17 month old not eating well

Amber - posted on 09/21/2010

My daughter is now almost 7 and eats like a pig, but when she was around the 2 year mark she went through a fad where the only thing that she would eat was toast. I tried everything and nothing would work. My grandmother told me that as long as she's eating something not to get too overly concerned, that kids go through these stages, and after a little while she started eating a normal diet again. I think it took about 2-3 weeks. She still sometimes goes through similar stages too though, they come and go. One week I can't hardly get her to eat anything other then a peanut butter sandwich and the next week I can't seem to fill her. In your case though it may have been a result of the constipation. Regardless of how old you are your body has natural defenses and if you know something is going to hurt you, you're going to try and avoid it. Maybe it was just her bodies was of still getting some nutrients while trying to battle off the constipation problem if her appetite started to return when the constipation was starting to go away.

Mia - posted on 09/21/2010

Hey 2 things: be patient and try not to get to anxious about any of it. I know it's hard but she will be able to sense that in you and that will affect her eating and development. Now, have you spoken with the pediatrician about the not standing or walking? It is probably not a big deal at all.... different kids develop at different paces but generally there is some reason to ask questions if by 18 months she is still not standing and walking. Does she get much exercise? Or play much? Try to get her in a jumper and/or exersaucer for like 10-15 minutes at a time several times a day. As for eating, you need to just take control (patiently of course) and start putting a little extra time into it which you hopefully have. My kids never had anything processed like prepared baby foods or snack crackers/chips/etc... except on very special occasions. I used everything fresh and my kids are great eaters. She is not going to let herself starve (and if she does then you know you have a problem) but she might be completely incapable of accepting the change in what you offer her and shut down - again this will signal that you have a problem and you'll follow up with a pediatrician.... and figure out what special needs she might have. More than likely it is just an issue of expectation. Our kids develop their tastes as we feed them. There is so much fear around introducing foods that we tend to not get our kids started out well. I did avoid the known allergens and I avoided the foods that my kids had trouble with while breastfeeding but we mixed everything in quickly. I do a lot of creative meals too because I have celiac disease so even my husband and kids eat mostly gluten free. it's a great idea to limit gluten so just start eliminating all the processed stuff - especially anything with high fructose corn syrup, flour, etc.... keep potatoes but use sweet potatoes instead, get some gluten free flours, and LOTS of fruits, apple sauce (natural sugars) and unfiltered juices, and LOTS AND LOTS OF VEGGIES!!!! I make smoothies sometimes so they can have the sweetness of them but i always add spinach and/or other veggies. The other day I made zucchini waffles and my kids DEVOURED THEM. Sweet potato pancakes are fantastic too and use things like Agave nectar as syrup. Give her a vitamin everyday also. I use the kids gummies from Whole Foods or Trader joe's. And most importantly give her an extra supplement of Vitamin D - Carlson's baby D drops are the best. You just drop one or 2 droplets on her tongue or in her milk everyday. Start making the transition slowly and you'll be fine. The key really is to make everything you can at home and have her eat like you eat (or not if you don't eat healthy). We make our own everything so it's easy for me to say. And I have multiple kids, full time work, homeschooling co-op responsibilties, a garden, and travel i have to do for work and it is just a family activity. My 2-year old LOVES to bake! she helped make what we call Monster cookies... they are packed with antioxidants (organic fair trade dark and white chocolate bits and chunks) and fresh nuts, gluten free flours, egg whites, cranberries, oatmeal, and all kinds of stuff! good luck!

Ana - posted on 09/20/2010

Hi heather,
I had the same problem too! My baby stopped wanting to eat; but I have discovered that it's because she is getting 4 new teeth! 2 on the sides and 2 molars!!! She hasn't been fussy or irritated which really odd, because when got her 4 front teeth she was really fussy and got a little fever and didn't want to eat or her bottle.
But just last week I peeked in her mouth and noticed those 4 teeth coming in. This week is different and she is starting to eat more.
It could be that your baby might be growing new teeth.

Lacie - posted on 09/20/2010

My now 5-year-old is a picky eater. When she was a toddler we had to supplement her with PediaSure because of her refusal to eat most foods. That along with a "complete" multivitamin kept her on track. The doc was ok with it because she did gain weight as expected. As for dealing with constipation, add a small amout of Benefiber to her pudding or a beverage. Since is dissolves completely, she'll never know it's there! Bre was also a late walker mostly because my husband carried her everywhere. Once I got them both trained, she took off on her own. It will all balance out in time! Good Luck!

