Help 20 Month Old Wont Eat

Please don't be upset. It is truly his age. I have 3 daughters and they all went through this stage. It last from about 20 months to 3 years. Their pediatrician told me that when they are hungry they will eat. And it won't seem like much. But as long as his doctor is not concerned you should not be. It will seem to go on forever and then before you know it he will eat everything in sight.

My son is going through the same thing... he was sick about three weeks ago and he still isn't eating much.

If he doesn't eat what I give him I offer him something I know he will eat. He still LOVES yogurt, apple sauce, cheerios, cheese, crackers, PB&J (as back ups I have some uncrustables in my freezer he adores these - he had them when we were on vacation about a month ago) and all fruit. Also, I recently discovered he really likes ketchup so if he doesn't eat I try to give him some ketchup to dip whatever he is eating in (this only works about 50% of the time). Also sometimes it works if I give him his fruit first then the meal or both of them together.

I try a well balance meal at first but if he won't eat what am I going to do, he is too young to understand this is your only option - when he is older I'll work on that. He is slender so I don't want him to lose weight.

I can't say I really believe the if he isn't hungry he won't eat.

If by the end of the day I know he really hasn't eaten much I give him some extra milk before bed. He usually drinks about 4 oz before bed but I'll pour in 6 to 8 oz if he really didn't eat that day.

A few thoughts and anecdotes to share:
*look at his OVERALL intake. Some kids eat like snakes--a lot O. day, hardly anything the next.
*Kids can thrive on WAY less than we might think!
*Kids have that "auto shut off valve" that makes them STOP eating when they're full. Truly. (Wouldn't it be nice if we didn't lose that as we "grow up"?!)
*My oldest brother at about 2, would wake up in the morning and say to our mother "I'm not eating ANYTHING today!" And she would cry. (Power thing at work--I'm told, and I'm living the fact that boys like to torture their mothers! LOL) She took him to the pediatrician she was so distraught. Know what he told her? If he eats 2 saltines in a day and some milk--don't worry about it." ???!!!! Really! So if your son is getting a meal and some snacks, he's LIGHT YEARS ahead of that.
*STOP talking about it. Offer his meals and snacks and PAY NO attention. He'll eat if he's hungry. He won't starve himself. Promise!

My daughter was always a picky eater, we were told by many to offer her food and if she refuses shes not hungry and that she will eat when hungry. However my daughter was more persistant than most and after some time of not eating properly managed to just basically shut off her hungry indications. She started to lose weight, in which she was already under weight. After I went to a specialist, they said she was border malnutrition. We were forced to feed her. We had to feed her easy things, like Oatmeal, Cereals, soft Meats and lots of vitamins and chocolate Milk. Just to get her body wanting food. It was a horrible experience, and believe me its something I dont want to do again. So just take any of those kinds of advices like she eat when shes hungry. With a grain of salt, and adjust accordingly. I wish I had. Shes 4 now and still picky and hard to feed though she has gain a healthy weight and is active and on target again. This happened at 1 1/2 to 2 years.

Yep, all 4 of my kids went through this phase at around 18 months old. It'll pass, just try to be patient, and hang in there :)

Aww, don't panic. The dr. told me their stomach is the size of your fist. Thats not a huge amount. See if he likes helping you prepare the meal, they tend to like things they have a hand in. It is likely a control/independence thing. At two years or so, they become all independent, you have to help with choices, maybe. Mine didn't like cooked veggies, but if I let some frozen peas and carrots thaw till room temp, that was yummy. Would you want to experiment with sauces/dips? A bit of ketchup, bbq, ranch to dip meats?
Mine got back on track with school, lol. They are sometimes influenced by other kids. Hugs to you!

I think the "he will eat when he is hungry" is advice aimed at older children who might be trying to exert control. I don't mean to force him to eat or make it a battle but keep trying to offer him diffferent foods and if you have to feed him, then do it. I know when my son is ill, he barely eats. Maybe your son is teething?

the more upset you get over it - the more control he has. Yes, it's a phase. it's called exercising control and independence.

Offer him breakfast, lunch and dinner with two snacks during the day.

If you fight with him - it becomes a "control" issue and he's hitting the stage of independence and seeing what he can and cannot get away with.

So when he refuses a meal - say "I'm sorry - you'll have to wait until snack time or breakfast (whatever that meal is)." and walk away. You get upset - he's won. And he knows how to push your buttons.

he has communication skills, correct? Have him help plan a meal. So if he chooses not to eat it - that's his choice...if he doesn't...same deal...no commotion. Just matter of fact. Okay.

he will eat when he is hungry. but the trick will be to not give in when he is hungry for a meal when it's snack time. Do NOT cater to him. Tell him when meal times are and stick to it.

GOOD LUCK!!

it is just a phase. I'd bet your doctor would even tell you this. Kids eat when they are hungry. And when your baby is growing, he'll start eating even more.

It is just a phase and he could be teething. This was my answer to a similar question earlier today.

When my little one did this we gave her Carnation Instant Breakfast in her sippy cup. At least she was getting nutrients and since she was drinking fine, we figured it would put something in her little tummy. She lived on this stuff for a while but she still gained a little weight. You can also use PediSure but it is much more expensive.
FYI-My friend's little boy was extremely sick and the doctors told his parents to give him Carnation Instant Breakfast since he could not eat. This is how we figured out how to get nutrients into my child.