Will eat a lots.... then nothing for a long time!

[alyssa1]

My son will go for long stretches of time where he will eat basically nothing then, one day he will decide to eat bowls of food at a time.  I know this is "normal" for a toddler (he is 15 months) but somedays I just don't get it.  Yesterday and today he didn't touch any harty meals only had some fruit/yogut/milk - small amounts.  I know this is ok but sometimes it will go on for weeks and then just one happy day he eats again.  We always offer a variety of food (finger and spoon fed), we allow him to feed himself and also offer to help him when he likes - it's just so wierd!  Anyone else out there that goes through this?  I know we shouldn't force him but all he wants is his milk in the bottle some meals - is this ok?  Do I just say ok and give it to him?

[tylersmommy]

Oh yeah...that's the way things work in our house too! There will be days on end when Tyler will take maybe one or two bites of food per meal and that's it, then he'll suddenly eat me out of house and home. I'm a big believer in respecting their appetites if there's no weight loss or health issues involved. Healthy toddlers have an innate ability to regulate their food intake according to what their bodies need, so I'd just go with the flow!

[alyssa1]

Thanks for the reply - it's good to have a little reassurance.  My mom who watches him for me somedays will try to get some food into him - my mom just thinking he's making up his own little mind, but I try to remind her that he really might not be hungry some days.
Thanks again

[Sylvia.]

gee, dd is the same, i am having a real hard time dealing with this, what about the vitamin and mineral intake?

[jobi]

All 3 of mine have done this it does get worrying though as they're all slow weight gainers!!
I wouldn't worry too much, he will eventually get his appetite back!!
From being about 6 ds 1 snapped out of it and now we can't keep him full!!
DS 2 is a little bit better at the moment he's eating everything and ds3 is on hunger strike!! He'll eat breakfast, cereal and a little bit of toast then just a few yogurts 
I'd say if he wants the milk definatly give it to him!!
You can also get vitamin drops for lo's who don't eat alot!

[alyssa1]

He is a milk finatic - he wants milk all the time, which is fine with us but we try to limit it before meals to make sure he is hungry to eat a meal.  If then he chooses not to eat and asks for milk, we give it to him. 
The next thing will be getting rid of the bottle  - No rush on that one for us though !