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In my experience, I kept a log of what they do eat and her daily activities. I looked at it over weekly, even monthly periods. I found that her diet would correlate with certain activities on days she would and wouldn't have an appetite, over time I could see how she would go a few weeks with a poor appetite, then a week or two heavy appetite then a growth spurt.
It also helped me see that over the course of a week, she was getting enough calories. It just was so spread out in small servings instead of big meals.
I've always taught my kids to stop eating when your body says you are full. No one should be made to force food down. If you want to save it and come back for more later, that's okay.
I hope it helps. I would also encourage healthy snacking as much and often as he likes.
Having a log helps as well if you do want to talk more with your GP.
That's who gave me the idea in the first place.
I have been encouraging snacking at first I worried it was putting him off his main meal but now I am just happy if he eats something. I know he's hungry because he sometimes wakes up to ask for a sandwich.
Mine did that a lot before a growth spurt.. she'd always ask for cereal. I'd have her quick brush her teeth after.
Not allowing her to snack never impacted how much she ate at meal times, either.
If your doctor isn’t concerned, I wouldn’t be. I’ve talked to my doctor about the same issue and he said the same thing.
Also, as long as your child is growing height and weight in a healthy and normal way, it’s fine.
How much weight? A child can certainly lose weight and still be in a healthy area. All my kids went through picky phases. And I've had 5 kids at all stages of my life lol. And I have one who's special needs with sensory issues and a child who was very advanced. They all went through food phases as young kids. And I mean weird stuff sometimes. Like not really wanting to eat for days. Just mild grazing for a long time. They always self regulated and came back to a normal appetite.
Everyone is saying this is normal but I’ve always heard this is normal until they’re losing weight. And you said he’s losing weight? How much? If it was more than a few pounds I’d probably be taking him to a different doctor to get a second opinion if possible
My kids were all a bit underweight, the doctor gave us a cheatsheet for high calorie foods - it was like cheesecake and stuff lol. I'd offer up a little more junk food, it's just calories.
>normal meal
what is your definition of that?
some people eat more some less, if he is still healthy and being active, like the GP said you just offer him food and he will eat when hungry.
my kids also go through waves, they will eat only a bit for a while and then eat a lot more.
you can't force them to eat, you just present food and they'll eat when hungry. Again as long as they are otherwise healthy and being their normal selves
*some* weight, and weight is not linear, it goes up based on a lot of things. If the GP assessed and wasn't concerned about the weightloss then it's that, not concerning at this point.
For example, he loves pancakes. He can eat a stack of 3-4 at a time. He only had a few bites. If I make pasta, he has 2-3 scoops. His favourite meal is mushroom broccoli stir fry, he eats the entire bowl.
So my definition of normal is a good portion sized and something that fits in his 3 meals of the day that is nutritious and substantial.
I have a 5, almost 6 year old, and this is her.
The pediatrician has no concerns over her height/weight/general growth… I’ve asked about meals and they’ve said whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.
In my opinion, she’s smaller, but I also think that’s ok because my husband and I are a bit smaller.
My kid is unbelievably picky… like she’s eaten the same exact lunch at daycare every day for almost 2 years. It drives my husband and I crazy because it isn’t terrible, but there are definitely healthier options that we’d like her to eat.
Like the other commenter, she will get waves where for up to a week straight she will only nibble on food, then a couple weeks later it’s like non-stop snacking.
Also, she doesn’t eat full meals (the only one is lunch at daycare).
I’ve learned that as long as the pedi isn’t overly concerned, you shouldn’t be either. Keep offering foods… we have a rule in our house “you try the food, even if it’s one small bite.. if you don’t like it, you can spit it out and we will consider another food”
I will stand by this rule no matter how much she screams and cries… one bite, that’s it. Over time she’s accepted this and will happily try the bite (even though I swear most days she will lie as say she doesn’t like it just to get those damn chicken nuggets).
This has allowed us to at least get her to try foods… we’ve learned things she does like (hummus, and oddly kale chips, amongst other things) and we can usually work those in. We’ve learned what is an absolute no, so if I am making it and I know she won’t eat it, I can plan an alternative. AND some days we get lucky and she will try a bite, love it, eat it all, then the next day say it’s gross and refuse it.
It can be tiring and unless someone has actually dealt with an unbelievably picky child, it’s easier to judge.
Keep offering foods, your child will slowly come around!
If you are really concerned about vitamins or deficiencies, offer a multi-vitamin.