Christine Hess - posted on 09/20/2010

Remember juice has a lot of sugar and empty calories... so if they are getting a lot of juice they will not be hungry come meal time. I was reading some of the posts that recommended juice for constipation... just don't want to set yourself up to fail on the eating front.

Christine Hess - posted on 09/20/2010

FIRST you must be sure she is gaining weight as she should be via doc. You need to talk to your doc and see if they think it is OK that she is not standing and walking yet. If she gets a clean bill of health THEN... just offer her 2 - 3 small choices of something that you are eating on our plate. If she doesn't want it then she can wait until the next "meal". Make sure she is not filling up on juice or milk (doc can give you suggested amounts of milk). Our parents didn't have these highly processed "baby" foods that you mention she will only eat. Offer her REAL food and ONLY that... NO BABY will let themselves starve to death (assuming they are healthy). If you want a picky child (and later adult) then cater away. Otherwise, make a change now while they are still somewhat pliable. It is next to impossible to get a 5 or 6 year old to not be picky. It may not look like a lot of food but even a few bites of food can fill a child - it's what they eat over a few day period not per meal. I would REALLY recommend getting away from all the "baby/toddler" meals and go fresher... they will be healthier AND most kids want to eat what you are eating anyway! When she is getting enough calories a day then you can always slip in healthy food in to a milk shake (we put broccoli and spinach in w/ soy milk and soy powder w/ frozen fruit - I also added wheat germ and flax seed oil). You are obviously a very caring mom and doing a great job - hang in there!! btw: the flax seed oil will help w/ constipation - you can also put a little bit of aloe vera juice into her bottle to really help!

Cj - posted on 09/20/2010

A baby will eat when she is eady. They will not starve. To force her to eat something will make a battle where there should not be one. Give her what she likes and as she gets older try new foods. Their taste changes just like ours do, be patient with her and if she spits it out don't try again until much later. My middle daughter did not walk righ away either, I was getting ready to have another baby and her grandfather stood her in front of him and she held onto his pant legs and he walked her around the room. At the end of the night she was walking by herself. If her doctor is not worried, then let it go. Good luck.

Nicola - posted on 09/20/2010

Hi Heather, I have 3 children who are now 5, 7 and 9. My youngest didn't walk until he was 19mths (the other two were both walking by 13 mths) I went to see the health visitor at 17 mths and as when he stood with a baby walker his ankles didn't look straight. She referred me to the Physio who then advised me to buy him boots to support his ankles (he had what they called mobile muscles -he was very flexible and his muscles weren't strong enough to support his weight) with a week of wearing boots his was walking! so would advise to go and see health visitor now - that's what they are there for! ( i never used to go anywhere near them) with regard to the food I would say if she doesn't eat what you give her then don;t offer her anything else - she will then eat when she's hungry. Also there is nothing wrong with buying jars of food from the supermarket - sometimes these can offer more variety. My 9 year old had jars from weaning until about 20 mths as she only had 4 teath and found it hard to chew normal food - she is now the least fussy child i know! Good Luck! and just take snippets of advice and do what works for you! Don't ever feel guilty that something you are doing is not the same as everyone else!

Kelsey - posted on 09/19/2010

Well I would ask a doctor about the not standing or walking. With the food I have had the same issues with my daughter, now 2 1/2. Its a phase! Changing tastes and amount of food she needs. Keep giving different foods, try to get her to try just a bit of all the foods you give her. If the main thing she eats is toast thats okay as long as she gets a little bit of other stuff. If you are really concernd then ask your doctor. With the constipation try some juice if she will take it. Good luck!

Leanne - posted on 09/19/2010

I know you've gotten a lot of advice, some mixed and some the same. I just noticed that no one has mentioned KETCHUP! My lil guy wouldn't eat eggs or potatoes at all until we tried ketchup. I know it's not the healthiest thing, but if your lil one isn't eating ANYTHING, it's better than nothing! Now he likes it on lots of things and it has made feeding him much less of a chore. They do all go through phases (I found his usually lasted 2-3 weeks) with only wanting a few foods or rejecting liked foods, but if it's not a phase it can certainly be trying.
Good luck!

