BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Eating For Toddlers => Topic started by: Zoey on February 19, 2008, 01:21:37 am
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Yes, he just doesn't.
Today he ate....
1 WW waffle, 2 turkey sausage links, milk
1/2 apple, milk
water
AND THAT'S ALL FOLKS! This is how he eats everyday. He has weighed 30lbs for months and months and months. I realize their weight decreases, as does their appetite but man - how can he live on this? His pedi says look at his eating over a week, not day by day. Yeah well, I'm trying to give this boy healthy foods, he is SO PICKY. He will eat chicken nuggets - and not ones that I make - which horrifies me to no end (thanks Uncle Mike).
Anyhow, I don't know what to do anymore. I can't make him eat I know this. But surely there is something else I can be doing??
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Multi vitamin? Flintstones makes one for 2-3 yo's. I am convinced that air has calories for the under 6 crowd. To make mama feel better, Ms Mouse gets a serving of pediasure daily. 8) :-*
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I can't find one without dye Jenn, and he is like on speed with dye. I do give him a few tsp of carnation in his milk.
:( Today same thing, I'm reluctant to offer thing after thing because this is not a restaurant but even if I do he refuses. He likes the idea of things, like peanutbutter and crackers, cheese - but when I make some up he says Nooo nooo.
This is so stressful for me, why? I can't figure it out, I'm usually breezy about everything and in my head I know he won't starve himself but come on.
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I know I mentioned this elsewhere, but we do "lil critter gummy vites" and the bottle says they have no artificial colors or flavors. They do taste just like gummy bears though, so easy to get DS to eat.
{{{Hugs}}}
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FWIW, Riley is the same. I don't think he has gained anything in months :-\
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any chance he could be picking up on you stressing about it? or are you quite breezy about it?
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{{{{hugs}}}} Zoey. Can you just not worry (I know, so very very hard) about it for a week and truly right down every morsel that goes in? That way you can get a full picture? :-*
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Massive hugs Z. I know well how that feels, sme issue with emily (although obvs she's much younger) has Owen always been like this or does he have phases where he eats better? If yes, can reflux be an issue? When thomas did this I foudn I was stressing about what he ate and the pead said to me that children like repetition (you'd think I know this by now) so I would pick one/two whatever things ahe likes and eats well and keep offering those again and again....see what happens then. Will he drink smoothies?
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Count me in too. K is the most picky eater ever and has days like that Zoey. We have found a gluten free, natural sugar breakfast bar at our local co-op that she'll eat. And mac-n-cheese. It has to be Kraft. :-[ :-[ :-[ On some really special days, she'll demand Mac n Cheese and then I'll fix it and she'll refuse to eat it. Lovely.
The only saving grace I have is that she does like a "power shake" that I make and give her at bedtime and sometimes during the day on the really light food days. I mix Gerber fruit purees with protein powder and some powdered vitamins and then shake together with milk (I use hemp milk for a nutty flavor and additional health benefits). I just dump it all in one of those take-n-toss straw cups. Pop the lid on and cover the hole with my finger and shake, shake, shake. Pop the straw in and it's done. To me it's something on the days when I'm comin' up with nothing.
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Will he eat instant oatmeal/porridge?
A x
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*Sigh*
I tried some this morning, same deal as with most things - two bites then Nooo noooo noooo. Today he has had 1/2 piece of toast, 4 bites of oatmeal.
I really don't think it's reflux. He used to eat like an Ox, then he turned 18m and it's been the same from then til now - pick, pick, pick. He had all his teeth by 15m, so unless he is getting an extra set lol...
I bought a blender today, so I'm going to try to make some shakes for him. I also got the gummy vitamins which he loves.
He WILL eat chicken tenders (Thanks Tyson Frozen Chicken Tenders) - but I take issue with feeding these to him as they can't be healthy for you constantly. He loves to eat off my plate and I let him (DH cringes).
