Help please toddler wont eat anything :(

Destiny33

Thank you so very much for all your helpful advice and for the kind comments I am really grateful to you all and will definately try out the suggestions and ease up on myself just a little.

I feel so very lucky being a mummy as i never thought i would be (but being lucky is sometimes not easy). It is hard doing it myself and i admit that i do get lonely but i guess not many people are a single parent through choice but things dont always work out the way you hope.

I feel so much better now and honestly cant believe the kindness of people on here, everyone has been so lovely so huggs and thanks xx. I dont know what i did before i found this site

Luv
Destiny
xx

fsdss

i agree with most of the posts above and try not to worry about his eating, as your worries will almost certainly be picked up by him.
you could try and use a "cooking activity" to encourage him to eat more, maybe making a weetabix sandwich (dry weetabix, butter and jam) and pudding weetabix and fruit mushed up, then work from there, use your original weaning skills for introducing new tastes and try not 2 be fretful or give in if he refuses food,a child would never starve oneself. once he develops new tastes you could substitute the weetabix for bread or crackers etc and then the worlds your oyster.
finally alot of mothers try to compete with each other to justify how well they are doing in there role as mother and this is often reflected in making comparisons of development with children of similar age, try not to worry about this it is very common practice and other mothers can be hurtful towards others through tunnel vision. as long as you are happy with his development, and he has passed all his checks with the health visitor then he is ok, however if you are still worried, ring your hv and arrange for a 2yr check for which you are entitled

Dormouse

Hi,

Just wanted to add a little tip (you probably have noticed this anyway). My little boy is 2 as well, and he has days when he's not a great eater. But I've notcied that when we're out and about he is more willing to try new things. Like if we're at someone else's house and he sees other kids eating something, he'll want to try it (such a copycat!), or if we're in town he might fancy something new to eat that he wouldn't necessarily try at home.

Yesterday, we were shopping and I bought myself a chicken sandwich. Now usually, Dormouse Jnr is not keen on sandwiches or meat, but for some reason, yesterday he wolfed down half my sarnie, lol!

And also, Weetabix and cereal and bread are not the unhealthiest things to eat. Even if that was the only thing he ate, I don't think it's the end of the world. Besides, I'm sure he'll grow out of it.

And don't ever listen to what other mums say . We are all proud of our little ones and their achievements, it's just some of us like to emphasise it more than others, lol!

Good luck and take care

silverfoxdude

I would try not to worry too much Destiny, you say hes healthy and happy, so it may be a faze. When I had the same trouble with my son around the same age, the doc said to put little piles of food near where he would walk about, like the corners of the coffee table. As he went by, he'd pop some cheese in his mouth, or fruit etc etc. I didnt put big piles out, and cleaned the table but didnt put the food on a plate, so he wouldn't find me out. Anyhow, to cut a long story short, he is now 12 yrs old, about 5 foot 7, and I wonder why I worried now lol.

Good luck

swizzle_2

My son now nearly 6, was just like this and is still fussey. Don`t worry about it, aslong as hes eating something- hope nappies are ok with all that wheatabix!!

Don`t listern to what other mums say-apart from them on here, that are here to help that is. From what has happened in my own life I know for a fact that most mums lie, they might lead you to believe that they eat everything thats put in front of them, but most don`t and 2 is a fussey age.

I also have a boy 3 1/2 who has tottally differant eating habits to his older brother, it`s a child thing not a mum thing.

Try offering differant things, maybe try thise little box`s of ceareal when there on special offer, or lidl do them. But wheatabix is a good thing, you don`t want him then to just want sugar loaded cearel.

Get him to try a little of what you have, get him to help you make a sandwich, get a friend over plus teddy or toy and have a tea party. Try and make it fun, but don`t try to do too much at once.

My eldest is fussey, but aslong as he trys something, he gets pudding, a tin of fruit or some jelly, nothing fancy or expensive. even a biscuit. The only food he can get by himself is fruit and the fridge, sliced ham, yougarts etc

Its all trial and error, they don`t come with a book, because they change so much from day to day.

Good luck, it will all work out

eml_3

Don't panic - Weetabix is quite a healthy food and you might be able to sneak a bit of something else in it. Children are not going to starve themselves to death and I bet he won't just be eating weetabix by the time he goes to school.

He will grow out of it. Remember, every phase with children is just that, a phase.

My mum swears my sister lived on beetroot and chocolate biscuits for a good six months as a toddler and now she eats anything.

Good luck and ignore the competitive mums. Obviously they have nothing more interesting in their lives.

Savvy_Sue

swizzle wrote:

hope nappies are ok with all that wheatabix!!

My very first thought!

If he'll sometimes eat toast, you can even make pizza on toast, or on a pitta bread. Getting him to make one for you - spread bread with tomato puree or sauce, add little bits of ham, sliced tomato, cheese on top - and sticking it under the grill then make very enthusiastic noises about what he's made for you!

I've found Pitta Pizzas very useful for groups of children with different tastes as well: take pitta, don't open it, just top it as above, providing whatever you think may get eaten - put out piles of the suggestions above, plus maybe mushrooms, peppers, sweetcorn, tuna, other kinds of meat, pineapple, just let your imagination run riot - then stick in oven to melt the cheese. You can probably grill them but mine pittas are usually frozen! And don't worry, you can do this without the cheese, one of mine still does!

Loads of other suggestions in the other thread, you're doing a grand job, if worried is it worth talking to your Health Visitor? I know it's hard to be tough on them sometimes, so pick your moment, and pick one battle at a time. I know you're told to be consistent, but you are only human, and if you win a battle on a day you're feeling strong your son will hopefully be less tempted to push it another day.

Destiny33

Thank you again, just finished reading and had to smile at the nappies on wheetabix they are ok but if anyone wants to know about the ones after he eats shreddies i will hand out the clothes pegs yuck yuck yuckity yuck lol

You have all made me feel so much better and i wish i could give you all a hug. You are wonderful girls and your children are so lucky to have such lovely mums. I hope i will be as good a mum to my son.

The health visitor did my sons 2 year check a couple of months ago and he passed with flying colours, i was so proud. She couldnt believe he knew colours at 2 (he is a wee smartie pants, probably too clever for his own good)

He is now asleep in his new "big boy" bed. New worry is i'm terrified of him falling out lol experienced mums please, do the worries ever end??

Love and huggs
D
xx

Bossyboots

Destiny33 wrote:

experienced mums please, do the worries ever end??

My "children" are now aged 22 and 19. The worries have certainly not ended yet and I am told by my mum and MIL that they never do.

If its any consolation of my two children, only one has ever fallen out of bed. That was from the top of a bunk bed and he didn't even wake up, just got back into bed and remembered nothing about it. He was about 7 at the time.

Squidgy

I have to say the most important lesson to learn as a parent is to just smile sweetly at what others say and then ignore whatever they say. When it comes down to it the best person to trust is yourself. You know your child better than anyone else.

However, I can see that this problem is obviously worrying you. Have you thought about trying this - offer your child different food, and if s/he leaves it then that's it. That's all there is. It's that or nothing. It sounds very harsh, but no child will ever starve themselves. Even if they refuse a few meals it's really not going to kill them.

If you find this becomes a battle of wills though (as most things are with toddlers), perhaps you could let them know they will be getting weetabix or some other treat they like as a pudding if they eat all / some of their dinner.

I have to admit it's harsh, but I am rather strict with my daughter with things like when she just wants pudding and no dinner. Trust me though, if we are sitting there eating pudding and she's not she wolfs down her dinner to get some as well!

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Squidgy x