Monica - posted on 09/19/2010

My son was a 28 week preemie and had many issues. Feeding was one of them. I would recommend an evaluation with your local early intervention provider. The eval is free as are any services that are provided. An occupational therapist who specializes in feeding issues can be a HUGE help and can identify any problems with the mechanics of eating. She may also have some sensory issues that make eating difficult. I gave my son prune juice every day for constipation (mixed with milk) and he loved it. Does she drink water? That's also very important. If she is drinking a lot of juice, I would try diluting it with water. Hope some of these ideas help.

Missy - posted on 09/18/2010

as for the constipation avoid all BRAT FOODS which are binding foods bananas rice apples toast try to add something like instant breakfast in her foods let her feed hersalf and eat a variety of foods yourself because u dont like something maybe she will keep on offering that r healthy and dont make it a big deal for her i used to add the gerber 1 fruit in my sons cuppy when we were on the go use that and a little water or what about smoothies u can hide alot in them and milkshakes or play u cant have this game cause kids always want stuff they have

Margaret - posted on 09/18/2010

Heather - is she overweight or underweight? If she is overweight there is some possible reason why she is not walking, but no reason to worry about her food intake - Kids WILL eat when they are hungry. I was a fussy eater and once on holidays would not eat because they ran out of my favourite Heinz tinned chicken broth! (lol) apparently all I would have until we got home was orange juice! (ha ha) and I survivved!
If she hates vegetables, put them in pastry and make a pie! Kids LOVE anything in pastry - does she like mince? If so make spaghetti bolognaise with LOTS of vegetables - kids that typically do not eat mushrooms and onions usually LOVE the taste (in gravy or mixed in with meat) just NOT the consistency (the 'slimy' feel of such things) - cooked tomatoes fall into this category too!
This plan works with fussy adult dinner guests too I have found - pies or spag bol - and it is AMAZING the compliments you get from "non-vegetable" eaters! Good luck! - Margaret (Brisbane AUSTRALIA)

Tina - posted on 09/18/2010

Hi, have your pediatrician do a full blood work ~ CBC including the blood test for Celiac's disease, which is a disease in which gluten (wheat, barley, grains) cannot be tolerated or absorbed. You just want to rule this out because it often goes undiagnosed. My daughter tested positive for it when she was 20 months old, had an endoscopy, which was normal, another blood test, which was normal again, but we rountinely have her scrreened. Also you may want to try Pediasure which my daughter lived on for months at this age. Good luck and I truly can understand what you are going through. My daughter is now ten, is not considered a Celiac pt. but is still underweight for her age. She weighs 73 lbs. and is 4,10". I supplement her diet with Boost now. Also it coul be new teeth coming in. Good luck & God bless. TK

Tam - posted on 09/18/2010

Remove all the "junk" from the house and only offer nutritious items. Babies rarely ever starve to death! When she's hungry enough, she'll eat.

Michelle - posted on 09/17/2010

I have a son that would not eat what I offered him months 17 and 18 b/c he would wait until he went to his aunties (2xs a week) where he was offered foods that he preferred like mac and cheese. Seriously he would eat a few bites here and there all week with me, and auntie would bring him home and say he ate all day.) So, we all got on the same page and I gave auntie a list of acceptable foods to offer. Before we knew it, he was eating raw green beans, steamed broccoli and cauliflower with hummus dip, raw carrot sticks dipped in health dressing, and a variety of fresh fruits. If you ONLY offer him a selection of foods that are healthy, he/she will eat and even enjoy it. When my four year old comes home from preschool and I have a veggie tray with dip out when I know he is HUNGRY, he will eat a TON of veggies and say YUM as he is doing it. I know it sounds hard to believe b/c I was the one saying "Ohhh he would NEVER eat that" but then he DID. Just be patient and offer ONLY healthy RAW foods and she will eat them! I must add that that constipation is often caused by lack of water (she should be drinking mostly water, 80% is my guess) and get rid of the processed foods . . .crackers, packaged ANY THING, pasta, breads, etc. I use to feed my first baby mum mums but look at the nutrition facts. . . SUGAR! You would never expect they would market a baby snack full of SUGAR but most of them do. That alone will cause constipation! Stick to the basics. . . what grows in our gardens, veggies and fruits. Add whole grains, and rarely meats and dairy products grown chemical free. Good Luck with your lifestyle change, for you and your little one healthy future, stick to your guns!

Bobbie - posted on 09/17/2010

A lady I work with has a little girl who didn't start walking until after she was 2 and she's just fine.

