My son is a picky eater, but he is only 20 months old... what do I do?

Question

I've read some of the other similar questions/answers... but they all seemed geared to older kids. I do talk with him and explain this is dinner... you're not getting anything else... but is he really old enough to send to bed without dinner? I know he'd be awake at night because he is hungry... then that just messes up the night training.

We have tried sitting at the table for 2 hours until he takes a bite, we've tried options, you can have this or this... but if one of the options isn't in his top ten, he won't eat it.

I've started chopping up veggies and putting them in the meatballs or sauce of whatever I'm making for dinner, but he really isn't learning anything then... and yes he is on a vitamin.

Advice for younger kids?

This is what he eats now:

yogurt, baby cereal, oranges, bananas, whole wheat waffles, meatballs, chicken nuggets, pizza, fruit snacks, cherrios, and he drinks lots of milk, no juice.

Answer 1

Hi I know what you mean. My son is 2 and all he likes to eat is chicken nuggets, fries,hot dog weenies, spaghetti, sausage,and banana's. He only likes to drink chocolate milk but he does like any kind of juice. I was concerned about his eating but I asked his pediatrician and she said it was normal and if that's what he liked she didn't see any problem with it. He wont touch any kind of vegetable. So i just let him eat what he likes and he is very healthy. Hes not over weight or under weight. I do buy him fat free milk tho. I think its better for him and us also. If i put water in his sippy cup he'll just throw it to the side but if i let him drink from a big boys cup he drink a little so that's my way with getting him to drink a little water.

I wouldn't send him to bed without dinner now to me i don't think that's healthy. Hes still growing maybe he will grow out of it. As long as my son is healthy and strong I let him eat what he feels is good for him. I wouldn't want someone telling me i couldn't have my fav. food. Ya know. They are kids I bet when we were kids we were the same way. But I hope it was some help to you.

Answer 2

If he doesn't eat what you put in front of him he's not hungry enough.

You're just going to have to deal with some grumpiness during the night if he refuses to eat his dinner.

Make it his choice to eat.  Don't force him to sit at the table until he eats.  That makes it a battle.  If he doesn't eat, get him down, but no snacks.

We've had to do this every so often with our two year old, since she was a year old.  He's not going to starve if he doesn't eat dinner.  He'll eat when he's hungry enough.

We don't play restaurant with our daughter.  She is given exactly what everyone else is eating.  No other choices.  If she chooses not to eat it, oh well, she doesn't get anything else until next meal.

Answer 3

i say let him eat what he likes. little by little mix in other foods with his favorites.

he shall get used to it and this might only be a stage.

:]

Answer 4

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Answer 5

I had the same problem with my son.  So I made it a game as to who would finish first.  Of course, I had to eat the same thing. Children learn from example.  If he sees you eat the same food, then he will want it too.  Make like it's the best thing you've ever eaten. And if he goes to bed without dinner, he won't starve. I'd also promise to take him to the park when (not if) he finished.  But he's at the age to introduce him to different and healthy foods.

Answer 6

Feed him what he likes to eat. His tastes will change as he ages. He likes enough different foods that you can feed him what he will eat and still have a healthy child.

Answer 7

there isnt anythign with what he eats now, all the stuff you listed that he eats is good for him, does he take vitamins? My 3 yr old and 1yr old both take the flinstone gummies(gummy vitamins designed for toddlers)this way you at least know he's getting vitamins he needs.  but milk has vitamin D and calcium to make his bones strong. chix and meatballs have protein, oranges, have vita C, bananas have potassium, and yogurt is a good one for it has a lot of cultures in it to keep him regular and biuld his immune system. So dont worry he eats pretty good plus the vitamin, he's fine!

Answer 8

If he doesn't want to eat what's in front of him, don't give him anything else.  It's his choice.

Answer 9

Oh goodness you're lecturing a 20 month old on why they're not getting anything to eat?  This is a BABY...and NO sending him to bed hungry isn't going hurt him, he WILL NOT STARVE.  Cut back on the milk...that's probably what is filling him up.  Too much milk isn't good because it does fill up the tummies and then they don't want to eat.  He should also be drinking juices and water.  Chicken nuggets?  You would feed your child garbage?  Do you KNOW what chicken nuggets are?  They are the left over c**p (gizzards, livers, waste biproducts) good grief...fruit snacks?  Yeah those are great so full of preservatives and extra sugars.   NO wonder this child doesn't eat properly you don't feed him properly.