Comments on: Mommy SOS: Toddler that Won’t Eat!

By: Mita

Mita — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:14:28 +0000

My Son is 1 yr old and has given me a hard time eating ever since I started him on solids. He wants to breastfeed but doesn’t want to eat solids. At times when he has starved for hours and still refuses to eat, I show him videos on laptop, to get him to eat, and that works wonders. However, I am left me with a sense of guilt for having done so. Pediatricians recommend not to show children TV while feeding them, but when nothing else works, this does. Also all the other mothers I know of, use this technique to feed their children (which is a consolation that I am not the only one). Day by day, I have been showing him videos more frequently. I do not know how to do to break this habit.

By: Judy N

Judy N — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:17:16 +0000

Sorry if this is repeated above, but I didn’t read thru all the comments…my son was exactly the same. He has done SO much better after starting to give him table foods…meaning foods that have some salt and/or sugar in it. Even things like his beloved Happy Baby Chick Chick he stopped eating, but if I sprinkle just the tiniest bit of salt on it (it still is mostly bland to my taste), he’ll eat it up.

By: KaiRayne

KaiRayne — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:42:22 +0000

Hi Ariana, I know this is a few days old, but I’ve been sick and wasn’t able to respond. I totally understand your frustrations. Both my kids were VERY picky as toddlers. My oldest has grown out of it and is trying new things (Thankfully), but my youngest(who has Autism) is still very very picky. I was told that the growth charts that pediatricians typically use were modeled after formula-fed babies and are inaccurate for breast-fed babies. Breast-fed babies tend to be smaller/leaner than formula-fed babies. But if you are really concerned about Jasper’s caloric intake, you could try to supplement with something like Pediasure, however, don’t get into a habit of replacing a meal with it cause then Jasper will learn that he doesn’t have to eat and you will still give him the Pediasure. I wanted to supplement with it and my Pediatrician actually told me not to and to just keep offering food and limit liquid intake during the day. Making sure not to give drinks during a meal and always after it. My boys are 4.5 & 6 now and we still practice the after meal drink. As far as Jasper not taking anything but water in his sippy, you should try a plain small plastic cup or a cup with a straw. After all is said and done though you have to follow your instinct, cause only you are his mother and you really know what’s best for him. I hope you find something that works. He will eventually grow out of this though. Its pretty typical. Pick your battles and don’t let food be a battle. Toddlers know that they can control what goes into their bodies, most of the time and its really the only thing they can control right now and so they do. :)

By: ariana

ariana — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:27:29 +0000

Shane, I love that mobile chair -thanks for the head’s up!

Stephanie, how interesting!! I have always loved the trip trapp. Though i’d be REALLY upset if I spent that much money on a high chair and jasper still hated it ;)

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:40:17 +0000

Having just purchased Community Playthings shelving for my daughter’s elementary school, I’m sad to say that they don’t offer a discount to schools. :(

You can sometimes find their stuff used on eBay though. :)

They are an interesting company – they are bascially the money-making arm of the Bruderhof Communities – a pacifist Christian group whose members live communally – they don’t make a salary or own property – the money made from selling their furniture takes care of their members’ needs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruderhof_Communities

Speaking of expensive highchairs, another great one is the Tripp Trapp – it grows with your child: http://www.stokke-highchair.com/en-us/tripp-trapp-highchair.aspx

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:45:50 +0000

Once again tons of great info in the comments. I think the idea about trying a different chair/table is a GREAT one. Do you think your daycare would let you take one home for a night or over the weekend to try out before you purchase one like they use? I bet you’ve already discussed these feeding concerns w/ them so they may be supportive of any ideas to help you. They may also get a discount on purchase that they could pass along to you.

This is the chair I’m planning on getting soon as a mobile chair to take w/ us out to eat and to use a friend’s homes. The reviews seem more positive than the Chicco version.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3460982

By: marybeth at www.babygoodbuys.com

marybeth at www.babygoodbuys.com — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:51:50 +0000

There’s so much good information on here, I’m glad I came back to check it out! Ariana, I see that you mentioned a few times that you don’t want to start a bad habit. One of our early childhood instructors stated, “habits can be broken” when we had some class controversy over something another mom was doing. It really made me remember to prioritize what’s best for my baby and me. It might not be exactly what books or other people tell me is the “right” way to do things, but I need to be comfortable with how MY baby’s doing.

Also, if you think about the habit of feeding or watching TV while eating, Jasper certainly isn’t going to refuse to eat unless he’s in the tub when he’s 6 years old! All of these challenges are temporary, and he’ll adjust to what’s “normal” in time.

Finally, I was SO worried about taking my son off the bottle, especially since he was adjusting to baby #2 in the house. I was worried that he would want the comfort of his bottle, and he might need it to get sleepy before bed. We decided to take him off it cold turkey, and it was SO much easier than I thought it would be!

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:57:31 +0000

LOL, I’m familiar with the company… remember, I work with infants and toddlers for a living! ;)

By: Barbara

Barbara — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:23:33 +0000

Back in the day, my son was such a picky eater/non-eater that he didn’t even make it on to the percentile chart for weight! The Dr. used to tell me, “Mother, when he’s hungry, he’ll eat”. And “as long as he continues to grow in height, don’t worry.” Well, I listened and today, at 26 years old, my perfectly healthy son (who weighed 76 lbs when he entered 9th grade) is 5′11, 157 lbs. and eats foods that he wouldn’t so much look at throughout his youth…sushi, caviar, ALL veggies, you name it. Don’t get worried and frustrated. It will all work out in the end.

By: Allie Friedmann

Allie Friedmann — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:30:10 +0000

Ari! Sophie also has what I am reluctant to call an eating disorder! Her pediatrician said she is in the 1th percentile for weight – 1th! – so it isn’t just my imagination. She has good days and bad days, but something I have always found to be helpful is feeding her spoonfuls while she’s playing. (Did someone say this already? Sorry, but I didn’t read all the posts.) I just follow her around and give her one spoonful here, one spoonful there. And I have no qualms about giving her sweet food. Mashed sweet potatoes with honey and peaches, for example. Date/banana/fig-sweetened milk rice. Homemade fruit popsicles. You name it.

Please call me sometime so we can catch up!

Hugs,
Allie