I guess I'm asking, is it ok to feed him the same thing, over and over if I know he'll eat it? Like pasta with meat, peppers, onions, hidden shredded carrot, and tomato sauce... he will eat this for 4-5 days before he is sick of it... chicken tenders.... chicken parm (naturally bought from the awesome Italian place down the street, not mine)... peppers, cucumbers, apples, bananas, and grapes - this is what he'll eat. Oh and anything sweet like cake, cookies... maybe I should hide healthy stuff in them and actually allowhim to partake...
Holy run on sentence... sorry. :)
I just want him to be healthy, I want him to eat healthy foods and develop good eating habits - doesn't that happen now? I was a fluffy girl, and I didn't have a good relationship with food so this is really something that brings me down, ya know?
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hey zoey. from what i've read, i think this is really normal. i think continue to offer other things but let him eat what he wants. tyson chicken nuggets are better than chips. addie just had icing/cake for the first time at her 2nd bday. OMG! she is a fiend! so i've taken all cake, cookies, cupcakes, whatever out of the house (except for nilla wafers). i would probably stay away from sweets.
have you read B's thread about some book called something like deceptively decilious? it's how to hide veggies and stuff in foods.
i know it's hard, but really try not to make this an issue for O. he won't know that eating is an issue unless he learns it KWIM? just get rid of the crap stuff he likes and if he asks for them, tell him there is none in the house - not a lie.
:-*
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Hugs sweetie, sounds just like Jack atm, I have resorted to spoon feeding him and talking in a squeaky voice about the foods, saying I am Mr Pea, and i need to go into your belly and make you big and strong :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ Wrong way to go about it, but its working slowly, and he is starting slowly to eat more variety, and then I will tackle him eating it on his own :-[ :-[ Funny as DD 13 months eats independantly, and Jack 2 yrs 9 months is being SPOONFED! Argh!
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have you read B's thread about some book called something like deceptively decilious? it's how to hide veggies and stuff in foods.
I was just going to suggest this - there's a thread stickied on the top of this forum.
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Zoey--in the deceptively delicious book there's a recipe for chicken nuggets in which you hide pureed broccoli under the breading. There's are banana bread and muffin recipes with veggies in them which he might go for if he likes "sweet" bread like things. I have the book, let me know and I'll be happy to pm or post some of the recipes for you.
I think it's fine to feed the same thing repeatedly. Offer new things on the side, but don't sweat that he won't eat them. I hope it's fine, lol, b/c it's what we do. ;)
WW waffles w/ mixed berries on the side for breakfast
PBJ on wheat for lunch w/ fruit on the side
Dinner is what we eat unless what we have has milk in it, then he gets tortellinis for the most part.
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Hey hun!!! www.recipezaar.com has tons of toddler friendly recipes. Is O willing to help you cook? :-* :-*
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in a word Z...yes its fine for them to eat the same thing over and over my pead thinks kids dont need huge variety as long as diet is balanced
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Re: eating the same thing over and over - I think it's OK, and he has a range of foods within the things eaten over and over!
Does he respond to helping cook, or helping to shop? I think if he eats off your plate, it's a bonus. In my mind, who cares! To help Rory get used to new foods, I used to place them at the edge of the bench while cooking dinner and she thought it was a hoot to 'steal' them. That's how I got her to eat and love salmon.
Also things like mini pizzas with healthy toppings and cheese on top, Rory loves to help make them and is more likely to eat more of it than other things.
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it has always been a battle to feed dd1 and i have really struggled badly with it, i used to offer her only health stuff between meals, cucumber slices, slices of red capsicum, apple .... i guess you get the point, keep offering what he is eating and work on adding one or two things at a time, keep repeating, when charley was really struggling i used to save vegetable from one day and offer her them the next day, she always seemed to take a few peices, i want to say it won't last and i sure as hell hope it won't, dh love good food, eat organic food as much as possible, like good clean unprocessed food but that isn't always what the girls want, i think what your ds is normal, i here about this thing all the time, does help does it hon, have you tried dip with the vegetables have you taken him to the markets to taste food? could you grow some vegetables together? what eating with other kids, tbh nothing really helped us much but she is slowly growing out of it, she ate two crumbed lamb cutlets today, that's more meat that she normally eats in a week, i gave a mulitvitamin, hugs hon i'm right there with you
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Hi guys, thank you :)
He helps me cook almost every night, he also shops with me (I think we do everything together lol). He likes to put the silver ware on the table each night and that's his "job".
