OT: How much does your toddler eat?

[laughinplace199]

DS is 16 months. He was doing really well on table food until this past week. Now he eats a few bites and starts throwing or dropping the food on the floor. I'm assuming that the meal is done at that point, since he obviously doesn't want the food. If I try to feed it to him, he'll shake his head "no" and close his mouth tight. It worries me though because it really doesn't seem like he eats enough. He's also not interested in trying any new foods.

My older two kids are 8 & 6 and I don't remember them doing this. They were always good eaters.

Thanks!

 

[Stasieki]

My DD2 did this too. She still goes through these stages. She will eat great for a month, and then get real picky or not eat that much. When she does do that, we give her Pediasure Vanilla flavor. She LOVES it!

 

[puffkin]

My son eats great for a month or two and then has a week or two where he won't eat much of anything. I think they just go through little growth spurts...I wouldn't worry too much about it as long as she is drinking and staying hydrated.

 

[kim_o]

DS is 16 months. He was doing really well on table food until this past week. Now he eats a few bites and starts throwing or dropping the food on the floor. I'm assuming that the meal is done at that point, since he obviously doesn't want the food. If I try to feed it to him, he'll shake his head "no" and close his mouth tight. It worries me though because it really doesn't seem like he eats enough. He's also not interested in trying any new foods.

My older two kids are 8 & 6 and I don't remember them doing this. They were always good eaters.

Thanks!

My kid eats next to nothing. At least it feels that way. He does eat breakfast food. Lunch is usually a yogurt or something at home. At daycare he eats about 1/4 of what's presented to him. Dinner....he'll eat like 3-4 chicken nuggets or fishsticks and that's it. He will absolutely not touch vegetables.

 

[gallafamily]

My 2 y/o DS always eats about 2 bites of food & throws the rest in the floor. I have to sweep the floor everytime he eats. I feel like he doesn't eat anything, but he is constantly gaining weight. He is a big boy. He will be 2 in a couple weeks, & he wears a size 4, that's not a 4T.

 

[laughinplace199]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It helps to know others are going through this too.

When DS was on formula, at least I knew he was getting what he needed and any bit of food he ate was a bonus. Now I guess I'm worried because he has to get everything he needs from meals and cups of milk (although I do still give him a bottle of milk when he wakes up and before bed - I love that snuggly time). He's a tiny little guy, about 19 pounds, so I think I worry more about him because he's on the small side.

 

[squirrlygirl]

Julie-I'm on my 2nd tiny kid. DS will be 7 next month and is 37 lbs. DD is 16 months and just under 18 lbs. Pushing food on DS only makes him not want to eat. When he's hungry he eats more than my 12-yr. old .When he's not hungry he doesn't eat. Never has he gained weight due to something I've done. He seems to have some internal calorie-counter.

DD-16 months-is also doing the not-eating thing. She'll eat corn and peas all day, but throws most of the rest of her food. I think it's just a developmental thing. As long as your pediatrician has ruled out health problems, I wouldn't worry about it!

 

[kim_o]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It helps to know others are going through this too.

When DS was on formula, at least I knew he was getting what he needed and any bit of food he ate was a bonus. Now I guess I'm worried because he has to get everything he needs from meals and cups of milk (although I do still give him a bottle of milk when he wakes up and before bed - I love that snuggly time). He's a tiny little guy, about 19 pounds, so I think I worry more about him because he's on the small side.

Mine is tiny too. He was 16 lbs at his 1 year check up and 22 lbs at his 2 year check up. He's currently 23.5 lbs at 2.5 years. If he does actually eat or try something new...DH and I secretly get excited and give each other knowing glances....but definitely don't draw any attention to DS.

The other day he actully uttered the phrase "I'm hungry" and I almost fell off my chair ;-)

 

[all4fun]

Hey I just wanted to say my ds had oral aversion issues (so can you say "beyond picky"! when it comes to eating). He was 27lbs when he turned three. He is almost five now and just hit 42lbs (plus he is also in the 90th percentile for height), seems like he put on 10lbs in the last 8 months much to my surprise. He is still a picky eater but his eating is improving. I just wanted to say we've been there with the eating issues and it will get better. Hang in there!

 

[all4fun]

Mine is tiny too. He was 16 lbs at his 1 year check up and 22 lbs at his 2 year check up. He's currently 23.5 lbs at 2.5 years. If he does actually eat or try something new...DH and I secretly get excited and give each other knowing glances....but definitely don't draw any attention to DS.

The other day he actully uttered the phrase "I'm hungry" and I almost fell off my chair ;-)

My ds was FOUR when I heard him say "I'm hungry" for the first time! Talk about surprised. I wanted to jump for joy and cry all at the same time. The things I never thought I'd get excited about, LOL.

 

[laughinplace199]

Thank you so much for the replies. I really feel better now. It just gets frustrating when DS won't eat. Plus, it seems like every time I take him out to the store or Little Gym, people constantly talk about how tiny DS is. I know they don't mean anything by it, but hearing it over and over again is hard.

Thanks again!