Toddler not eating at all!!!

[NewmumOct]

For the last 4 weeks my toddler (23 months) has not been eating well. He was always a picky eater, however it has gotten soo bad at this point. The last week now he has barely eaten anything. He will drink his milk and will have some fruits/yougurt and breadsticks.

I have tried everything to get him to eat. I have tried eating together as a family, putting him infront of the tv as a distraction in desperation. I have tried not paying any attention to him/ no pressure to seeing if he will eat. So far nothing as worked.

I plan to see the gp tomorrow but not sure what they can do to help. Anyone have any idea? Is there any hope? i feel soo defeated 🥲

Don't panic

Is he energetic ? Has he lost weight ?

What milk is he drinking and could this be cut down? My friends toddler is like this but she breastfeeds her so much that she never actually gets hungry enough to eat a meal if that makes sense. (Disclaimer I exclusively breastfed both my children so I'm not anti bf, totally the opposite).

My 21 month old is the same, but will only eat porridge, Yogurt, biscuits, veggie straws (toddler crisps) and chips. He refuses any meat or fish (fish fingers or salmon which he used to eat). I have put it down to molar teething as he is very irritable and wants to be picked up all the time. Would be interested to hear what your GP says...
Good luck OP

If he's otherwise well and growing I wouldn't worry. If he isn't well/growing then the GP is the right call and should be able to refer you on somewhere.

Offer food regularly, new stuff and stuff you know he likes and let him eat as and when he wants to/needs to.

This can be very normal.
Back molars potentially? Rundown /sore throat?
They have very erratic eating patterns as toddlers. Mine will eat really well for a few weeks and then go back to eating like a mouse for a bit.
Unless he's losing weight and seems unwell there is absolutely nothing to worry about or nothing you can do.
Focus on high calorie foods. Eg extra cheese and butter in sauces, full fat milk, add peanut butter to porridge or use as a dip for fruit. Think of ways to pack lots of calories in.
It can be really frustrating feeding a toddler, and it does make you worry when they don't eat but they really don't need much.
If he's drinking milk that's good as well as it's high calories

My little boy is same age and exactly the same. I’m not worried as no signs of illness just not interested in food at the moment. Will just be a phase. Don’t think gp can help really it’s quite common for toddlers to do this. It’s like they realise they can actually
control what they do. He is my second so I feel a bit more relaxed with it as when through it all with my first and all turned out fine on the end. I just offer him the food and if he doesn’t eat it I don’t fuss about trying to get him to eat it

Don't panic, toddlers can survive on surprisingly little food!

How much milk is he having? Could he be getting too much so he's not hungry at meal times?

Thank you all for your reassuring messages. I am a little more relaxed now and have told myself this will hopefully pass eventually. He is not losing weight but not gaining either. He has two milk bottles around 210ml each. GP has told me they will re-weigh him in 4 weeks and if there is weightloss then he might be referred dietitian. She also ordered some bloods so will see from there

Hi I know this is an old thread but how are you getting on??
My 3 year old has always been a really fussy eater but since starting nursery a few weeks ago has literally given up eating, surviving now on biscuits and a few crisps and has even stopped drinking and only wanting milk non stop, my gp said to just give the milk so I’m giving milk and peadiasure as only way of getting something in him. They also mentioned if we want we can do bloods and we will soon if this carries on much longer!

Forgot to say they eat nothing at nursery either!

@Jadeyyy He has started to eat again. We did get bloods done which were fine. I think he was traumistied by the birth of his little sister because he stopped eating when she was born. Since he has gotten used to her he is back to himself. It could be the change thats shocked the system for your 3 year old since starting nursery. I am sure eventually he/she will start eating again.Just continue with what you are doing and before you know it he/she will be eating again.

Thank you @NewmumOct that was good your son’s bloods were normal. Thank you he has started to eat a little more this week so hopefully it continues! Thank you for your reply x