Tracy - posted on 09/17/2010

diluted fruit juice might help with the constipation, try potatoes and my 13 month old daughter so help me god will NOT let me feed her or she won't eat, she wants to do what sissy does and she is 23 months old. The foods she eats the best are all finger foods that she can self feed so she may have an independence problem and you may just have to deal with a mess problem and let her feed herself no matter what it is and trust me it is no joy cleaning up after her but the younger one eats twice what my older one does. Try Macaroni and Cheese same as for adults just get the individual packs. I have started keeping the Hormel Complete Meals on Hand lots of variety or the Chef Boyardee or Dinty Moore cups they are normal adult servings and provide variety. Otherwise do some weight checks on her. Take her to the doctor so you are using the same scale and that is normally not a problem and just get a weight every two weeks for a month or two and as long as she is gaining I would not be to worried about it they have constant growth spurts and it is perfectly normal for them not to eat that much. Now if she is getting sick at meal times or something like that or losing weight take her to the doctor. Hope this helps. As far as the not walking stop carriying her and have her walk holding on to your fingers or hands as much as possible, put favorite toys just out of reach to encourage those first steps, keep her on carpet it hurts less when they fall and most important is to keep them barefoot indoors, socks are slick on carpet and hard surface floors, and shoes are bulky and awkward. I have been told that if you cut off your small toe and your big toe you will not be able to stand up because your toes are how you balance and they can't control them in shoes to be effective yet. Best of Luck.

Kayla - posted on 09/17/2010

i'm having the same problem with my son he's 15 months and just started walking and ever since he started walking he doesn't eat NO where as much as he used and i have talked to a LOT of people ever doctors about it and most said its just cuz he's started walking he;s more interested in walking and he's just not in a growth spurt right now.

Delores - posted on 09/17/2010

No two kids are alike I had 6 and not any alike..She might want to feed Herself..A child will eat what their body needs ..Try things she can feed her self I had one almost 2 to start walking..as long as there is nothing wrong Your Doc is the best person to ask ..Just know when they get ready You wont be able to stop them

Andrea - posted on 09/17/2010

well you probably are familiar the high iron diet from you daughter. but giving the iron supplement with something rich in vit C helps the body process the iron better. so give them their pill or drops with a bit of OJ if they will drink it :) or pairing vit c rich foods with high iron foods helps also. like putting lemon juice on meats. etc... you can look that up on the WIC and FDA website as well if you wanted more info.
Glad your doc reassured you about the walking :)

Andrea - posted on 09/17/2010

well, she is entering in the natural picky eater stage which is very common & frustrating . there are tons of books and guides to help (my favorite is actually titled "feeding the picky eater". Some good websites which , have acredited info, are the WIC website, and the FDA has info as well. (I think). patience is important. Do not allow yourself to be a short order cook. If there is one thing she is into for the week, make a little extra and put on her plate at meal times, but give her the other foods that you are eating as well. Hide things (veges) in mac and cheese, cassaroles, or whatever. If she skips a meal or refuses to eat try not to make a big deal about it, they normally make up for it later on. try to limit her fluid intake before meals as it can feel her up, same thing with snacks. Remember their stomachs are only as big as their fist. so a serving size for them is actually not alot. The most important thing that we want to see is that she is growing. so keep the pediatrician appointments and they will tell you if there is a growth concern.
About the walking, was she a full term baby? My son didnt start walking until 17months. He was always very active and was a very fast crawler. He just one day stood up and took off. My nephew didnt start until 18months same thing. It doesnt mean that there is necessarily anything wrong with them. Just keep working with her, taking her by the hands and making her walk with. push toys are awsome. I actually took my son to the pediatrician because I thought there was possibly something wrong with his hip. but she reassured me he was healthy and told me if he was still wasnt walking in 2 months to come back. but he took off shortly after that. So have her assessed by the pediatrician if for no other reason than for peace of mind.
good luck

Bethany - posted on 09/17/2010

I know how hard it is to have a picky eater and I'm sorry. My son who is almost 7 still refuses to eat a lot of foods and has a VERY limited diet of what he will eat. Honestly, it's not worth the fight. You both end up miserable. As long as she is eating SOMETHING it's better than nothing. Sneak in what nutrition you can but don't stress too much unless she's not eating at all. Both of my kids are on a not wanting to eat stretch and so I give them pediasure and I also give by daughter florastor. It helps with the constipation and digestion by adding the good bacteria that she needs. Florastor is a good probiotic. Good luck!!

