My 20 month old doesn't want to eat!!!

Sonash - posted on 08/01/2012

My 21month old is teething. I am just concern about his tempt because when I give him baby pain reduced he will be ok for four hrs and then increase in tempts again. I am a worried mom.

Ulrike - posted on 10/30/2009

I don't think you are doing anything wrong! Teething is painful and even grownups don't feel like eating with a toothache, right? My son is the same, he has days where he lives on milk only. Sometimes I can trick him with half a freezie (cold soothes the gum) to have some soft food. And as long as the doctor is not too concerned ...

Carly - posted on 10/30/2009

My son's 18 months and doing the same.I was told that this is normal and a toddler wont' starve.Just offer them food they do like throughout the day even if they are snacking throughout the day my son does this,rather than eat a proper meal.Good Luck !!

Susan - posted on 10/30/2009

My daughter is also 20 months old and sitting with the same problem, don't worry, its normal! Just get her formula milk like NIDO or something so you can be rest assured she gets all the nutrients she needs!

Nazreen - posted on 10/29/2009

same with my boy..only bite rice biscuit, bread..but in little of piece. Milk 'bout 7oz. x 6 times per day

Tasha - posted on 10/29/2009

Same with my son. just at least give him to try and if he doesnt want anymore just give him snacks...I do for my son. Granola bars, fruity snacks all with good stuff that your child needs. I do this for my son so he doesnt starve and has somehing in his tummy. Good Luck! It is difficult I know!. My son is 21 months.

Jessica - posted on 10/29/2009

hi, that is normal. my doctor just said to me, they know their body better than us. so as long she still active, drink milk, that will be ok.

Lisa - posted on 10/29/2009

My mom always said that a child will not starve himself! lol. so true

Ayanna - posted on 10/29/2009

My 18 month old is the same way. Takes a few bite here and there. The doc said to give him pedisure for much needed calories and nutrients. He's in the 90th percentile for height and 20th percentile for weight. I figure when he's ready to eat he'll eat so I just leave his food out ready for him to eat on his own.

Kiley - posted on 10/29/2009

my son is 18 months and im going thru the same thing right now.my dr as well as mom friends,have told me that there tummys are small(about the size of their fists) and so it can only hold so much. my son also loves his milk, but ive been experimenting: milk only after hes done with his meal.maybe a few sips with snack. i ve been giving him juice and water a lot more(welches frozen concemtrates,white grape raspberry is a big hit)they are also water so they dont filling im up as much as milk and they go thru him faster,making him want a little more at meal times.also,when he starts to play with food, stop eating or thro it in the floor, hes all done with that meal.he has a snack later and waits till his next meal,that also help him want a little more to eat the next time.this wa sadvise from the dr and it seems to help a little at a time.it sounds mean like your starving your kid,but that how you have to play the game to teach them...it seems to be helping tho.try it for two weeks or so and see if itll help you,good luck! also: my kid is now back to getting up at night(4times a night) do you have any advice there?

Rebecca - posted on 10/29/2009

My daughter only wanted to drink her breakfast - dinner. So my doc suggested starting soup. she loved it! I think with out Campbell's vegetables Soup she would have starved to death. I was really worried to bu its ok.

Jordan - posted on 10/29/2009

My daughter did the same thing at that age, she is only a little older now (26 months). She only wanted milk and water. She would eat a solid meal maybe every three days (or not!). We had to make sure she really only was provided healthy foods, and whole milk for the fat and protein (she is in the 4th percentile). They are just too busy to eat! She still doesn't eat a lot, but at least it is more like 4 or 5 bites at a time. If she was hungry, she'd eat!

Lisa - posted on 10/29/2009

When my kids got their teeth in it really bothered them to eat, so they did end up drinking more while the teeth pushed through.

Beth - posted on 10/29/2009

Our daughter is 21mos and is exactly the same thing (except her 2nd yr molars are coming in - she's definately an early tooth baby!). We've taken to whenever she wants to eat and whatever she wants to eat....she gets. Wouldn't eat meat for weeks and now is back to eating chicken likes it's going out of style. She'll get there.

Heather - posted on 10/29/2009

Hi, I have had the same problem. My guy is 95% for height but 13% for weight... he would drink 6-8 cups of milk a day and a little food. My doctor suggested and it worked.... to replace the milk with 1% fat and don't give more than 3 cups a day. Whole milk fills up the belly to quick and by limiting intake with a low fat version he was hungry and willing to try other foods. He is now just picky but will eat about 15 food items at the age of 2 1/2.

Cindy - posted on 10/29/2009

My daughter eats almost everything but when her one-year molars came in, she barely ate anything for 2 weeks! Just keep offering - especially soft things or purees (yogurt, applesauce) - and giving her lots of milk!

Nicole - posted on 10/29/2009

I have a 4 year old and he went through the same thing. As long as you offer it to them and they know its available you should be ok. My son has finally gained a little weight so he doesnt look so tiny. When kids go through growing spirts they wont eat as much as normal but when they are done things will go back to normal.