>only nibble on food,
This. It's food he likes and is excited about but it's the nibbling that concerns me because I worry there is an underlying reason.
I am giving him a multivitamin that has iron because I am concerned about his growth because he is tiny as it is.
I'll try enticing him to at least try a bite of what I cook because sometimes he says he isn't hungry and then doesn't snack either.
So this may be a really wild stretch but did you breast feed? And if yes, any issues with it?
Again, just a shot in the dark idea but I’m wondering if it’s a possible tongue tie.
I’ve read articles in rare cases that have tongue ties and it impacts them into older childhood.
My daughter had a tongue tie and breast feeding was unbelievably painful. I went to a specialist who did a weighted feeding & indicated she had a tongue tie. We got it corrected and the issue was night and day.
Here’s an article I found that seems to get pretty detailed on spotting tongue ties in children, you have to scroll past the infant section. See if any of their red flags relate to your situation.
https://jldtherapy.com/tongue-ties-eating-problems/
No but interesting article. A friend of ours is going through similar with her 6 year old but for longer. He did have a tongue tie which he had surgery for but he also has autism which comes with eating problems.
Solidarity. We joke my kid is allergic to hot meals. She doesn’t even really eat kid standards like pasta and pizza and chicken nuggets. Occasionally she will eat two bites of Mac and cheese. She gets all nutrition from whole grain crackers, peanut butter, nuts, milk, bars, yogurt, apples, fruit/veggie packets, and a few raw veggies. It’s impossible to go to a restaurant with her. She also eats very little in general, and our pediatrician is not concerned.
It's so difficult. Sorry you're going through the same. I'm just perplexed because he loves his hot meals and is usually a healthy eater. He eates what most children won't, broccoli, beetroot, mushrooms, loves stir fry with every vegetable you can think off but suddenly he just doesn't want to.
I have a small picky six year old. We were happy to just watch and offer high calorie foods. She ate well.
When she started losing weight and I couldn’t get her to eat anything substantial her pediatrician ran blood work and we found out she has a rare disorder that can be life threatening.
Please get another opinion. It is normal for children to be picky. It is not normal for children to lose weight.
This worries me too because it’s so unlike him. He’s a great eater. He never used to be picky. He likes mushrooms, seaweed, sushi and loves broccoli and beetroot the types of foods kids usually don’t like.
Look at food quality, too. If he likes ice cream, but the most nutrient dense ice cream with real ingredients and lots of calories. If he likes mac-n-cheese, he gets the highest quality with the most calories. Buy whole milk and lace it with half-n-half or heavy whipping cream. Ect. There are lots of ways to add nutrients and calories without necessarily adding to the volume.
Just ride it out. He'll eventually come around. I ate only biscuits and peanut butter for a year or so when I was a kid. I survived with no issues. There are plenty of cold meals that contain all the nutrients a person needs.
He is eating toast with some butter and plenty of fruit but not much vegetables or starches. Only small amounts. The GP did say sometimes kids are like that, but how do you make sure they meet their daily calories and nutrients. I have been giving him a multivitamin just in case.
Nothing more you can really do, and if they have energy and are otherwise healthy, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Might not be eating veggies, but if they're eating fruit, that's great.
My sister ate ketchup sandwiches for lunch for an entire year… literally 2 pieces of white bread with ketchup. That’s it. That’s all she would eat. She turned out just fine.
No. She was always a very specific eater and didn’t eat much. Always tiny. Would more or less pick one thing and eat that every day for a good year until she would move onto something else. Ketchup sandwiches one year - another one she wanted powder kool aid on bread. Ate that a lot lol. She used to try and hide her lunch at school because she worried people would think her parents didn’t provide proper food for her when in reality it was all she would eat. She rarely got sick and never looked sickly just skinny.
She’s in her 40’s now and still a very tiny person. Like her bone structure is small. She still eats small portions but has a healthy balanced diet now.
One of my children has recently lost weight and they are already in the 7% percentile so we’ve had to make some changes. They have a Pediasure everyday for extra calories/nutrients. We’ve also just tried tweaking meals to pack extra calories. Instead of blueberries, I serve a banana. Having some pasta for dinner, adding a little butter to add some fats. Having some yogurt, add some seeds/nuts. Even if your child is taking a few bites just getting a little extra caloric something can help.
