Son not eating proper food..

Buzzybee90

AnnieO1234 wrote: »

I would say this is probably a phase and is partly about testing you. Just keep persevering. My nephew in law (I've talked about him previously) literally survived the first ten years of his life on:

Crisps (Pringles) for breakfast
Beef paste sandwiches for lunch
Chicken nuggets and fries for dinner

Every. Single. Day.

You will note there's no fruit or veg in any of that lot, he also would only drink apple juice or water.

Since his parents split late 2013, his diet (at his dads and rest of family) has just exploded. It seems his mom had a time similar to OPs situation and just gave in completely, she gave him what worked for an easy life. Now he is eating toast, fish, all kinds of meat, vegetables and potatoes that aren't processed. Even pizza was a revelation to him this year.

Just take a breath, and persevere! X

What on earth is a nephew in law?

purpleshoes_2

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

What on earth is a nephew in law?

Nieces husband I would presume.

Buzzybee90

purpleshoes wrote: »

Nieces husband I would presume.

Ok yeah that makes sort of sense!

fuzzipeg

My cousin was a nightmare at mealtimes and, for the longest time, would only eat jam sandwiches. His parents took him to the doctors as they were worried about his diet, and the doctor just laughed and asked them to picture their son at 18 taking his girlfriend out for their first meal. Funnily enough, all agreed it was unlikely to be jam sandwiches... :rotfl:

Bottom line is, in my limited experience, kids go through phases with food but they always grow out of it, so don't fret too much.

sacha28

I really wouldn't stress too much, he will eat when he realises that he's hungry and not getting anything else!!

I learnt the hard way with my son (2.5 yrs). He went through a stage about a year ago of refusing anything I put in front of him. I remember a day where I cooked 4 different things at tea time because he was a terrible sleeper and I dreaded the hunger making it worse! After about 2 weeks of being stupid and trying (and wasting) so much food I snapped and said 'no way, no more' and refused to do it anymore. That night I made him sausage mash and broccoli (his favourites at the time) and when he said 'don't like it' I said 'fine but you will go to bed hungry'. And he did (sleep was just as bad as usual) and he hasn't done that since. If he says he isn't going to eat I tell him that he won't be getting anything else and he'll be very hungry, it's normally enough to make him rethink!!

Don't feel guilty, feel like you're taking control. That's all he's doing is taking the pith because you allow him to!

InsideInsurance

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

What on earth is a nephew in law?

purpleshoes wrote: »

Nieces husband I would presume.

That or brother/sister-in-law's kid?

Either way, they'd just be nephew in my world. "in law" seems to be trying to create separation

Toto

Lots of the time children's food issues are around control and testing boundaries. The more attention you give to the behaviours the more stressful mealtimes become and the cycle continues.


Everyone has likes and dislikes with food and children are no different. So, be fair, if a child particularly dislikes a certain food don't force them to eat it. But mostly a child should eat family foods and there should be no separate meals cooked unless there is a medical dietary requirement to do so.


One particular tip which I find helps a lot to give the child some control around mealtimes is to operate a self service system. Allow everyone to choose to fill their own plates from serving bowls. At first the child may well only select the things they wish to eat but they often soon start to join in with the rest of the family and begin to eat a wider range of foods. This really only works if you do have family meal times which I absolutely advocate wherever possible even if it is just you and little one.


Make sure meal times are relaxed, TV off. Chat, don't focus on who is eating what, unless the child is medically emaciated there really is no need to monitor every mouthful, it will only stress everyone.


Don't try to make food fun by creating faces out of potatoes or dinosaurs out of vegetables, food is food, it tastes good and fills us up, job done.


If the child doesn't eat much then allow around half an hour after everyone else has finished for him to pick at whatever is left after that it is put away and gone. Nothing else until the next meal. No anger, no punishment just a simple reminder that the next meal will be at x o clock.


Watch overfilling the child on drinks. I often see children who drink litres of fluid a day and parents wonder why they don't seem to eat much. Milk is considered to be a food not a drink so if he's having a fair bit of milk he might just not really be hungry.


This will pass, honestly. Many many families have gone through this and there will be many many more so try to pat yourself on the back and remind yourself you're doing a great job. Go and see your health visitor for a bit of help if you want a bit of advice, she'll be more than happy to help I'm sure.

pinkshoes

DS (nearly 4) has always been given what we have at meal times, and is expected to try everything on his plate.

If he tries it, he gets pudding (and perhaps some toast if still hungry), if he doesn't, then he gets nothing else.

It's important that a child doesn't learn that being fussy and having a tantrum gets them something else.

My aunt has 11 year old twins that only really eat dry pasta with grated cheese. She's worried that they're skinny and won't have enough energy to do all these activities they do. If they were my kids, then they wouldn't be doing the activities if they didn't eat properly!

clairec79

Has he been ill at all?

My 3 year old used to be a good eater - then he got norovirus and since then (a good year or so ago) he's the pickiest eater ever and will only eat very plain foods

Buzzybee90

InsideInsurance wrote: »

That or brother/sister-in-law's kid?

Either way, they'd just be nephew in my world. "in law" seems to be trying to create separation

Yes that would be a nephew to me too.