Cheryl - posted on 09/17/2010

All children develop in their own time and at their own pace but if you really are concerned that she isn't standing or walking discuss it with your health visitor, it doesn't necessarily mean theirs anything wrong maybe she just doesn't want to try yet! A lot of our worries as parents come from what we see other children doing at the same age but they are all individual, maybe she is ahead of other children in other areas of her development! I worked in a nursery school for 10 years and came across other children at the same age who didn't walk but were no other concerns in their development and when they did take their first steps caught up very quickly. I have 3 children of my own and only had 1 fussy eater but eventually realised that the more i worried about it the worse it seemed. Eventually if he didn't seem to want to eat anything i offered at meal times i left non perishable finger foods in his reach so that it would temp him to try new foods between meals at his own pace. This seemed to work because even if i didn't see him take it and eat it, if it was gone i knew he'd had something. Children don't usually go hungry and will instinctively eat what they need to grow even if it doesn't seem much to us. An exception to this is if they have or have developed an intolerance to certain foods and want eat it because they feel ill after eating it. Children are very clever, my child stopped eating anything to do with dairy and later was diagnosed with an allergy to those products when he ate mashed potato with butter in it he was extremely sick! Try not to worry and follow your childs lead i'm sure she will get through this phase absolutely fine but if you do have other concerns with her development please seek advise from your health visitor. Good luck

Nthabiseng - posted on 09/17/2010

normaly kids dont adapt to everything that we try to feed them no matter how good they taste, but remember the litle that she takes it does a different and try to feed her things that she prefears and likes most un like trying new food ime she will grou and start eating everything.

Tamara - posted on 09/17/2010

stressing yourself out makes the situation worse by far. Kids at this age are finicky. Dont worry so much :) Is she still breast feeding or having formula? try scaling that back. I just took the bottle away from Sadie (16 months) and she eats better now that shes not taking in so much liquid. Relax, make her the food you always do, she'll eat when she needs to and most importantly STOP worrying! I know its hard :)

Orejaye - posted on 09/17/2010

Why not discuss with your doctor, dietician and health visitor.... this are professionals and will give you unbias advice. As with the walking some children take long, others early.

Sugin - posted on 09/17/2010

Hello,

My name is Sugin Musgrave, military wife, cooking instructor and I did in home daycare for 17 years off and on, when I was not doing daycare I was cooking away in kitchens. I can tell you that kids go threw growth parents.. before there growth spurts they will eat a lot. Then not eat so much and people think (even I ) thought something was wrong. My oldest is now 16 Joey, Ethen is 12 and our youngest is 9. I would talk with your doctor about these worries you have. Something I may be able to help with, she may have allergies or just being a picky eater. I do teach cooking lessons now in home and on line for free. Making things fresh if you have the time and know how does help a lot. One thing I teach is opening the kitchen up to the kids too..having them help pick out what we are cooking. You can print little pictures to show her. Then once you start cooking the smells makes little bellies hunger. Now a big big thing is ..2 hours before you cook NO snacks or drinks even drinks can fill up little belly's, Giving a little in a cup for a thirsty child is fine! She will smell everything and get her belly going.. Now you can give her the same foods you eat, and let her try them..if does not then place them one at time on her tray. Sometimes we put to much in front of our little ones seeing so much and don't want to eat. Now also you can make home made bread, muffins and add fruits to them. Also flax seed, it does not have a taste and the kids don't even know its there. I even add it to cookies and no one knows. Great fiber. Also eggs, what about eggs? You can make them so many different ways. Start taking away the baby foods and giving homemade people food, the smells and they are so full of taste. Here is my link to my cooking channel

This is one that kids love, its easy to make and the veggies blend in and they don't even know.
I also have a trail mix you can make that has no candy in it and is salt free. You can make it also with no nuts. Also there is a meat loaf that is great, also on the channel, I will add you as a friend on face book if its ok. I have helped 100s of families with picky eaters,or who have allergies. If you have any questions please just ask. I am always here to help. God bless..

Sincerely,

Sugin Musgrave
Proud military wife, author,cooking instructor

Yaumara - posted on 09/16/2010

I would not worry about this. My son would do the same thing. He would go through stages where he hardly ate. Then suddenly, he would break through that and eat like a little monster. Months later the loss of appetite would come again and so on and so forth.

