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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
battle to get 6 year old boy to eat
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
battle to get 6 year old boy to eat
by skippintime, Nov 06, 2002 12:00AM
Hi! We have always had problems getting our child to eat, but the doctor has always said as long as eats peanut butter he is getting his nutrition. He started school this year, and he refuses to eat the hot lunch, yet his cold lunch bag is still full. I am lucky if he has ate the goldfish crakers out of it. He refuses sandwiches etc. My son just got over pneumonia, where he was running 105 fevers, he is still coughing etc, but finished his antibioitic course on Monday. He weighed about 49lbs before he got sick now he weighs 47. I have to fight him for about 1-2 hours at the kitchen table to get him to put anything in his mouth. I have started to write down everything I know he eats, but I am really worried. He refuses any meat except chicken nuggets, and he is really particular about those as well, will only eat them from Wendy's or Burger King all the others have some sort of problem. If you touch his plate he won't eat, etc. I give him a banana and if I cut the ends off he won't eat it. I am so frustrated as I am worried about his health.
I have noticed at night normally a hour or so after he falls asleep that his temperature drops to 95 - 96 range and he is sweating like crazy, I don't know if I should uncover him or what. He has sweated at night for a long time, but I never took his temperature because he wasn't ill. Is this normal? Is there something wrong with my son? I can't find what is normal for our bodies to do anywhere so I don't know.
Thanks! I look forward to your reply
I have noticed at night normally a hour or so after he falls asleep that his temperature drops to 95 - 96 range and he is sweating like crazy, I don't know if I should uncover him or what. He has sweated at night for a long time, but I never took his temperature because he wasn't ill. Is this normal? Is there something wrong with my son? I can't find what is normal for our bodies to do anywhere so I don't know.
Thanks! I look forward to your reply
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Nov 06, 2002 12:00AM
, Nov 06, 2002 12:00AM
Your son is just above the 50% for weight for his age, so there really is nothing to worry about from that perspective. The real key is the course of his development over time, and I'm assuming the pediatrician is tracking this. Picky eaters cause parents concern, because of course you're going to worry about his health. But actually they tend to do just fine, so I appreciate the guidance that you have been given. It is normal for the body temperature to drop during the night, as metabolism changes. The perspiring may be related to his current illness - do you think so? It's not necessarily any cause for alarm, but it's worth speaking with your doctor.
The first thing I would do is to take him to his doctor to rule out illness, either still having the pneumonia or something else.
If he's fine physically, what worked for my cousin might work for him...in short, "when he gets hungry enough, he will eat". I would also stop deferring to him on HOW the foods he WILL eat are served. There's bound to be certain foods he genuinely dislikes, we all have them, but aside from that, be persistent. Show him it's the same banana, and it tastes the same, ends or no ends.
Thank you for your response.