase. I think all kids around this age go through it. Limit the amount of milk your child gets to only breakfast, lunch & dinner. Offer him juice & water as well, that way his tummy isn't so full that he has no room for food. How much does your child weigh? Also, keep offering food. One day, he may surprise you & start chowing down =]

My daughter is a picky eater. Hates chicken & occasionally eats meat. She loves peanut butter, so we know she's getting her protein somewhere =] She hates milk, but loves cheese & yogurt. If you're really concerned, talk to his pediatrician. If he's still gaining & growing & thriving, there's probably nothing to worry about. You can also give him Pediasure so he gets all of the nutrients & vitamins that he's missing out on from only drinking milk.

You may just have to be a little tough on him & take away the milk and offer him juice, water & food. He may not like it at first, but when he's hungry, he'll let you know. Just remember, kids will never starve themselves. They know when they are hungry and when they aren't.

Jeanette - posted on 09/24/2010

My son eats about one meal a day. He drinks alot of water and some milk. He has never been a big eater since the day he was born. He is also the only one I nursed (out of 5). But he is gaining weight and growing. Our pediatrician has no concerns, so I don't worry about it. We have an excellent pediatrician and one thing he told us with our first child is...kids know when they are hungry and know when they aren't! We have never force fed our children and they are happy, healthy kids! For me, if they are making good food choices when they do eat, I am not going to worry about it. The best thing to do is talk with your pediatrician. You need to find what works for you and your child. Good luck!

Tiffany - posted on 09/10/2010

At this age, they literally eat like a bird. You can not expect 3 good meals out of them a day because their bodies just aren't growing like they were before. I'm satisfied with mine getting in 2 meals. I offer her food all day long, but if she isn't hungry she simply will not eat it.

Aida - posted on 08/29/2010

I spoke to my sons pediatrician when I took him for his last check up and she told me that he's at the age where he's going to be really fussy about what he heats. She asked me how much milk I give him a day I told her two cups, one in the morning and one before bed. He drinks 2% so she said give him a third cup. I suggest vitamins becuase it will replace what yout toddler is not gettining what he/she needs as far as nutrients(make sure the vitamins are age appropriate and not too much iron it will constpate him/her). I'm doing that and the vitamins will help with the appetite. His weight has been just fine so far. Good luck.

Vanessa - posted on 08/28/2010

im havin the same problem, he was eating alot and then he had gotten really sick in the spring and refused to eat absolutely anything, not even his fruit he only wanted bottle, and since then, he drinks mostly milk, some days he does eat a lot and other days, only milk. although he has lost about 4 pounds, he is still growing taller?? if thats any good i dunno. usually only eats a couple bites of cereal in the morning, fruit, or soup and crackers, loves spaghetti. trying to get him to not drink as much milk..............i read earlier someone suggesting 1% or skim milk, its ok to give them that now instead of the homo milk?? because that would be great if i could start doing that!!

Sade - posted on 08/11/2010

Wow my son eats his food,but he still drinks to much milk. I want him off the bottel so what do I do now?

Kelly - posted on 08/10/2010

My son is also not a great eater...... I do find if I feed him he will eat at least half of what he is given. And im at the point now that if I can get half into him it is a win on my part,I also make sure to leave some snacks around during the day I tryed NOT giving him snacks but it didnt help him to eat a meal so iv just left them around thinking its better if he gets SOMETHING into him!! My son is not a breakfast eater he will not eat it so iv started to give him pediasure in the morings and then some dry cereal on the table that he can munch on as he plays. It is very hard more on us mothers than on the kids...Lol we have the mommy guilt. My son ate SO WELL for the first time yesterday ate all his meals - breakfast but I know today prob wont be the same but at some point it will all even out im sure! Good luck and it ur worried see the dr he will tell you if you should be worring or not ie weight loss ect.

Tanya - posted on 08/07/2010

My son is a light eater as well. I try not to give him milk in the middle of the day unless he's been exceptionally active. If you've just been giving your child milk because it's the easiest solution (and sometimes it's just easier to give in, I know), you might want to resist that temptation and offer them watered-down juice or a fruit instead. If we stand firm about not giving milk, my son will eventually accept something else if he's really hungry or thirsty. He still doesn't eat a lot, and he's very picky but I try to limit his milk to mornings and evenings.

Karen - posted on 08/05/2010

I started per recommendation of my peditrition...cib....Carnation instant breakfast to my sons milk...Vanilla flavor...Working gaining wt...I also feed him anything that is high calories/high fat...Try to get as much protein in as possible...Keep foods going all day...theirs a light at the end...Try not to worry so much...They do eat when they are hungry..and grow too quickly!!!!

Carlise - posted on 07/31/2010

Does your child eat well on a least 3 days of the week because the doctor told us if our son was eating well on at lest 3 days of the week then we should not worry unless his weight drops or does not increase at all. She also recommended Pediasure once a day if we were still concerned.

Kylie - posted on 07/30/2010

Limit the milk. I let my son have a little drink of milk with meals only if he starts eating first, and only now give him water inbetween. He is hungry enough to eat then. Now he has a good balance of mainly solids but still enough dairy in his diet.

Kasandra - posted on 07/30/2010

ps he wont

Kasandra - posted on 07/30/2010

hi my 2 year old is the same i wont eat much at all he just wants milk

Corrina - posted on 07/14/2010

I was receiving WIC, they told me too much milk robs other nutrients their body needs,Only 4 ozs w/ breakfast, lunch and dinner so I would suggest more water, then they'll want the food. and she only gets 4oz of juice at snack time at day care but w/ me she only gets 1/2 juice 1/2 water

Cristina - posted on 07/12/2010

My kid is going through the same thing, he used to eat so much and from one minute ti the next he stopped, I'm worried too, I just posted a question before I saw yours, well I have some people tell me that it's the summer, and that if he drinks and eats fruits he's fine as long as he drinks it's ok, but, I will call the doctor just in case, you should do the same your doc may recommend something, good luck.

Christina - posted on 07/11/2010

Stop giving him milk.
Kids who constantly drink milk often eat less. They don't feel hungry cuz their tummy already has something to digest. Offer him water or juice instead, and when you give him milk make sure it's 1% or skim so there's little to no fat to distract his tummy from the fact that he's hungry.

Cynthia - posted on 07/10/2010

a really good thing to remember is that their stumach is only the size of thier fist. small amounts is fine so long as they are growing and happy

Renee - posted on 07/08/2010

My son will go through phases. Some days he barely eats anything and will only drink his milk. On those days I have to make him eat something small first before I will give him more milk. Then other days he eats more than I do in a day. When he is being fussy with eating, I normally will give him a choice on what to eat, this way HE is picking out his own food~ sort of. Somedays I also have feed him otherwise he won't eat, but he will eat it all if I feed it to him. Another way I found to get him to eat, is to make his food "mine" and tell him he can't have any. Then it becomes a game and he is eating "mama's food". When he is hungry he will eat. That is what my Mom and ped tell me...

Danielle - posted on 07/07/2010

I don't have any advice... but just know you are not alone. My 2 year old barely eats, and when she does it is only fruit. It worries me.

Cynthia - posted on 07/07/2010

first thing i can suggest is your child heath nurse... mine gave me the number of a "meal times matter" place with all types of advice for all kinds of probs ie: only eatting white food, or only drinking milk... maybe check with your g.p they are not tounge tide and have difficulties... its different from place to place but w.a (where i am) has great health nurses.