Refuses to Eat Certain Things Moms from Anywhere

Hi my name is Tracey, I was a stay at home and I had the same problem with my youngest son Of 10 now, then only 2 years old. When he was little he would do same thing and I couldn't understand why. Well to make a long story short. I took him to the doctors and asked these questions: 1)How can I get him to eat?, 2)Is this normal?, 3) Is he in the range of other kids? The doctor told he is fine and as long as he drinks lots of fluids he will be ok. If he wants to eat just one thing then let him as long as he eats. My son Austin would only eat cereal breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The doctor asked is he eating i said yes ,but only cereal and he said that was just fine. We went on like this for a long time I think around 6 he started to eat more thing and he would only a 1/2 of a serving spoon full of everything. Now he is 10 and I still have to get on him to eat. He is eating everything I give him , but only in small amounts. Just hang in there it will get better. When he is home after school and on weekends he sometimes eats around 7 or 10 times a day ,but in small portions. The doctors all have told me that he is in the right height and weight of other kids his age and not to worry as long as he was drinking fluids and eating even small amounts is ok. Please feel free to e-mail me at ____@____.com if I can help out. Tracey

Children's taste buds are MUCH stronger than ours. It usually takes ten times before a two year old will eat a particular food item. Don't give up!

Wow, We all can see who is running the situation here. Who is the parent? You have to ask yourself would you put up with this from someone elses kid? (Babysitting, etc.) If everyone sits down to eat at the table together it will emphasize how important this is to you and your spouse. Your son has a choice, he can either eat what the family is eathing or go hungry. Yes, he is going to get really tick't off and throw things. That is what time out is for. You have to take back the parental control of this situation.

The most important thing about being a mom is to not try to be their friend. A fried lets you sneak out to see your girlfried. A friend gives you money to see the R rated movie you are not supposed to. A friend keeps secrets from the rest of the family and a friend lets you eat whatever and whenever you want. Be a mom instead. A mom wipes away tears when you fall. A mom is stern on the "no" and makes you go to bed on time. A mom makes you sleep in your own bed. A mom makes you try the broccoli, the milk, the fruit instead of giving in to the pizza and ice-cream.
Respectfully, Kujo.

Hi J.,

I have heard that repetition is key. Just keep trying. Eventually he will get what is going on and start eating. Have you tried the gerber graduates finger foods?

I know it is hard, but you just have to do it. Do you find that he eats anything at all you give him?

I know it is frustrating, but I guess it is all part of it! How old is your son?

J.-as a mom of a 28 year old who did the same thing, my advice is to take each day with your liitle guy as it comes. If he wants to eat he will, I promise he won't starve!!! Your doctor would tell you the same thing I'm sure. Just try to keep healthy foods available to keep him from developing a junk food habit that will be hard to break later on. Keep it simple, make it easy on yourself, if there's is something you know he likes as long as it isn't constant junk food he will be ok. Keep encouraging new foods, you might try the cookbook Jessica Seinfeld has out about adding pureed veggies to everyday recipes. As she suggests, keep having fresh fruit and veg on his plate so he sees that those things will be there and he'll get the idea. Don't stress too much-he's just doing what most little ones do and finding his way with food. Maybe getting him involved with the preparation, even little ones can stir and help with easy foods, will make it fun for him to try new things. Hope this helps-let me know how you get on. It's been a long time but I still have a few tricks up my sleeves-have to stay in practice for when the grandkids start arriving. have a great day. S.

In most cases, children will not starve themselves. Continue to offer a variety of foods (ie. variety in color, texture, and taste). If there is something he does particularly like, make sure to offer it at least once during the day with other foods as long as it is healthy. I like that you offer consistent meals and snacks. This helps to teach him that he can eat at certain intervals and not whenever he wants. Eventually he will get hungry enough and start trying foods. Also, we have learned that if we sit down with our son (2 yrs. old and a difficult eater too) and eat the same thing, he is more encouraged. He likes to do what we do...most of the time. Don't make 'not eating' a big deal because then he may like that attention and keep doing it. Also be aware that there are certain foods/textures that he just may not like. We don't like certain foods as well. However, if you continue to offer that food in very small amounts with the other foods, he may just surprise you one day and try it. Good luck. Oh, and my pediatrician recommended pediasure for my son to ensure he is getting the vitamins and nutrients he needs while we are in this food battle. He gets it once a day and loves it.

Hi J.
I'm J.. I have 4 sons ranging from ages 3-18 and they all went through this phase.Children get picky around the age or 1 1/2 until about 5. They are developing their own tastes. My youngest is going through it right now. What I do is we go to the cabinet and the fridge for every meal and I make suggestions and show him the boxes etc. This way I am not cooking for it to be wasted. He loves oatmeal with brown sugar so i switch it up. We have oatmeal one day and oatmeal bars the next. He loves pancakes and biscuits and turkey bacon so if all else fails I know I can cook that for breakfast. He doesn't really like cold quick cereal unless its dry but I am sure he will grow into it. He loves fruit so when he doesn't want to eat a whole meal he eats fruits and crackers. I make sure we all sit down with him even if we aren't hungry and eat with him. This encourages a routine. And he gets use to it. I don't allow toys at the table so he can separate toys from mealtime. It will take a while to get use to and you start to think that he isn't getting enough to eat but he will let you know when he is hungry. Give him a childrens multivitamin every day just to ensure he is getting the needed vitamins.

How old is Aiden? does he still nurse or take a bottle. That would make a difference in how you would set up meal times. Kids are get with know when they are hungry. They really do not need as much food as we may think. One thing you can do is keep a food diary of how much he eats, he may eat more then you think...I know that is hard when they make a mess with it. But don't discourage this, that is the way the learn to eat and feed themselves. I know it is hard, but letting them "play"(to a certian extent) helps them form a relationship with food.
Just keep providing him with healthy food and keep to semi-regular meal and snack times (don't just let him graze all day, otherwise he will not eat a "meal") Unless he is not gaining weight at all, then he is learning right now.