My daughter is 21 months MasAllah and she is losing weight because she has stopped eating foods other than her bottle of milk. She only drinks milk 4-5 times a day with cereal in it. I am trying to get her to eat veggies, eggs or even boiled chicken but she won’t touch anything. Is anyone else having an issues with their toddler? She was eating fine till past few weeks. What can I do to get her to eat her meals properly?
Re: Toddler eating issues
Not a parent so don't really have direct experience with your problem. Have you taken her to the doctor? It just seems strange that she would stop eating solid foods, maybe she is experiencing pain when swallowing solids, I would seek medical advice. Not sure where you are but there are milk based meal replacement drinks available for infants that containg the RDA of protein, carbs etc so if you are worried about the weight loss maybe give her some of those untill you can resolve the problem.
My only other idea would be to try and have fun with food together, maybe go on a picnic (weather permitting) cut sandwiches in fun shapes etc.
Re: Toddler eating issues
i have had many problems with my son.... he is almost 2 now but very low on the weight percentile.
It could be that your daughter is teething or as the previous poster said, she may be having some pain while swallowing.
My son goes back to only drinking milk when he is sick, if he is too tired or lack of sleep, he would only take milk and not eat his food at all no matter what I do.
Do see a doctor to be sure its not any other problem.
Re: Toddler eating issues
Is your child having cereal in the bottle? Is there a reason for that?
Cereal 4-5 times a day sounds like a lot! And I thought by that age toddlers are drinking less milk as well. I'm just wondering if she is filling up on stuff with the bottle because it's easier.
Also, perhaps try weaning her off the bottle and encourage a sippy cup, which may encourage interest in other foods as well.
Do you eat together? I've found my daughter is a much happier eater if we are eating with her. Also, perhaps give her spicier/more flavorful foods like your own.
Re: Toddler eating issues
I had a similar issue with my son when he had just turned two.
My solution was to water down some of his milk feeds. Twice a day (morning and evening) he would have proper cows milk. Any time he wanted extra milk apart from these times i would do half water/half milk. Still gave cereals with milk, and other milk based products. And MashaAllah he has started eating alot better now. It looks as though he was getting full up on milk so didn’t have room for any food :halo:
I also noticed if he fed himself he was willing to eat more then if I let him eat himself.
Re: Toddler eating issues
Two things come to mind
either he is getting his tummy full by drinking milk or
he is teething.
Another friend is going through the same thing with her toddler and she is definetly teething and actually vocalizes that it hurts for her to chew.
Re: Toddler eating issues
Thanks everyone! I think it maybe teething.. she is so engaged in playing and being social now that she doesn't like sitting down and eating a proper meal. She is curious so she will come and see the food we are eating take one small bite and go start playing again. i am slowly trying to reintroduce banana and other fruits in to her diet and hopefully she'll start eating again.
Re: Toddler eating issues
my 14 months old daughter had this issue almost a month back reasons were that she was teething and was having urine infection. Other than that I have noticed that as she is growing it is becoming difficult to feed her. First she used to love eating egg now she does not eat it at all. What we do is that we make her busy in some play activity and then feed her this way she is playing also and eating also without realising that she needs to fuss about it. I think you will have to divert her mind somewhere and then make her eat. I know another similar case too where the girl (exactly my daughter's age) stops eating as soon as she even hears a sound. Her mind diverts to that and she stops eating.
Plus , don't add cereal to her milk I think this fills up her tummy and she does not feel hungry for long. Give her cereal separately.