She doesn't want to eat!

Hey there,

My DS is just 2 and I've worried and worried about his eating over the past year. I've learned:
- toddlers have days when they just don't want to eat, for whatever reason. If they refuse food over several days I'd worry; if it's just one meal, or odd days then it's just normal toddler behaviour. They'll eat when they're hungry - I find it helps to look at my son's week. Usually he'll have a day or two when he's not interested in food, but another day or two when I can't seem to fill him up.
- DS often won't eat when he's teething. It upsets his tummy, and also I can't imagine the pain of chewing on swollen gums so I give him soft food - yoghurt, banana and cereal. The fact that your daughter eats breakfast (cereal?) suggests this may be a factor in her refusal to eat.
- Try not to worry! If you become stressy about her mealtimes you could create an issue in the long run. If dd refuses food just say, 'ok'. Take away the plate and try again later. I promise you she'll eat at some point!!! (Also, once I kept on encouraging my ds to eat when he really didn't want to; turned out he had a bug and threw up about an hour later poor thing! I felt so guilty!)

Blessings!!

See your daughter's fist? Her stomach is about the same size. It sounds like she's getting enough. How's her growth?

neither of my kids have ever been big eaters, both are slim and active and very healthy. My Pedi suggested that as long as their activity level is good, they are getting milk and juice each day and sleeping well not to worry. Offer lots of good choices and know that they'll eat what their bodies need not what we insist which can lead to bad habits in overeating later on.

Your child seems to eat more,than the little guy in my siggy,I'm lucky to get him to eat a couple bites,at a meal.I read don't make feeding to much of a issue,As long as you offer food,liquids and milk,the child should be fine.Any ways he love to pretend to eat,says everything is delicious,until it's time for him to actually eat it,I just shake my head in my mind,then I turn and role my eyes,so he can't see it.He seems to be healthy though,the doctors never comeplain.

We went through the same thing with our daughter when she was a toddler. She's 13 yrs old now. Our doctor said that it was normal for kids to not eat at times. They'll let you know when the are hungry.