Child

My 3year old  she dosent want to eat regular food she just wants her battel to drink what can i do to get her back to eating she had olmost like 1 month like that please help with this problem thank you


This discussion is related to Three year old behavioral problems � does he need therapy?.

[beachbunn1986]

im going through this myself with my 3 yr old hes been doing this snce he was a little over 1  .    i gave him pediasure in his sippy cup he didnt like the taste so i sdded alittle french vanilla creamer    he drank it so even though he didnt eat i know he was getting nutrients he needed      now hes just down right picky  last night/early am i  took him to the store and let him pick out what he wanted to eat  i ws shocked  he got fruit chicken and carrots and ate all of it   this was his first meal in 3wks  i hope for your sake and mine this is a phase but i would def check into pediasure it helped me tons      good luck:)

[oinotlim]

It's sad to say that there are few good and real therapist out there that can help your child. You can find a sensory integration trained Occupational Therapist that knows about feeding therapy/ technic. Child needs a lot of nutrition coming from foods and milk/ even formula only gives not much of it. the more you delay feeding the more she will get use to it plus he brain needs food.

[benjimom]

The lady who babysits my son on the weekend has a chidl with a feeding disorder. She has had her in therapy, she will only eat select foods, mainly carbohydrates. likes goldfish crackers a lot.  She gives her Pediasure (like Ensure for kids) and vitamins, etc.  You might want to check into this and research this, ask your pediatrician too.

[Deiby]

I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING, EVEN THE PEDIASURE.  SHE WILL NOT EAT ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING NOT EVEN WATER.  I TOOK HER TO THE PEDIATRICIAN SO MANY TIMES THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE.  SHE ONLY EATS WHEN SHE'S SLEEPING I FEED HER ON HER BOTLLE.  I GIVE HER OATMEAL AND PEDIASURE EVERY 3 HOURS.  I FEEL AS I HAVE A NEWBORN AGAIN, BUT THAT'S THE ONLY WAY SHE EATS.  MY PEDIATRICIAN RECOMENDED ME TO GO TO THE GASTROENTOROLOGIST, SO I TOOK HER YESTERDAY AND HE EXAMIN HER.  HE TOLD ME HE CAN'S GIVE ME AN ANSWER BUT THERE MIGHT BE 2 POSSIBLE DIAGNOSIS.  1- SHE CAN HAVE SOME SORT OF ESOPHAGUL INFLAMATION (inflammation) AND THE 2ND 1 THAT IT MIGHT BE PSCHYCOLOGIAL.  HE SUGGESTED FOR ME TO LET HIM DO AN ENDOSCOPY ON HER TO CHECK HER ESOPHAGUS AND STOMACH BUT MY HUSBAND REFUSES TO LET HER HAVBE THAT DONE.  I AM ABSOLUTELY DESPERATE AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.  I AM TAKING HER TO A THERAPIST AND I HAVE DONE EVEYTHING POSSIBLE I CAN BUT I DON'T JKNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE.  I DON'T SLEEP WELL BECAUSE I WAKE UP EVERY 3HRS I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH OF AN APPETITE AND I HAVE TERRIBLE HEADACHES, AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF I AM 5 MONTHS PREGNANT I'M STILL WORKING AND MY ASTHMA HAS BEEN ACTING UP TERRIBLY.  I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA GO CRAZY ANY MINUTE I AM VERY MUCH LACKING REST AND I CAN'T REST BECAUSE I AM CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT MY DAUGHTER.  I CAN'T STOP CRYING AND I PRAY A LOT I ASK GOD TO HELP ME AND HELP HER WITH THIS ISSUE.  I AM REALLY AGAINST THE WALL I FEEL EXTREMELY USELESS AND DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

[beachbunn1986]

i didnt know it was that bad im so sorry your having to go through this.      i know your husband didnt want the endoscopy done but this may whats making her not eat and im sure he would feel horrible if it got so bad that your baby girl has to be hooked up to feeding tubes.     i completly understand not wanting surgery done on a child but you have to think of her future.   i really hope you get some answers   you and your daughter are in my prayers  . keep me posted    :)

[margypops]

