He won't eat anything!!! :(

[Bewitched]

My 2 year old DS has the appetite of an ant. He just doesn't eat anything!! I know this contributes to his sooky behaviour, and why he doesnt sleep soundly, but i just cant get him to eat a full meal. I'm lucky to get two or three spoonfuls into him most days. Mind you - he will have PLENTY of bottles, in fact he could live off them, but i refuse to let him have nothing but milk 24/7

What should i do? Take him to a paediatrician? I really worry about his health. How can he have so much energy when he never eats?

The other night (after he hadnt eaten all day - again), DH and i sat with him calmly and convinced him to eat a bowl of weetbix (i say convince because i dont think force feeding is the right term, i mean we didnt hold his mouth open or shove it down his throat or anything) but it was clear he wasnt interested in it, and that night he threw up three times in bed. I felt so terrible, as if i had force fed him. I am at the end of my rope...he wont sit at the table and eat with us, he just doesnt seem to enjoy food unless he knows it's GARBAGE

[Ffrenchknickers]

It's all the milk he is having.....I have seen this with alot of friends kids...they fill up on milk which they love and then have no need to eat anything else. Maybe you need to start reducing the amount of milk he has and offering it onyl after meals?

[splish n splash]

I have the same problem with my son, he is 2 on thursday. He appears to eat a bit more than your son though.

my son wouldn't eat at the table with us so we all moved to the breakfast abr and we now eat lunch and dinner here. He eats a big bowel of ceral for breakfast but hen not much else for the rest of the day.

Things I have found that he will eat are lot's of friut bananas, grapes, watermelon. He loves Sasuages, pasta and rice.

Try just giving him simple staple foods. I also give my son kids liquid vitamins as he has stopped eating his veggies.

I am taking my son to the doctor today as he has now dropped back to 10kg and the doc I work with said he needs to be investigated.

All kids go through stages how long has he been like this for?

My son also has so much energy and I don't know where it come from either.

Sorry I have not been of much help.

[kiwibird27]

Would cut down the bottles, he only needs one a day, then just wait for him to get hungry...cut out all junk food and snacks, kids won't starve themselves, unless they are really unwell

[shanz]

yep cut down the milk, i would only offer a small cup(or bottle) with his meal and when it is gone dont give him anymore. If his appetite doesnt pick up i would be getting him seen too, but i would think the first thing a paed will do is tell you to cut the milk down and see what happens, so you might as well try that first.
BUT if you are still concerned then definately get him seen to for your own peace of mind.

[Tam-I-Am]

Have a read of this article about appetite slumps in toddlers. It might help to set your mind at rest.

[delirium]

A friend had this problem with her girl. She wasn't on bottles, but lived on juice. She took her to a paed. and he said her tummy is being filled up with juice and to cut it right down. If she was thirty and told me friend only water.

Cutting the bottles out are the key. Even if he still has a bot before bed, I'd be reducing it gradually.

[Bewitched]

Thankyou everyone for your replies, this has been extremely helpful and comforting advice I plan to get some of the liquid vitamins today to put my mind at ease as he doesnt eat vegies anymore, and i have taken that wonderful link by Tam-I-Am and printed it out so the rest of the family can follow it as well, i think it will really change things around here. Happy feeding days ahead i hope!!

[Ffrenchknickers]

Good luck!

My friend who had the same issue with milk got some of those 'Vegebuddies' ~ they are like little gummy bears but apparantly they have vitamins and minerals in them.

[Bewitched]

Good luck!

My friend who had the same issue with milk got some of those 'Vegebuddies' ~ they are like little gummy bears but apparantly they have vitamins and minerals in them.

They sound great hun, do you know where i can get them from please? I went looking for vitamins, i am unsure how to get him to take them though? I dont think he will accept the forms they come in? Has anyone had success with this with their child? (and in what vitamin form did you have success?)

I feel like such a goose too, i realise now that he was getting his bottle like a 'replacement dummy' as he never had a dummy. I lowered his bottle to only one at bedtime yesterday and he ate a a lot more solids. I let him eat what he wanted off the plate and only gave him small quantities but he still vomited a little bit, so i guess it will be an adjustment