When Your Toddler Doesn't Want to Eat

How much your child eats may be very different from how much another child eats. Don't worry if it seems that your child doesn't eat enough at one meal. Children often make up for a small meal or a missed meal at the next mealtime.

If your child has plenty of energy and is growing, he or she is most likely healthy. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about how your child is growing or if you are concerned that picky eating is slowing your child's growth.

As long as your child is choosing nutritious foods, you can let him or her choose what to eat. Sometimes your child may want to eat a particular food again and again for a while, and then not want to eat it at all. Try to let your child explore new foods on his or her own. It won't help to demand that your child taste new foods. It may take him or her several times to try a new type of food.

You may need to prepare special servings of some foods to make sure your child gets a balanced diet. For example, if you're making beef stew for dinner and your child will only eat potatoes and carrots, you may need to cook some of these vegetables separate from the stew so that your child will eat them.

You may want to make a list of foods that your child will eat so you can make sure he or she eats a balanced diet. Many books and computer software programs are available in bookstores and libraries to help you figure out if your child is eating well.

You should also set a good example for your child. If he or she sees you eating a variety of healthy foods, he or she will be more likely to give them a try.

Offer your child food that is tasty and looks good, and offer the right amount. A good rule of thumb is to offer 1 tablespoon of each kind of food for each year of your child's age. If your child is still hungry, you can serve more. Don't force your child to clean his or her plate. Once he or she is no longer hungry, your child should be allowed to stop eating.

Try not to bribe your child to eat (such as offering dessert as a reward). Threats or punishments aren't good ideas, either. If your child doesn't want to eat, accept his or her refusal. Even though you may be concerned, don't show your child that you are upset by this refusal to eat. If your child is seeking attention, your disapproval fills that need, and he or she may try to gain your attention in the same way another time.

Try to balance your child's request for a snack with the family's need to enjoy a regular meal together. If the meal is several hours away, you can provide a snack. If the meal is in the next hour, do not offer a snack. If your child comes to the table hungry, he or she is more likely to eat the meal.

If your child doesn't eat at one mealtime, you can offer a nutritious snack, such as fresh fruit, vegetables or whole-grain crackers, a few hours later. If your child doesn't eat the snack, offer food again at the next mealtime. A child will usually eat at the second meal. With this approach, you can be sure that your child won't go hungry for too long or have other problems associated with a poor diet.

You may want to try the following suggestions to make mealtimes easier and more enjoyable:

If mealtimes are pleasant, your child may begin to look forward to eating with other family members. Try to avoid arguments during mealtime. Explain to your child how good it is to eat together and ask him or her to stay at the table until everyone has eaten. It may be helpful if family members always use the same seats at the table. Be sure you don't expect manners that are too difficult for your child. For example, don't expect a child who is 3 years old to eat with the proper utensil. For many children, a spoon is much easier to handle than a fork.