I know this is wporrying and I dont mean to make the issue sound trivial but I wondered what would happen if you just remove the bottles altogether, get her a pretty nice cup to use, give her some of the tasty finger foods out there and leave her to eat, kind of back off, if she yells for the bottle just ignore it,I think you will find that she will eat if she isnt getting attention for not eating. Sometime a lot of attention about something feeds on itself. good luck

[Deiby]

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR ADVICE.  YES I HAVE TAKEN OUT HER BOTTLE AND HAVE TRIED TO GIVE HER IN HER SIPPY CUP SMOTHIES,YOGURTS ETC.. I HAVE LEFT HER FOOD ON THE TABLE AND I HAVE LEFT HER ALONE BY NOT TELLING HER TO EAT, SHE DOESNT EVEN LOOK AT IT.  IF SHE DOES SHE TAKES HER PALTE BACK TO THE KITCHEN AND SHE TELLS ME SHE DOESN'T WANT IT.  SHE DOESN'T EVE ASK FOR HER BOTTLE, THAT'S WHAT GETS ME BECAUSE SHE IS SUCH A GOOD EATER.  SHE WOULD EAT EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING YOU GIVE HER.  SHE LOVES TO EAT HER VEGGIES,FRUITS, RICE,BEANS, BROCCOLI ETC.......  I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.   I HAVE ABSOLUTELY IGNORE HER WHEN SHE ASKS ME FOR HER BOBO BUT EVEN THOUGH I DON'T GIVE IT TO HER, SHE STILL DOESN'T EAT.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO.  I CAN ONLY PRAY AND ASK GOD TO HELP MY BABY.

[margypops]

Have you another smaller child maybe a baby ?

[Deiby]

NO THIS IS MY ONLY DAUGHTER BUT AT THE MOMENT I;M 5 MTHS PREGNANT.

[margypops]

well congratulations , I asked you that as I have seen children emulating there new baby sibling, to get the same attention the baby gets , you say in your first post that she has been doing it for one month, could she have heard a lot of talk about the new baby coming, and has decided to be like baby ? What was her reaction when you told her about the new baby ?

[Deiby]

WE HAVE TALKED TO HER A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER HAVING A NEW SIBBLING AROUND BUT I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY WEIRD REACTION OR CHANGE.  SHE HAS BEEN GOOD SHE RUBS MY BELLY AND SHE ASKS ME IF MY "TUMMY IS FULL" BUT I TRY NOT TO AGRAVETE HER TOO MUCH WITH NEWS ABOUT THE NEW BABY AND SHES BEEN PRETTY GOOD.  I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO, SHE STILL NO TEATING SHE'S ONLY DRINKING HER BOTTLE AND PEDIASURE THAT'S IT.  MY HUSBAND STILL REFUSES TO SIGN FOR HER TO GET THE ENDOSCOPE SO AT THIS POINT MY HANDS ARE TIED AND I DON'T KNOW  WHAT ELSE I CAN DO.

[benjimom]

Do you need both parents to sign for the endoscopy?  I have had medical procedures for my son and only one parent signed.  Why does he refuse to sign?

[Deiby]

I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW IF YOU NEED BOTH SIGNATURES, BUT MY HUSBAND PUT SO MUCH NEGATIVITY INTO IT THAT I PANIC A LITLLE AND AT THE LAST MOMENT DIDN'T DO IT.  FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS MY DAUGHTER STARTED TO ASK FOR HER BOTTLE ON HER OWN, WHICH I THOUGHT IT WAS A BIG THING.  NOW I CAN GIVE HER THE BOTTLE DURING THE DAY AND SHE DOESN'T FUSS OR START TO CRY.  SHE STILL DOESN'T WANT TO EAT FOOD BUT AT LEAST SHE IS TAKING A STEP IN ASKING FOR THE BOTTLE BY HERSELF.  IDON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO, A FRIEND TOLD ME (SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANY KIDS) THAT IS MY FAULT THAT SHE IS NOT EATING BECAUSE I LET IT GO ON TO FAR, BUT LIKE I TOLD HER, I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE AND IMPOSSIBLE TO TRY TO FEED HER, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS FORCE THE FOOD ON HER THROAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WILL CAUSE HER TO THROW UP, SHE WILL BE CRYING AND SHE WILL GET EVEN MORE AGGITATED AND I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN.  I HAVE TRIED TO FEED HER NICELY AND I LET HER PICK OUT THE FOOD BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED.  AT THIS POINT I NEED A MIRACLE BECAUSE MY HUSBAND SAYS THAT AN ENDOSCOPY IS TOO HARSH OF A PROCEDURE FOR THE BABY TO HAVE HE SAYS THAT DR'S MESS UP ALL THE TIME AND THAT HE'S KNOWN PEOPLE WHO HAD ENDOSCOPYS END UP LIKE A VEGETABLE AND HE THINKS IT'S NOT NECESSARY BECASUE HE HAS SPOKEN TO MANY DR'S AND THEY HAVE TOLD HIM THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR KIDS TO GO THRU THIS NO EATING STAGE.  BUT AT THIS POINT I ASK HOW LONG IS "NORMAL"  BECAUSE TO ME THIS HAS GONE BEYOND NORMAL, I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD GO ON ANY LONGER WITHOUT EATING.