Tanya - posted on 09/16/2010

I would take her to the doctors and express my concerns to them, is she still teething? My 31/2 yr old son doesn't like cereal at all and only eats toast which I don't worry about that. If my children aren't eating properly I give them some Incremin but it's only for 2 yrs and over it helps when your children won't eat and it's also good from recovering from illness, a fussy or tardy eater and has a poor appetite. Do you have other children? As for the standing or walking do you help her to stand while you are holding her by her hands?
Good luck and hope this has helped :-))

Heather - posted on 09/16/2010

I have been letting her feed herself fingerfoods since she was about a year old but it is only certain things she will eat. I do find lately she seems to be doing better with the eating.

Dina - posted on 09/16/2010

Kids eat more before and after growth spurts, and can eat next to nothing in between them.

If her eating habits last a long period of time consistantly then take her to a pediatrician.

Also try letting her feed herself, she might just not want to be fed by you, by the sounds of what she is eating its all finger foods, so maybe just setting her up in her highchair with her meal and letting her do things herself would help (yes it may be messy but thats how kids learn). It also could be a texture thing, at 17month everything doesn't need to be pureed it just needs a soft texture to it.

As far as not walking or standing, try having her hold your fingers and her walking with you, or just helping her stand, she may just be unsure about the whole idea.

Gemma - posted on 09/16/2010

Hi Heather, im so sorry to hear your little darling has you so worried. Im sure you have probably mentioned it to your doc already, but i would bring her to your doc and see what they say about all of this. We kinda forced my little one to stand and walk coz she is lazy like her mammy but they need us to teach them...!

I found with my little girl that if she did something new she might not eat that day or she might want me to feed her again or something, like she was too busy concentrating on something else if that makes sense. I dont know where you live but I am in the US and at about 15 months I started to give her the gerber toddler foods. I felt so guilty coz had breastfed her and made all her food myself up until then but I was tired of making things for her and then throwing them in the bin when she wouldnt eat them. She loves the little raveoli Gerber have, i got her a little fork (not the kids plastic ones or rounded end ones - a little one an adult might use for cake or something) so it actually sticks into the food instead of the food sliding off and this has helped alot with her feeding. Dont get me wrong, she still has days when she is fussy (like today) but at least now I know that tomorrow she will make up for it. If your little one is constipated she prolly doesnt want to eat much coz it is uncomfortable for her, i see one lady suggested prune juice, it works wonders, it really does, a friend of mine gives it to her little fella an hour after every meal (1oz prune juice to 3oz water) and it has helped him with his constipation. I would also suggest massage, check it out online or see if there is a therpist near you who will teach you some baby massage moves, there are great ones to get their stomachs moving.

My little one has started to eat blueberries, ive tried them before and she would have nothing to do with them but she will only eat them out of the container they come in, not if i put them on her plate so i give her the container and let her work away on them, sometimes just little things like that help, but we are still at guessing game stage coz she cant talk!

To be honest alot of our problems went when I sorted the fork issue out coz she was getting frustrated with the food falling off her fork. Somedays I use a fork too and we "swap" her empty fork for my full one and she eats it that way if she is being picky, she thinks this is a great game! i hope this helps. Please keep us posted as to how she is getting on.

I also agree with Natalie Rule :)

Jessica - posted on 09/16/2010

I think you might need to talk to her doctor about these things.

Rachel - posted on 09/16/2010

One of my daughters (I have twin 22 mo old girls) went thru a phase that she would take a couple of bites of meat and then spit it out. She just stopped doing this in the past week. Do you let her feed herself? Finger foods or giver her a spoon to eat herself? That was a HUGE thing with my daughter. She wanted to eat like Mommy and Daddy and use utensils etc. Now, if I give her a bowl of cereal, she will try to eat it with the spoon, and I can get some spoonfuls inbetween hers so I know that she is getting enough to eat.

As for the constipation - talk to her pediatrician - my other daughter has dealt with constipation since she was born - I mean screaming at the top of her lungs when she was trying to go potty. Her ped. dr said to get some "Miralax" and use half the dosage that is recommended for an adult. She got one dose a day until her stools were softer and then I found that I only had to give it to her about every 3 days. Now - since she knows that it doesn't hurt as much to potty (which means she doesn't hold it in as long) I haven't had to giver her any in the past week in a half.

As for the standing and walking - one of my girls didn't start walking until 16 months. I guess I wasn't concerned because I figure that each child is different and develops at their own pace, but if you are that concerned about it, talk to her ped dr and see what they say.