He hates bread/sandwiches, he likes to "dip" things so I try to offer him ketchup or something to dip in. But he is stubborn, when he doesn't want something, that is it - no games, funny faces - nothing works.
I've been letting him get down when he is done, he'll come back for a bite a few times - I don't know if this is right or not.
Stacy can you email me the chix parm - I think I've made it before but it was when Owen was too little to have a bite. :)
I'm going to look at the DD thread and see if I can hide some stuff.
I'm sorry to be such a dork over this, I just can 't help but think I'm doing something wrong. All his friends CHOW DOWN - but not him.
Thanks again gang. :-*
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zoey - you are an awesome mom. little man is smart and sweet and perfect. you are doing nothing wrong at all. remember this thread when he's 16 and you are spending $500/month just for his food!
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My DD is the same way ... it's so nice to hear I'm not alone. I remember just over a year ago you could fill her tray up with whatever we were eating and she'd eat right along with us. Now, most days are just a struggle.
Listening to the words of wisdom from our pediatrician "dont' worry about it, they do this, she's not dropping weight ... offer her a variety of healthy things and when she's hungry she'll eat ...I have NEVER seen a toddler suffer from anorexia". So, we have just cut out all junk and only offer "good" food. If she eats, she eats, if she doesn't we try not to stress it. Some days, like yesterday ... she eats practically nothing, the some days are like today and she eats a decent amount.
A few "tricks" I've found is that she would always eat store samples of things, so I'd buy them, get them home & then of course she wouldn't touch them. The only difference I could think of is the toothpick it comes on ... and voila, it worked, so we let her use a toothpick for certain foods. Also, what about Ovaltine w/ whole milk? It's full of vitamins, and I just checked, no artificial colors (just "natural caramel color"). DD will also drink anything you give her if it's in a coffee mug. Granted, it can be a bit messy without close supervision ...
Anyone else have any "silly tricks" ... these are working for me now ... but knowing her it won't last forever ;) ;)
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This is why I think I must be missing something. I do let him help - I don't care about messes or eating with a strange utensil, I stopped caring where he eats (except for the bathroom, gross), I do give him a few tsp of carnation (be careful a whole packet or adult servings of Ovaltine offers too much in the way of vitamins and can make their kidneys/liver work overtime - which isn't a good thing) in his milk when he has it, I've yet to stop whole milk because I feel he needs the fat.
He dislikes bread, sandwich meat, english muffin pizzas, most meat. On a rare occasion he'll eat mac and cheese. I just feel so limited, and so at a loss of what to give him because he is SO picky. He likes the idea of a lot of things - today a cheese stick - took it, was very happy - took 3 bites and left it on the floor, I gave it back - Nooo done. I am so jealous of my friends - they toss anything at their kids and they devour it - it's not an issue and it isn't something they even think twice about.
He is such a good sleeper - I guess this must be The Thing. Every kid has a Thing, this is Owen's. A vitamin is all fine and good, but it's not protein and it's not real so though I am finding some relief that he loves them, it's not eating.
Tonight I didn't make anyone a plate - I just put all the food on the table in bowls and everyone had a dish and got to pick what they wanted (I had my 10yr old nephew and 8yr old niece here). Owen took stuff, watched his cousins, took bites and then spat it out all down the front of him, saying no and shaking like he bit a lemon! 30m later he is at my legs asking for yogurt, Ok - I get it - one bite, No... apple sauce - I get it, same thing. So frustrating for me. In the end he had nothing, went to bed with an empty tummy and that makes me cry.
