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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

2 YEAR OLD REFUSES TO EAT!

13 replies

loopyredangel · 03/09/2007 19:15

My son who is 2 tomorrow, has got us a little worried. He is refusing almost everything we put in front of him, refusing meat and savoury foods, opting for just a nibble of fruit and salads. We are so concerned and realyl don't know what to do for the best. We thought at first he was bored of his usual foods and tried introducing new things alongside the usual food, but that isn't working. We don't give in easily with him either, if he doesn't eat his food and whines for sweet things we don't allow him to have them. Pleas help, we are going to see the health visitor tomorrow, even though it's his birthday!

OP posts:

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JoanCrawford · 03/09/2007 19:18

Is he having alot of milk?

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loopyredangel · 03/09/2007 19:28

No, that's the other thing, he seems to have gone off that to, drinking a little less than usual.

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TheArmadillo · 03/09/2007 19:30

how long has he been doing this?

Does he eat breakfast?

Is he worse at particular times of day?

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TheArmadillo · 03/09/2007 19:32

really try to stop yourself from worrying - he will pick it up and it makes them worse.

Really kids this age can go for months/years on very little and still not loose weight or become ill.

Is he having multivitamin with iron in? (you can get liquid one called abidec). LAck of iron can = anaemia, which can cause lack of appetite.

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Mercy · 03/09/2007 19:35

It's completely normal ime.

My ds was like this from 18 months onwards (and to a quite an extent still is). Different approaches suit different children but ime the worst thing you can do is to pressure him into eating. tbh I could bore you to death on this subject!

Does he seem ok in general? (sleeping, poos/wees, reasonably happy)

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JoanCrawford · 03/09/2007 19:37

Agree with Armadillo, try not to make an issue of this. It will escalate if you do.

My dd was like this at 2. It's not uncommon.

What helped me was this (I read this somewhere, can't for the life of me remember where though) 'a toddler only needs to eat the equivalent of a boiled egg in order to sustain him for a whole day'.

Said dd is now 3. Her appetite has kicked in, only in the last couple of months, and she eats a very varied, nutritious diet.

Try not to worry too much

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bagpuss · 03/09/2007 19:38

Agree with Mercy. My first child was like this. dd and ds2 have been totally different however, maybe because I don't get so stressed out when they refuse something, or maybe I'm more used to toddler appetites/fads now.

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Alexandersmummy · 03/09/2007 20:03

Hi, my ds is also nearly 2 and he also does this, refusing to eat anything and then whining for sweet foods, we like you refuse to give in,and if he doesn't like it he can have what we are offering or go without. I know this sounds harsh but it works with him, he still pushes his luck though at times
Try not to stress out it will pass

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harpsichordcarrier · 03/09/2007 20:05

how long has he been doing this?
my dd once went right off her food for over a week and it turned out she was coming down with chickenpox. once the spots came out she was much better.
any chance he could be sickening for something?

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KTeePee · 03/09/2007 20:06

ds2 was like this but he drank a lot of milk. When he finally stopped having bottles his appetite returned!

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saralou · 03/09/2007 20:11

ds1 does this too... h's 2.6 years!

i'm waiting for the phase to pass, it's just taking a long time! i think thay he can't be hungry if he doesn't want whats on offer, so he gets nothing else offered!

just keep repeating 'it's a phase, it will pass, no toddler has starved themselves' over and over and over.....

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EscapeFrom · 03/09/2007 20:14

here is a little 'out of the box' advice...

Stop all sweet food completely. Whetehr he has eaten his dinner or not. No sweet foor. Plain yoghurt, fruit etc - all fine - but they would both be appropriate replacements for meals. Nothing else sweet.

Then he won't bother holding out for sweet stuff at all, he'll just eat if he is hungry.

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loopyredangel · 03/09/2007 20:15

Thanks for all the support everyone, I went out today and bought some different cereals, because he had even gone off eating breakfast which is quite unusual for DS. He ate some bread from his tea before, so I thought I would try him with some cereal, just forpeace of mind knowing there was something in his tummy. I let him pick which box he wanted, and he tucked into it. I know we are still waiting on four teeth right at the back to come through, but there isn't even a lump or a bump there yet.
He is generally a happy kid, but has been feeling a little grumpy but we have been putting that down to the fact he isn't eating as much. He just seems to want to play and explore all the time too!