3 year old won’t eat anything!

[GreenSippyCup77]

3 year old DS has always been fairly fussy with food, only eating a limited but balanced variety of foods. However, it seems to have suddenly got really bad over the past few weeks or so. Foods he used to consistently eat are now being refused. He used to love cucumber, red pepper, most fruits, tuna, pasta, pizza, toast. Now the only fruit I can sometimes get him to eat is apple, shop bought fruit smoothie pouches, or dried fruit snacks (which I know are not great for their teeth). I’m offering food at every mealtime, but he hardly eats anything, quite often throws what he doesn’t want on the floor (takes me back to the baby stage!) My only saving grace at the mo is he loves his milk so will have that before bed. At least he’s getting some form of nutrients from that. And he has his vitamins everyday.

just wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom to help me stop stressing too much, or just solidarity that I’m not the only one with an extremely fussy eater! I’m praying it’s just another phase and he will start eating more variety again soon!

Oh no! Tell me it’s not just mine who’s this bad 😩

Mine went through phases of basically not eating

Keep the offerings healthy , avoid panicking

Does he eat with you and DH/the rest of the family round a table? We found it helped if we gave DD food off our plates - it was much nicer than the same food on her plate.

@midgetastic good to know it’s not just mine! I’m trying my hardest not to stress/panic, easier said than done though. He has just eaten some chicken so feel like that’s a small victory!

@KnickerlessParsons we don’t all eat at the table together unfortunately, which is something I wish we did! DH doesn’t get home until 6.30 which is too late for DS to be eating. We try to at weekends though, and you’re right, food off my plate is always far more appealing! Thanks for the tip!

We are going through the same thing with my almost 4 year old. The only food she wants to eat is plain pasta with cheese on top, roast potatoes or chips and chicken nuggets.
I have just downloaded a book called 'getting the little blighters to eat' which looked to be highly recommended online. Hoping it will have some good tips. Had a quick read in my lunch break and I am guilty of a few of the things it says not to do
Hopefully it will help us to expand her diet.

It would really help. Kids love to copy their parents and when eating is a social experience it takes the focus off the food as such. It really helps with speech development too.

What are some of the things it says not to do (gulp!)

OP we're going through a really good spell but son is similar age to yours and has always been picky. I've learnt that it's either feast or famine with him. We've had long spells of me wondering how he continues to have so much energy based on what he eats. It passes and then suddenly we have a spell of him eating brilliantly. So much with them depends on if they're feeling run down, teeth, growth spurts, etc etc etc.

I've come to the conclusion that kids just eat differently from adults and I widen my perspective on it now: don't worry about what they eat over one day, but over one week... and during the tougher times look at what they've eaten over a month.

Don't panic, keep modelling and don't let food be positive or negative, and keep up the multivitamin!

@Whatareyoueventalkingaboutrightnow it has a set of rules at the start and it is basically like - don't bargain with them e.g. please eat a few more mouthfuls for some pudding. Don't show that it is frustrating you. Keep offering foods they don't like, no matter how annoying it is when they refuse them.

That sounds like advice I've read elsewhere and been following. Been through the showing frustration phase ( 🤦🏼‍♀️ ) but I'm long past that now and I do see now what a difference it makes.

Never bargained with him except for one time and immediately knew it was a bloody stupid thing to do. "If you eat this you can have this" type of thing. In the moment I was like wtf are you doing. It obviously ended in disaster and I've never done it again.

Now we serve up food and he chooses what he wants to eat and how much he wants to eat and that's that. No "well done" or anything like that if he eats a lot. Just put it down, say "there you go" and when he's done, he's done.

Hang in there OP. Keep putting old favourites out as well as new food. Try your hardest not to stress (pretend not to care either way!) and it will pass.

It’s pretty common at 3! My second son just going through it at the minute. Things I’ve found helpful are getting him to help me make it where possible (making home made chicken nuggets etc), using cutters to make the food interesting (toast stars), using dinosaur toothpicks with supervision, allowing ketchup with everything and serving veg family style so he can choose what he wants and leave what he doesn’t. Also my 6 year old knows not to announce he’s full or finished cos then it just becomes a race to get away from the table.

none of it ideal. Would love to be able to serve a stir fry etc but it’s not on the cards at the minute!