Jenni - posted on 09/16/2010

No child will starve themselves (with the exception) of much older children with illnesses like anorexia nervosa) so give her only healthy foods and if she doesn't eat, don;t stress just wait til the next meal and offer her healthy food again. She will eat when she is ready and will not become a fussy child this way. As for the not standing or walking I would take her to see a doctor, or at the very least a child health nurse, at her age it is unlikely that she should not even be attempting to walk by now unless there is an underlying medical condition.. Good luck

Sheri - posted on 09/16/2010

While all other two year olds were eating up a storm my 27 month son wouldn’t eat. Until 2 weeks ago he was on what I called a liquid diet. He was on the Enfagrow toddler formula and not willing to give it up. Suddenly he just started eating and wanted nothing to do with his formula. He knew when he was ready to eat. Our doctor said kids eat when they are hungry. My pediatrician wasn’t too worried since his weight was still prefect. He suggested trying Pediasure to supplement meals.
My son had a constipation issue too but they suggest, if your daughter will drink something. ½ prune and water or a mixture of 1/2 pear juice and water. Basically water will certainly help with constipation overall. Again something to talk to your doctor about.

As far as walking at such a late age I would certainly talk to a pediatrician about it.

Lisa - posted on 09/16/2010

My daughter went on "strike" and would't eat until we realized that she wanted to feed herself. We started her with her own plate and fork/spoon and now she is doing much better - quite messy but eating.

Mandy - posted on 09/16/2010

my son also only wants to eat toast!.. he is 2 yrs and 4 months old and ive had trouble getting him to eat alot too.. i will try him with soo many different things but sometimes he only wants a bottle.. he will eat biscuits but sometimes ill still find them around the house a little later telling me that he hasn't eaten them.. i tried him on these fruit sticks once and he really likes those.. and will eat toast any time of the day.. i dont want him to starve so ofcourse if he wants toast i give it to him becuz i worry about him not eating enough.. he is still a healthy weight and sometimes i find if i make a meal and leave it down where he can get it even for a few hours.. sometimes he will eventually eat it.. he just isnt interested in eating sometimes when im ready for him to eat.. so leaving food for him for a few hours gives him time so its there when he is ready to eat..

Patricia - posted on 09/16/2010

is had at hat age cause it seems that it is when they decide what the want, I have a son the same age and he use to eat everything now he decides. What I do when he doesn't want to eat fruit or vegetables is give him an empty plate and tell him we are out and show him an empty plate or box, he goes back to play and asks for cookies a few times more and when he is finally really hungry he eats what I give him.. I know it sounds cruel, I feel bad, but is easier to do it now than latter

Loretta - posted on 09/16/2010

My 18 month old just went through a 3 day period like this. Someone suggested I look at any changes that had happened in our house. My oldest daughter had left for college and her other sister had started back to high school and was gone all day and very tired in the evenings. She was trying to tell us she was distressed. When we tended to that, her eating issues cleared up. If your daughter is refusing to eat things she was happy to eat before, you might think about any changes that have taken place in her life.

Dana - posted on 09/15/2010

I think everyone has addressed the issue of your child not eating BUT, she should really be standing, for sure, and trying to walk by now. I'd talk it over with your doctor.

Teresa - posted on 09/15/2010

my daughter who is now 3 just barely started eating again. she went for 2 years without eating very much. she wouldn't touch meat unless it was chicken nuggets or cold hot dogs. and wouldn't touch bread of any kind. she lived in cereal, crackers and the two meats. at one point i gave her pediasure for awhile. it was one can a day of that when she wasn't eating very well throughout the day. she still gained a little weight and height. then all the sudden one day she asked for more to eat and enjoyed it. my son who is 5 did something similar. not quite as extreme though. he did have a phase where he wouldn't eat very much for about 6 or 8 months right around your daughters age. try miralax for constipation. my dr told me to use it for my two that needed extra help. a couple doses was what it took to get them back on track.

