help my 22 month old son has all but stopped eating hes not unwell seems to have energy but has become very picky about what he will eat, also he is having lots of tantrums..im at my wits end any advice would be great

Nicky - posted on 03/05/2012

My son used to eat everything you put in front of him. Lately he has also become very picky, he wont eat meat, the only meat that i can get him to eat is sausage and hotdogs and chicken nuggets. He loves his veggies but lately its like he is on strike, he only wants to eat oatmeal! Im thinking its just a faze your son is going through along with my son. My 10 yr old went through a sauce only faze when he was 2. He wouldnt eat anything unless it had sauce on it. Give him time he will get through it. Just have to be patient

Kelly - posted on 02/26/2012

My daughter's pediatrician told us that her growth rate would slow down sometime between 18-24 months. She wouldn't be taking in as mush calories and its completely normal. The doctor was right. my daughter basically stopped eating. She picked at her food during breakfast and lunch, but dinner was out of the question. We didn't make a big deal out of it and we didn't make her her own meal. If she got hungry she would eat what was in front of her. We did give her a multivitamin to insure that she was getting proper nutrition.

Now my daughter is a little over 2 yrs and she's starting to eat better and more of a selection of food. We still stick with the vitamins.

As for the temper tantrums, its the terrible twos as they say. It comes with the age. Sometimes its because they're hungry or tired. And sometimes its because they just need to poop-which I found out was the case with my daughter.

Sofia - posted on 02/23/2012

Unless your child has a medical condition that makes eating difficult, then he should be able to eat whatever you give him. There is a difference between UNABLE to eat and does not WANT to eat. Your child is at the terrible 2's age when children are pushing the limit to see what they can get away with. Dont give in to what he wants.



I work with a nutritionist and these are the recommendation she has for parents:

1) have set meal and snack times. This helps your child's stomach become regulated and hungry during specific times of the day. And it stops grazing.

2) serve your child healthy foods. You have control over what is bought and brought into the house, and what goes on your child's plate.

3) Create a pleasant meal time environment. When meal time becomes a stressful part of the day, you're setting yourself up for failure. Your body language, tone of voice, level of patients, etc changes and that has a great influence on how you deal with your cranky toddler. Make meal time fun and interesting.



Good luck!

Sarah - posted on 02/21/2012

For the eating some of the pickiness is the age. I try not to encourage the pickiness if I can help it. Make sure you are not doing lots of snacks between meals. Depending on sometimes I don't do a snack in the morning if breakfast was filling or if at a later time then normal. I find this helps them eat better at lunch time. Make sure your protion sizes are not too big. Then give a couple different kinds of food on their plate for meal times (meat, veggie, fruit). They must eat a good protion of each in order to have a snack later that day....or if what was left at meal time can work for snack time then that is what they get for snack. Also make sure he is not filling up on liquids. My rule is you get one glass of milk (4 ounces) then you must eat most of your food before I will give you more milk (for that meal time). Then also watch how much liquid is drank between meals. When it is hot he might drink more and that is ok.....eating might be down a little too. Just as we are when it is hot outside. Do take into consideration likes and dislikes. Pickiness is one thing, but dislikes are another. If you know it is something he does not like (not just being picky) then give a little leway.



For the tantrums if they are happening at the table I would push the plate up further on the table and the just say when you are ready to eat nicely let me know. Then go on with what you are doing ignoring the tantrum. If the tantrum becomes to a point where he is screaming, hitting, kicking then put him in a time out spot and let him know that when he is ready to sit nicely he can return to the table. If you stick to your guns and stay strong it does get better. NEVER give in to the tantrum.....then you have just created a monster that will be harder to discipline next time.