Michelle - posted on 10/29/2009

Shes probably not eating much because shes getting new teeth and it hurts. My son hardly ever wants to eat when hes getting new teeth in. Also at his 18 month check up his dr said little ones will go 1-3 days where they dont want to eat then theyll eat a bunch. The 24th isnt bad. My son is in the 12th for his weight but hes strong and healthy. I never go by those % anymore cuz hes also in the 24th for his height but wearing 18-24 month clothes. Try orajel then food :) and 1 sippy cup of milk a day

Heather - posted on 10/29/2009

Thanks everyone for the Advice. I feel better now ;)

Megan - posted on 10/29/2009

my 3 year old was like that and still is, i think he only eats enough to survive. he was also 25% in weight but he was in the 95% in height, his doctor told us if he was in the 90% at birth and then suddly dropped to 25% he would worry but he was always in the 25% so not really worried, the molars could be reason why when Isiah was teething i gave him baby oragel about 10 min before i feed him and that help but I also asked his dr 1st before i gave him that and/or tyalnol (spelling)

Devona - posted on 10/29/2009

My son just turned 2 and he has been that exact way for sometime now I believe he's only in like the 20th percentile for his weight as well. The doctor tells me it's fine but I was still a little concerned so I would make sure I kept fruit in the house he loved to snack on grapes, and bananas all day. Anything that looks like candy and they can feed themselves on the go is your best bet. I've had to learn to stop trying to force feed him cause it's just a waste of both of our times. Oh and some Flinstone gummy vitamines.

Cheryl - posted on 10/29/2009

my son went through that to and one of my older friends told me just make it fun for them, so i wouldn't make chicken nuggets anymore i would make dinosaur food, everything he ate went towards something he liked, i also did the same with my niece who is a petiet girl, it wasn't soup it was snow whites fav. food, or it wasn't a sandwhich it was Sleeping Beauty's feast, i just made the food sound a lot cooler then it really was and they would eat it up they loved it. its worth a try

Haimari - posted on 10/29/2009

mix the fruit baby foods with a little bit of water and feed it to her through the bottle. My son was the same way and after he was done teething he went back to eating all his food. Good luck.

Bonnie - posted on 10/29/2009

I don't have this problem really, but when my son stopped eating certain foods that were good for him I would make the food into smiley faces or something he would recognize. He would get really excited and eat it all.
The only time I have problems is around the time he is growing. he eats like a pig for about a month then hardly touches a thing for a couple of weeks. I just give him smaller portions then as they say the more you put on a plate the more intimidating it can be. You can always add more.
The toddler drinks are also really good. Just make sure when she does eat it is healthy and wait it out.

Erin - posted on 10/29/2009

you are not doing anything wrong, some childern are harder to feed then others, i have 3 of them. my middle daughter has never been above the 3 percentile for height and weight and she is very healthy. some thing that has always worked for my kids is grazing. as a species people are not ment to set down and eat 3 large meals a day, we were ment to graze. if you put out a few healthy snacks, a tray of cheese and cracker, a bowl of dry cereal or maybey some fruit or veggie sticks. she may deside to eat and get used to the idea.

Rachel - posted on 10/29/2009

Ya I agree. My 14 month boy sometimes won't eat either. I'm pretty sure it's his teeth. He'll eat crackers so I just let him. Sometimes he's just so busy he doesn't want to take time to eat either but he'll grow out of it.

Samantha Neil - posted on 10/29/2009

my first child was that way now hes fine, he still dont eat all the time he picks so all we did is make sure he gets things he likes to eat along with an vitamine then she should be ok good luck, teething is the hardest thing !

Shannon - posted on 10/29/2009

from what I'm heard, it is very normal for a toddler to go anti-solids. I would recommend trying to hold out on handing her milk when she is definitely hungry and see if there are any foods she does like and will eat if she is hungry enough.



and you are doing nothing wrong! It's a normal thing that happens to everyone. hope this helps.



and I think she meant to say Pediasure, not Pedilite (that stuff is so nasty tasting lol)

Melissa - posted on 10/29/2009

Get her some Pedialite...it has many good nutrients in it. When my son didn't eat, his doctor suggested that I give him some of that and that way he will get his vitamins.

Jennifer - posted on 10/29/2009

your doing fine my girlfriends 15 month daughter is the same way, she will eat the gerber cookies and stuff but not food, she also gives her daughter those nutritional drinks that are in the baby section to help with the weight thing. i would say try the fruit and veggie cookies and snacks see if she eat those. i hope it helps

Heather - posted on 10/29/2009

when my baby's molars came in she didn't want to eat either. Those teeth must hurt and she was more willing to eat soft foods, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, etc. Maybe buy some of those enhanced toddler drinks, they're kind of like Ensure for toddlers. She'll think it's her milk but she's getting essential vitamins and minerals. If your doc isn't terribly concerned then it must not be that bad. My daughter is a little feather too!