Help! My Toddler Doesn't Eat
by Kate Peterson
I attended a seminar the other night to try to do SOMETHING about my 19-month old who doesn't eat. We have already seen the gastroenterologist and know how to fatten him up (adding Carnation instant breakfast to his bottles and changing up milk for egg nog). But I feel like a food pusher at every meal.
The seminar was based a book by Ellyn Satter and the primary teachings are that the adults decide on what the child eats, where they eat it and when. The child decides on how much they eat and whether they eat a particular item or not. It is definitely a different approach - no rewarding for doing a good job and at the same time, no scolding for not eating.
I am giving it a try. It's been hard to hold my tongue and not encourage him to eat. My son is tiny - always has been. At 19 months he is 21 pounds and 31 inches tall. His father and I are on the small side as well. I'll post weekly updates so check back!
I attended a seminar the other night to try to do SOMETHING about my 19-month old who doesn't eat. We have already seen the gastroenterologist and know how to fatten him up (adding Carnation instant breakfast to his bottles and changing up milk for egg nog). But I feel like a food pusher at every meal.
The seminar was based a book by Ellyn Satter and the primary teachings are that the adults decide on what the child eats, where they eat it and when. The child decides on how much they eat and whether they eat a particular item or not. It is definitely a different approach - no rewarding for doing a good job and at the same time, no scolding for not eating.
I am giving it a try. It's been hard to hold my tongue and not encourage him to eat. My son is tiny - always has been. At 19 months he is 21 pounds and 31 inches tall. His father and I are on the small side as well. I'll post weekly updates so check back!
Labels: picky eaters
2 Comments:
Has your son starting eating?
His eating has improved and we even put him on a medication that helps increase his appetite.
Eggnog is back in season and he has been getting about 8 ounces of it a day. In the past 2 weeks he jumped up from the 1st percentile to the 5th for weight. He drinks it before bed and amazingly has no trouble sleeping (despite the amount of sugar in it).
We were just with the pediatrician this morning and he said he's just going to be a small kid.
I did let him go to bed hungry one night since he refused his dinner and he woke up super early and said his belly hurt and wanted to eat immediately. Although I explained why, I don't think he really got it (he turned 2 in August).
He seems to eat fine at school, but it is still a battle at home. At the very least I count my blessings. When I tell him to go sit down for dinner he says (full sentence mind you), "no, I don't want to". The lack of food is not affecting his vocabulary.
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