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Mrs-Beans
LIF Adolescent
Member since 7/06 812 total posts
Name:
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Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
Over the past month he's been skipping lunch or dinner-no biggie. But now all he'll eat is Nutella and Ritz crackers, he's had about 40 crackers in the last 3 days.
Picky eater to begin with, but now it's down to crackers. He drinks water & milk, ped said it's a phase but he has to be starving! I don't get it, anyone else's toddler go thru this & get passed it?
tia
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Posted 2/21/13 1:17 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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NoStressMom
My Heart and Soul
Member since 5/05 11122 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
how much milk is he drinking? Maybe try to have a bunch of different snacks out for him to pick at. apple slices, cut up cheese, fruit or veggies, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pizza french fries
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| Posted 2/21/13 1:20 PM |
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MarisaK
HELLO Manolo !!
Member since 5/06 14562 total posts
Name:
Marisa
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
If he was starving he would eat. - So don't stress about that.
I am in a similar situation w/ the variety of food my kids will eat -
Can you try to switch it up like make him baked chix fingers w/ crushed ritz as the breading - or spread the nutella on a whole grain waffle ......
Maybe it's a texture thing? you could try other nut butters (assuming there's no allergy) Sometimes I give my kids cheese & applies or grapes w/ the crackers .....that kind of thing -
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| Posted 2/21/13 1:25 PM |
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Mariabella
LIF Adult
Member since 4/10 951 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
Yes unfortunatly we are at the point now where we rotate the 3 things he does eat pasta, pizza & chicken. They say it's a phase I hope so!
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| Posted 2/21/13 1:36 PM |
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ThreeforTea
Girls just want to have fun..
Member since 5/12 7482 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
Posted by Mariabella
Yes unfortunatly we are at the point now where we rotate the 3 things he does eat pasta, pizza & chicken. They say it's a phase I hope so!
yep same thing. she will eat only pastina, pizza or chicken. nothing else.
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| Posted 2/21/13 1:44 PM |
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Mrs-Beans
LIF Adolescent
Member since 7/06 812 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
He drinks 2 cups of milk a day, morning and at night. The rest of the day is water.
I've tried everything, the waffle with nutella was working until about a week ago & leaving healthy snacks around isn't doing anything. He also has a peanut allergy which makes his diet a little difficult on a good day. I feel like I'm wasting food all the time. He's stubborn too, will sit at the table for an hour and not eat, it's like he doesn't care! He has multiple melt downs a day & I know it's because he's hungry. I"ve taken away treats (cookies) TV, toys, nothing phases him. I feel like I spend my whole day trying to get him to eat.
I know it will pass, but right now I'm ready to bang my head against the wall!
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| Posted 2/21/13 1:49 PM |
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Mrs-Beans
LIF Adolescent
Member since 7/06 812 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
Posted by Mrs-Beans
He drinks 2 cups of milk a day, morning and at night. The rest of the day is water.
I've tried everything, the waffle with nutella was working until about a week ago & leaving healthy snacks around isn't doing anything. He also has a peanut allergy which makes his diet a little difficult on a good day. I feel like I'm wasting food all the time. He's stubborn too, will sit at the table for an hour and not eat, it's like he doesn't care! He has multiple melt downs a day & I know it's because he's hungry. I"ve taken away treats (cookies) TV, toys, nothing phases him. I feel like I spend my whole day trying to get him to eat.
I know it will pass, but right now I'm ready to bang my head against the wall!
There have even been times he has gagged and made himself vomit, it's bizarre.
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| Posted 2/21/13 1:52 PM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
My three year old doesn't eat much, and there are many meals he skips.his saving grace is that he's a grazer and he does like fruit. So throughout the day I offer him things I know he'll eat. And then as long as he takes a couple if bites at meal time, I'm pleased.
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| Posted 2/21/13 2:47 PM |
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
Posted by nferrandi
My three year old doesn't eat much, and there are many meals he skips.his saving grace is that he's a grazer and he does like fruit. So throughout the day I offer him things I know he'll eat. And then as long as he takes a couple if bites at meal time, I'm pleased.
Ditto. Breakfast he always eats no prob. lunch hes picky but he eventually has a cheese sandwich or nuggets and fries or something. he snacks thru out the day on crackers and fruit. By dinner he just has no interest in eating. if he does eat its usually waffles or cereal. even pizza that he used to love he doesnt want at dinner. Its becoming frustrating but my ped said if was starving he'd eat.
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| Posted 2/21/13 9:25 PM |
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Beck
LIF Adult
Member since 7/08 1334 total posts
Name:
still can't believe it's mommy
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
Maybe you can try juicing?
It's a pain in the butt & another mess to clean up but it may be worth a try.
You can juice carrots, celery, spinach, cucumber (not all together of course  )
& mix them with fruits (apples, strawberries, bananas) to make it sweet.
Good luck!
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| Posted 2/21/13 10:38 PM |
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Kissy331
My two miracles!