[Deiby]

MY DAUGHTER STILL DOESN'T WANT TO WEAT.  SHE ONLY HAS HER OATMEAL  AND SHE DOES NOT EAT ANYTHING ELSE.  SHE DRINKS WATER BUT FOOD SHE DOES NOT.   WE SIT AT THE TABLE FOR DINNER AND SHE JUSST CHEWS UP THE FOOD AND SPITS IT RIGHT OUT.  I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING, WE HAVE STOPPED GIVING HER HER BOTTLE AND SHE WENT THRU THE WHOLE DAY WITHOUT HAVING A BITE.  I HAVE GIVING HER PEDIASURE ALSO TO SEE IF WE CAN GET HER APPETITE GOING AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET HER TO EAT.  I HAVE TAKEN HER TO THE DR SO MANY TIMES HE EVEN TOLD ME SHE'S PROBABLY JUST A PICKY EATER BUT NO SHE DOESNT EVEN WANT TO PICK OUT WHAT SHE WANTS TO EAT.  IT HAS BEEN 7 MONTHS AND SHE HAS NOT ACTUALLY SWOLLED ANY KIND OF FOOD, ONLY HER OATMEAL IN HER BOTTLE AND HER WATER.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO I'M GOING CRAZY WHAT ELSE CAN I DO.  SHE HAS NOT GAINED OR LOST ANY WEIGHT, SHE IS IN GOOD SHAPE BECAUSE WE DID BLOOD WORK ON HER SHE IS NOT ANEMIC OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.  CAN SOMEONE PLS HELP ME, WHERE CAN I TAKE HER OR WHO CAN I SEEK FOR THIS PROBLEM.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

[margypops]

If she hadn't eaten much and the amount you describe in 7 months she would be very very sick in my opinion, it tells me she must be eating enough Perhaps go back to the Doctor .

[skepticalpeach]

I would first just calm down about everything and relax. Can your husband take your daughter for the night and give you some time off? As women we tend to worry a lot. It's hard to get anything done when you are freaking out though. When I was little I hardly ate anything. I ate one meal day. My own daughter goes through periods where she won't eat much or she will only eat one type of food. The school loves to panic over her when she does this. I don't worry much because my mom says that kids won't starve themselves, they'll eat eventually.

Kids can tell when we are freaking out. They don't like it when they are given a lot of pressure. When we relax they will too. I totally understand wanting our children to do exactly what they are supposed to, but more often than not that's not what happens.

[teddybears4ever2]

I also only ate one meal a day when I was kid as well.  I am Diva's sister, and our mom does say that children will not starve themselves.  At 26 1/2 I still go through phases where I don't like to eat as much.  

[leela0399]

I like benjimums idea. Try taking her to the store so she can pick out the food to eat. Ask her to pick a few meals out. Hope I help!

[mikkee67]

I hope by this time  that you read this article ,yojr daughters appetite has an improvement and hoping that your second one is big now.If not,try to give her a vitamins to give her an appetite to eat.let her run outdoors to boost her energy and then she will hungry.my daughter was exactly like her amd we applied this to her and it works!