Two year won't eat!

[floppops]

Our dd has always been a difficult eater. She has now stopped eating anything much and hasn't drunk milk for months. Tried plain and all flavours. She was eating baked beans and cheese for months but now refuses that too. All she eats is the occasional grape or strawberry and bread with jam - nothing else. She wont eat bread with anything else on it or sandwiches.Have tried everything!- pasta, rice, fish, fish fingers, eggy bread, yogurt, veggie sticks, porridge, cereal, chicken, mince, tomatoes etc. Have tried not offering snacks and not hassling her to eat but it doesn't make any difference. She is now losing weight and I worry she is lacking nutrition. She was ill recently but is now better. When do you start to worry? It feels wrong letting her carry on eating nothing.
She has had a piece of fruit and a piece of bread a day for about 10 days now.

If she's losing weight and has recently been ill the important thing is that she eats something. If she's rejects savoury foods try sweeter ones... plain cakes and biscuits are fine. High-calorie drinks are another possible... with vitamin drops if her diet isn't great. If you're really worried and she is literally eating nothing at all, take her to the doctor. I knew a little boy once that refused to eat anything and, to cut a long story short, ended up needing an operation to clear a physical abnormality that was making it painful for him to swallow.

I would be worried too, but you say she's been ill and is now better which is a sign that she's not undernourished IMO and E. Have you tried getting her to play the role of Goldilocks while you read the story and she makes the porridge and eats it. and you obviously eat it as mummy bear or whatever.

Perhaps she 'picks up' on your worry even when you don't hassle her.
Do you sit down and eat with her? I would totally ignore what she eats but place a few little bowls on the table and let her help herself while you do the same (this not eating is only asserting their personalities IMO and E). also go shopping with her and let her choose and cook her own food.

Be completely neutral; don't praise her for eating or pressure her TO eat; treat her as you would like to be treated, they don't need any where near the same amount of food we think they do (we all eat too much anyway) See the Paul Mckenna thread on the Big and slim club page.

Hi I would take her to the doctor and get her checked out - is your child active or listless?

I got given a ton of grief on another thread for being 'smug' and 'bragging' that my child ate well (apparently we are not allowed to be pleased when things are going well with our kids).

But if you want to know what I have done with mine I am happy to share -but it sounds to me like your child is not very well and has lost appetite.

My three year old isn't a great eater either- she will go a couple of days and barely eat and then gorb all day another. On the days she isn't eating I let her have whatever she fancies. In particular sugar free ice lollies as I know she is at least getting fluids and rich tea biscuits.

I also give her a lot of the marks and Spencer's kids ready meals, I know tHats not brilliant but they are relatively healthy, and I know that the majority of the time she will eat a fish pie or pasta meal.