Member since 5/06 17826 total posts
Name:
Kristen
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
Yup my almost 3.5 year old is like that. I started giving him carnation instant breakfast in his am milk. Then ill offer him a waffle or cereal later in the am. He loves all fruit so if I can get that into him, I'm happy. Then usually for lunch I started giving him probiotic yogurt juice. He loves it & on data if he doesn't eat dinner. I give him this again. Dinner we rotate pizza, pasta, hot dogs & chix fries.
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| Posted 2/22/13 6:03 AM |
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NewLeaf2012
LIF Adult
Member since 1/11 2741 total posts
Name:
....
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
My 3 year old has been like this since he was 13 months old. He does have sensory issues so that adds a lot to it. He only ate Ritz crackers and milk for an entire week not so long ago. I have learned not to stress over it. And I did for almost 2 years. They pick up on it. As long as he is eating something and getting milk, my dr and therapists are happy. For your son, it is a phase. When my son hit 3 in October, he stopped eating 2 of his favorite foods. Pancakes and waffles. Therapists said it was a normal 3 year old phase...
My son ONLY eats blueberries, yogurt (new), french fries (certain ones), Ritz crackers (plain), and fudge stripe cookies (treat)... He get 2 cups of milk a day. I don't care if he eats crackers for lunch. I do make sure he has breakfast and dinner though. My son was never a huge lunch eater, so it is no loss for him.
He won't starve himself... Try Pediasure if he can have it. My son is allergic to soy so he can't have it.. Just leave out some snacks at lunch time. Don't give him a full meal. It may help him eat more at dinner. Good luck
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| Posted 2/22/13 6:18 AM |
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gni1125
LIF Infant
Member since 7/06 246 total posts
Name:
Irene
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
My DS1 seems to go in and out of phases but will eat a little more than that. He'll get stuck on nuggets, pizza, burgers...all junk. He'll refuse anything else and WILL go to bed hungry. So while I know he won't starve I don't like him being hungry and give him what works. I just try to sneak some nutritious snacks in like dried apricots, yogurt, and healthy cereal (dry). Good luck I know how frustrating it can be. Some days it's a full time job just trying to get them to eat.
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| Posted 2/22/13 8:26 AM |
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maybeamommy
Blessed beyond belief
Member since 10/07 17048 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
Does he have any underlying issues?
If not, what would happen if you just didn't offer him food you don't want him eating and only offered him food you did want him eating?
I know that seems silly and obvious, but we have gone through periods like that before where I say my son is snacking on too many crackers, cheddar bunnies or whatever... then I realize that HE can't go out to the store, buy them, open the package and eat them himself! It's ME that's providing it for him! If I don't buy those things and only offer him appropriate alternatives like full fat cheese, fresh fruits, smoothies, yogurt, etc he WILL eat those (may take a few days of being hungry!)
Sometimes we give in because we worry about them not eating and because it's easier, but if you stay strong (of course assuming there are no underlying issues) I do believe that our kids will come around.
My son has eaten every vegetable I've prepared for him (when I bribe him with some dessert!) - even brussel sprouts, asparagus, whatever! He eats anything we eat for dinner - chili, meat sauce, chicken, fish, etc. He is also 3 years old 
Also, the milk could be filling him up. Have you tried cutting out that milk at all?
Message edited 2/22/2013 12:22:21 PM.
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| Posted 2/22/13 12:21 PM |
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WantBabyNbr2
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/12 676 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
Posted by maybeamommy
If not, what would happen if you just didn't offer him food you don't want him eating and only offered him food you did want him eating?
This is my pediatrician's advice. He says offer them the meal you want them to eat. If they don't eat it, take it away. Next meal, offer them the same thing. If they don't eat it, take it away. Don't give them any snacks in between.
He promises that the child will not starve to death and will eat when he's hungry.
Thankfully my DS is a good eater, but our nephew is a horrible eater. We went on a cruise for a week and he barely ate anything at every meal. My BIL said "he has energy so he's fine". I couldn't bite my tongue and said "He doesn't eat b/c when he goes back to the room, he gets rewarded with oreos and apple juice. That's why he has energy and crashes - all sugar!"
Tough love is always hard (sleep training, etc.), but it always seems to work too.
Message edited 2/22/2013 12:37:08 PM.
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| Posted 2/22/13 12:36 PM |
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Mrs-Beans
LIF Adolescent
Member since 7/06 812 total posts
Name:
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Re: Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
Thanks for all the suggestions, glad to know that it should pass and it's just a phase. It's the miost frustrating thing ever!
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| Posted 2/22/13 12:42 PM |
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Any tips for 3 year old that won't eat?
No one says he needs to have breakfast food at breakfast and dinner food at dinner. If he eats a meal in the morning, try giving him "dinner" options that might be healthier. Even dipping chicken nuggets in syrup might work.
My aunt insisted my cousin ate a hot meal for breakfast - all he wanted was chicken noodle soup - so that's what he ate for breakfast. I'm pretty sure he outgrew that!
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| Posted 2/22/13 1:15 PM |
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