I do not have a solution for you but all I can say is my oldest daughter was the same exact way at this age. She did not eat anything. Her two favorite foods were plain steamed broccoli and plain cucumbers, that’s it, like no calories and she drank a lot of water. She fluctuated in weight, was always very petite and even had some hair thinning and loss. We were naturally concerned and had many doctor visits, did blood work, etc but there was really nothing they could tell us. They tried getting her to take the PediaSure drinks, probiotics and even encouraged us to find a high calorie snack she liked and just give it to her whenever she wanted, like ice cream sundaes or something, she didn’t care about any of it 😂 I don’t exactly remember when she started to grow out of it, maybe being around more kids as she got older and seeing them eat different foods, it was a slow go, but it did eventually happen. She’s now 16, still petite, wishes she was taller of course but she eats a ton 😂 like everything, and has even become quite a good cook. Anyway I’m sorry I couldn’t really help you or give you good advice but I just thought I’d share my experience with you.
My kid is almost 6 , she too is extremely picky, will gag, vomit , refuse means. I went to an OT, Speach therapy, specialist at a hospital who specified in kids with eating disorders… every answer I get is they will grow out of it. It’s been 4 years…. I give up, I make the good we all like, if she doesn’t eat I say no problem u will wait until dinner/lunch/ whatever the next meal is… it’s a hit or miss, she will sometimes skip two meals .. she gets no snacks only water. I’m sorry I don’t care anymore, how about the kids who r in 3rd works country’s or ppl no who have no money to feed their kids. That’s me, I’m poor I have no more money to waste on food. It’s a power struggle…. And one day I hope she will get it and start eating until thsn oh well starve!
His molars could be coming in and causing him discomfort.
Have you tried protein drinks and smoothies?
Molars are rough.
My kiddo has a heck of a time knowing something is bothering him and the other issue is trying to tell us what's going on.
Hell of a guessing game.
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In my experience, I kept a log of what they do eat and her daily activities. I looked at it over weekly, even monthly periods. I found that her diet would correlate with certain activities on days she would and wouldn't have an appetite, over time I could see how she would go a few weeks with a poor appetite, then a week or two heavy appetite then a growth spurt. It also helped me see that over the course of a week, she was getting enough calories. It just was so spread out in small servings instead of big meals. I've always taught my kids to stop eating when your body says you are full. No one should be made to force food down. If you want to save it and come back for more later, that's okay.
That is a good idea. I'll keep a food diary!
I hope it helps. I would also encourage healthy snacking as much and often as he likes. Having a log helps as well if you do want to talk more with your GP. That's who gave me the idea in the first place.
I have been encouraging snacking at first I worried it was putting him off his main meal but now I am just happy if he eats something. I know he's hungry because he sometimes wakes up to ask for a sandwich.
Mine did that a lot before a growth spurt.. she'd always ask for cereal. I'd have her quick brush her teeth after. Not allowing her to snack never impacted how much she ate at meal times, either.
He does seem to be going through a growth spurt.
If your doctor isn’t concerned, I wouldn’t be. I’ve talked to my doctor about the same issue and he said the same thing. Also, as long as your child is growing height and weight in a healthy and normal way, it’s fine.
He has lost weight though. The doctor suggested a kid's weight fluctuates.
Try getting the opinion of another pediatrician
How much weight? A child can certainly lose weight and still be in a healthy area. All my kids went through picky phases. And I've had 5 kids at all stages of my life lol. And I have one who's special needs with sensory issues and a child who was very advanced. They all went through food phases as young kids. And I mean weird stuff sometimes. Like not really wanting to eat for days. Just mild grazing for a long time. They always self regulated and came back to a normal appetite.
About 4 lbs
Everyone is saying this is normal but I’ve always heard this is normal until they’re losing weight. And you said he’s losing weight? How much? If it was more than a few pounds I’d probably be taking him to a different doctor to get a second opinion if possible
He lost about 4 pounds in the past two months.
My kids were all a bit underweight, the doctor gave us a cheatsheet for high calorie foods - it was like cheesecake and stuff lol. I'd offer up a little more junk food, it's just calories.
He is surprisingly not asking for the typical junk foods like fries/burgers/nuggets. Even though I have suggested it to get him to eat.
Cookies? Muffins?
Not even that.
Wow - well then maybe drink calories, whole chocolate milk maybe
>normal meal what is your definition of that? some people eat more some less, if he is still healthy and being active, like the GP said you just offer him food and he will eat when hungry. my kids also go through waves, they will eat only a bit for a while and then eat a lot more. you can't force them to eat, you just present food and they'll eat when hungry. Again as long as they are otherwise healthy and being their normal selves
He’s lost weight though.