Samantha - posted on 09/15/2010

well as far as eating---i wouldnt worry too much as to what she is eating as to how much....as long as she is getting something in her its fine....i went through this with both of my girls and its just a picky stage. as a matter of fact(if this helps ease your mind) my youngest who will be 4 in december is less than 20 lbs and is only about 25" long(she has brittle bone disease). she currently is in that stage as well....except now its intensified because she currently has a frature in both of her legs.....the pain is so bad even being on oxy and motrin...that she wont eat much at all. im lucky if i can get a donut in her...or half a chicken nugget. she has been like this since last thursday---so 1 week. and she is healthy. so i wouldnt worry too much about what she is eating but that she is eating.
as far as standing or walking---some kids take longer. but i do agree with another person on here...to check with your pediatrician and see what they say.....maybe you can start some type of physical therapy. we had a similiar problem with our first daughter not speaking much and finally when she was 2 we put her into the states birth to 3 program...all we did was bring her to a playgroup once a week and boom she just started gabbing away. sometimes they just need reassurance or a little nudge to get started. hope this helps

Liz - posted on 09/15/2010

I agree with Natalie Rule. This is what they eat or nothing. It is tough and I'm sure you will hate sending her to bed hungry but I'm sure it won't last because she will be so hungry she will eat whatever you give her. Try it!!! It is a picky stage but fighting with her and/or trying to encourage her only results in her getting the response she is looking for. Put her plate down in front of her tell her to eat it, ONCE, and if she refuses remove her from the table and tell that is all there is. Wait for her reaction. I know I am guilty of reacting to this behaviour with yelling or pleading but it doesn't work. Its a black/white situation and you need to be a hard... about it. I had to do that with my son partly because he didn't want to eat what I gave him but mostly because he plays way too much at the dinner table. I only had to do it once. Good Luck!!!

Pamela - posted on 09/14/2010

My Daughter went through the same thing she lived on liga and yougharts she too suffered with constipation and still does try your local chemist to see have they something suitable for her age that will increase her appetite thats what i done and she now eats like a horse

Angela - posted on 09/13/2010

My doctor always told me that when she's hungry she'll eat. Keep exposing her to different foods. You'll eventually find something she'll like. In the meantime, give her something you know she will eat along with the something you'd like her to try. Elizabeth would eat something one day and not the next. It could be anything from taste to texture. She didn't like the toddler bites. I think they were gross myself. By that time we started giving her what we ate in tiny bites so she wouldn't choke. I also have a very picky nephew, and as long as food doesn't touch, he's fine with most foods now. You could try steaming some veggies and chopping them rather than making a puree if she is getting teeth. The puree may be grainy and it's a texture issue, not taste. I hope she starts eating for you soon!

Tamra - posted on 09/12/2010

I agree that kids eat when they are hungry. If you are giving formula then you don't have to worry about her getting enough energy only enough fiber to stop constipation!!!! Whole wheat toast is great! I highly suggest not offering processed foods- they only add to constipation.
As you know texture and temperature are big things with kids. One thing that worked for me was offering grated apple, and grated carrots with grapes cut up. It sounds from your food list like she's enjoying CRUNCHY foods right now and not soft.
As for the walking; my son didn't walk until 14 months and my pediatrician had said if he hadn't by 16 months we would be referred to a physiotherapist for specific exercises! I asked for some examples of what we could do before and she suggested holding his hands and helping him "walk" for 15 min at a time at least FOUR times each day. When we did this he was walking within a month.

Natalie - posted on 09/12/2010

Maaaan chicky I am feeling for you. I have been going through the same battle as you, and my child is 2 1/2 We have decided to do the tough love thing as I am sooo over trying to please him with a thousand meals per day that he won't eat - its exhausting. So what I serve is all he gets otherwise he gets nothing. Its a battle for short while, but he soon began to eat. Some nights we would send him to bed with nothing but his bottle to eat, But the next morning he would eat ever little scerick on his plate . My fella is still super super fussy and eats alot of processed foods, but he is eating something. Once I am fully through this rejection food stage, I am gonna start making him eat veggies before meat!! Some of the ways we used to get our fella to eat was to sit him infront of his favourite tv show and shovel the food in, without him knowing. I find it really annoying when you ask for HELP and others want to tell you not to feed them chemical food or processed food. YOU TRY LIVING WITH A CHILD THAT WONT EAT! To top off my probs I discovered my child could not have any dairy products. He is protein intolorant, so I had this battle as well, because dairy is an easy food to feed hungary kids. I know of others in my family that fed their kids vegemite sandwiches for every meal and they turned out ok. Have you tried putting her in one of those walkers, and push her around? Both my kids learned to walk in those even though the "book from the hospital" said not a good idea. I used to put my little fella in it for an hour or so in the morning whilst I would clean up. GOod luck your doing a great job and your a great mum!

Lenisa - posted on 09/11/2010

She needs to see the doctor, but my son is 14 and still eats very little variety in his diet...Sticks to the same 5 or 6 things. Only trying new things every ONCE in a great while but they never stick...Good luck...