You're probably wondering what the pedi says - yeah nothing... he is 30lbs - he has been for 9months or so but still he is 30lbs and he feels that is fine. That he'll eat when he is hungry and I need to respect that - which I do, but I don't have to like it.
So that's the answer I think. Offer healthy foods, limit his liquid intake as to not take up room, give him the vitamin (which are quite yummy), respect his right to not eat and trust that he knows when he is hungry and when he isn't, and give myself a break because I'm not starving him, it's his doing and I can't force him to eat.
:)
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Hmm, uhm... how bout we come visit and Kaleb can teach O to eat and O will talk to Kaleb about the nap thing!!! ;) :)
You're right, I'll let you know how it goes after a week. :)
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Add us to the party!! Last night I blended yogurt with a thing of pediasure. Strawberry shake! ;) Mouse can teach sleeping, needs to learn eating. And I gotta get poos softened so they don't hurt. Maybe the "poopsnot" has an idea? ;D Ooops!! I mean softer for Mouse, not me! :-X
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LOL
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We have the hard poop problem too which is making her fear pooping. I've started adding a half a fiber tablet to her bedtime 'shake' to keep things moving along...
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Jenn, add a teaspoon of flax seeds to every yogurt she has. Keeps us all regular over here! ;) :P
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How much fiber is in your tablets?
Ground flax seed, or whole?
Some nurse I am! I know all the medical tricks for poo, not so much in the natural. :-[
Z, how's the O man doing now?
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Ground flax seed--whole passes straight through. :)
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:( He had a 24h vomit bug last night and now I think he has an ear infection :'(
;D
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awww, poor little one {{{hugs}}}
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Zoey from age 2-5 I lived on cheese sandwiches, custard, apricots & apples! Ds#1 is pretty much following suit (although his list is different including spaghetti & sausages) & I can tell you there have been times both boys have lived on air !
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Hope O gets better soon!
A x
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Hugs to the O man!!!!!
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Hi Zoey....
Great to touch base with you again, you helped Daniel to sleep when he had bad reflux..Thanks to you he is sleeping well now....but like Owen, he is a terrible eater.
We are still on purees and feeding infront of Peppa Pig for most and he is under weight (always has been).
I just try to fill him up all day...corn puffs, bread, fruit, honey carrots, baby custard cereal, smoothies, sultanas.
Have you tried to make the food look cute? I have the Annabel Karmel book and it suggests and shows you how to make the food on the plate into shapes or animals to encourage them to eat it.
He simply is not interested in feeding himself or what we are eating! If I give him a piece of food he just plays with it...he knows the name of it but thinks it's to play with...won't eat it, even if I show him and eat it too. Plus he doesn't eat cake!!!
If we go to friends with kids for a meal, he just won't eat anything, even at play group he is not interested, while all the other LO's gobble everything in sight!
Jenn - Oh thanks for the hard poo tip...we have that problem too!
Sharron
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Anytime!! Had Mouse weighed last week. How do they gain when they live on air? I DON'T GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hi gang!
Hi Sharron, I'm so happy to hear from you. I'm sorry to hear Daniel doesn't like to eat either - it's so hard sometimes. HUGS
I'm happy to report that Owen has begun to like food again. I did nothing special, I didn't stop obsessing or worrying - just one day he started eating better. Now I'm not saying he eats as well as his friends, but he will accept more food now which is so so great!
Hang in there Sharron, it will get better. DO what you have to do to help him, I say. The way things are now (eating while watching peppa pig) isn't going to be how things are when he is five :) Time keeps moving, these babies keep changing, and we just keep adjusting how we do things :)
Thank you all for your support, it means the world.
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Anytime!! Had Mouse weighed last week. How do they gain when they live on air? I DON'T GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish, Rachel eats some days and not at all others but she hasn't gained any weight in 13 months! she's happy and healthy though and can read and write at her young age so I'm determined not to stress about it. if I can.
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Zoey,
I am glad to hear things are better..Owen is so cute!
I will hang in there and keep in-touch!
Sharron & Daniel x