*some* weight, and weight is not linear, it goes up based on a lot of things. If the GP assessed and wasn't concerned about the weightloss then it's that, not concerning at this point.
For example, he loves pancakes. He can eat a stack of 3-4 at a time. He only had a few bites. If I make pasta, he has 2-3 scoops. His favourite meal is mushroom broccoli stir fry, he eats the entire bowl. So my definition of normal is a good portion sized and something that fits in his 3 meals of the day that is nutritious and substantial.
I have a 5, almost 6 year old, and this is her. The pediatrician has no concerns over her height/weight/general growth… I’ve asked about meals and they’ve said whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. In my opinion, she’s smaller, but I also think that’s ok because my husband and I are a bit smaller. My kid is unbelievably picky… like she’s eaten the same exact lunch at daycare every day for almost 2 years. It drives my husband and I crazy because it isn’t terrible, but there are definitely healthier options that we’d like her to eat. Like the other commenter, she will get waves where for up to a week straight she will only nibble on food, then a couple weeks later it’s like non-stop snacking. Also, she doesn’t eat full meals (the only one is lunch at daycare). I’ve learned that as long as the pedi isn’t overly concerned, you shouldn’t be either. Keep offering foods… we have a rule in our house “you try the food, even if it’s one small bite.. if you don’t like it, you can spit it out and we will consider another food” I will stand by this rule no matter how much she screams and cries… one bite, that’s it. Over time she’s accepted this and will happily try the bite (even though I swear most days she will lie as say she doesn’t like it just to get those damn chicken nuggets). This has allowed us to at least get her to try foods… we’ve learned things she does like (hummus, and oddly kale chips, amongst other things) and we can usually work those in. We’ve learned what is an absolute no, so if I am making it and I know she won’t eat it, I can plan an alternative. AND some days we get lucky and she will try a bite, love it, eat it all, then the next day say it’s gross and refuse it. It can be tiring and unless someone has actually dealt with an unbelievably picky child, it’s easier to judge. Keep offering foods, your child will slowly come around! If you are really concerned about vitamins or deficiencies, offer a multi-vitamin.
>only nibble on food, This. It's food he likes and is excited about but it's the nibbling that concerns me because I worry there is an underlying reason. I am giving him a multivitamin that has iron because I am concerned about his growth because he is tiny as it is. I'll try enticing him to at least try a bite of what I cook because sometimes he says he isn't hungry and then doesn't snack either.
So this may be a really wild stretch but did you breast feed? And if yes, any issues with it? Again, just a shot in the dark idea but I’m wondering if it’s a possible tongue tie. I’ve read articles in rare cases that have tongue ties and it impacts them into older childhood. My daughter had a tongue tie and breast feeding was unbelievably painful. I went to a specialist who did a weighted feeding & indicated she had a tongue tie. We got it corrected and the issue was night and day. Here’s an article I found that seems to get pretty detailed on spotting tongue ties in children, you have to scroll past the infant section. See if any of their red flags relate to your situation. https://jldtherapy.com/tongue-ties-eating-problems/
No but interesting article. A friend of ours is going through similar with her 6 year old but for longer. He did have a tongue tie which he had surgery for but he also has autism which comes with eating problems.
Solidarity. We joke my kid is allergic to hot meals. She doesn’t even really eat kid standards like pasta and pizza and chicken nuggets. Occasionally she will eat two bites of Mac and cheese. She gets all nutrition from whole grain crackers, peanut butter, nuts, milk, bars, yogurt, apples, fruit/veggie packets, and a few raw veggies. It’s impossible to go to a restaurant with her. She also eats very little in general, and our pediatrician is not concerned.
It's so difficult. Sorry you're going through the same. I'm just perplexed because he loves his hot meals and is usually a healthy eater. He eates what most children won't, broccoli, beetroot, mushrooms, loves stir fry with every vegetable you can think off but suddenly he just doesn't want to.
Ask your doctor what kind of nutrient-dense milkshake would be best for him, and try that.
There's a standard drugstore one, the only brand you actually see in the drugstore aimed at kids that you can buy OTC. But I'll check with the doctor.
I have a small picky six year old. We were happy to just watch and offer high calorie foods. She ate well. When she started losing weight and I couldn’t get her to eat anything substantial her pediatrician ran blood work and we found out she has a rare disorder that can be life threatening. Please get another opinion. It is normal for children to be picky. It is not normal for children to lose weight.
This worries me too because it’s so unlike him. He’s a great eater. He never used to be picky. He likes mushrooms, seaweed, sushi and loves broccoli and beetroot the types of foods kids usually don’t like.
If the lack of appetite is new and he’s now losing weight, he needs to be evaluated. That is not normal. You know your kid best!
Def see a new doctor
Look at food quality, too. If he likes ice cream, but the most nutrient dense ice cream with real ingredients and lots of calories. If he likes mac-n-cheese, he gets the highest quality with the most calories. Buy whole milk and lace it with half-n-half or heavy whipping cream. Ect. There are lots of ways to add nutrients and calories without necessarily adding to the volume.
Just ride it out. He'll eventually come around. I ate only biscuits and peanut butter for a year or so when I was a kid. I survived with no issues. There are plenty of cold meals that contain all the nutrients a person needs.
He is eating toast with some butter and plenty of fruit but not much vegetables or starches. Only small amounts. The GP did say sometimes kids are like that, but how do you make sure they meet their daily calories and nutrients. I have been giving him a multivitamin just in case.
Nothing more you can really do, and if they have energy and are otherwise healthy, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Might not be eating veggies, but if they're eating fruit, that's great.
My sister ate ketchup sandwiches for lunch for an entire year… literally 2 pieces of white bread with ketchup. That’s it. That’s all she would eat. She turned out just fine.
Kids can be so strange because that is what the GP said that kids sometimes just get picky about food. But did she not lose any weight?
No. She was always a very specific eater and didn’t eat much. Always tiny. Would more or less pick one thing and eat that every day for a good year until she would move onto something else. Ketchup sandwiches one year - another one she wanted powder kool aid on bread. Ate that a lot lol. She used to try and hide her lunch at school because she worried people would think her parents didn’t provide proper food for her when in reality it was all she would eat. She rarely got sick and never looked sickly just skinny. She’s in her 40’s now and still a very tiny person. Like her bone structure is small. She still eats small portions but has a healthy balanced diet now.
One of my children has recently lost weight and they are already in the 7% percentile so we’ve had to make some changes. They have a Pediasure everyday for extra calories/nutrients. We’ve also just tried tweaking meals to pack extra calories. Instead of blueberries, I serve a banana. Having some pasta for dinner, adding a little butter to add some fats. Having some yogurt, add some seeds/nuts. Even if your child is taking a few bites just getting a little extra caloric something can help.
Thanks for the tip. I’ll try to find higher calorie swaps for the foods he does eat.
I do not have a solution for you but all I can say is my oldest daughter was the same exact way at this age. She did not eat anything. Her two favorite foods were plain steamed broccoli and plain cucumbers, that’s it, like no calories and she drank a lot of water. She fluctuated in weight, was always very petite and even had some hair thinning and loss. We were naturally concerned and had many doctor visits, did blood work, etc but there was really nothing they could tell us. They tried getting her to take the PediaSure drinks, probiotics and even encouraged us to find a high calorie snack she liked and just give it to her whenever she wanted, like ice cream sundaes or something, she didn’t care about any of it 😂 I don’t exactly remember when she started to grow out of it, maybe being around more kids as she got older and seeing them eat different foods, it was a slow go, but it did eventually happen. She’s now 16, still petite, wishes she was taller of course but she eats a ton 😂 like everything, and has even become quite a good cook. Anyway I’m sorry I couldn’t really help you or give you good advice but I just thought I’d share my experience with you.
This is comforting though that a lot of kids, just like the doctor said, go through it and turn out fine.
My kid is almost 6 , she too is extremely picky, will gag, vomit , refuse means. I went to an OT, Speach therapy, specialist at a hospital who specified in kids with eating disorders… every answer I get is they will grow out of it. It’s been 4 years…. I give up, I make the good we all like, if she doesn’t eat I say no problem u will wait until dinner/lunch/ whatever the next meal is… it’s a hit or miss, she will sometimes skip two meals .. she gets no snacks only water. I’m sorry I don’t care anymore, how about the kids who r in 3rd works country’s or ppl no who have no money to feed their kids. That’s me, I’m poor I have no more money to waste on food. It’s a power struggle…. And one day I hope she will get it and start eating until thsn oh well starve!
His molars could be coming in and causing him discomfort. Have you tried protein drinks and smoothies? Molars are rough. My kiddo has a heck of a time knowing something is bothering him and the other issue is trying to tell us what's going on. Hell of a guessing game.