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aliwnec10
mom of 3 boys
Member since 4/06 11426 total posts
Name:
Ali
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what to do about a non- eater?
My 3 year old is the worst eater ever. He's our 3rd and the worst. Especially when it comes to dinner. He just has no interest in eating dinner. He gets up and within 1-2 minutes he says "all done."
I don't let him have anything else after dinner if he doesn't eat and he doesn't care.
any suggestions?
I've tried putting him in time out for not eating dinner but it doesn't work.
He'll eat fruits, yogurt, snacks, chips, and so forth. He'll sometimes eat ham. Sometimes a hot dog. Sometimes pasta with butter. But when i say sometimes, it's like 1 out of 10. Eats it 1 time and then the next 9 he won't touch it.
so aggravating. Then of course he just wants to get done. 
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Posted 12/6/17 9:01 PM  |
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MrsM84
LIF Adult
Member since 2/13 2352 total posts
Name:
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what to do about a non- eater?
I know its much easier said than done but let him be. As long as its not effecting his health in any way (still having regular BM's/not constipated, okay in terms of weight %, etc.), its likely just a phase that he'll eventually get over. I always have the mindset that food isn't something I'm willing to argue with DD with. If she wants to eat what I serve for dinner, great. If she completely refuses it, whatever. If she takes 1 bite and says "all done", fine. If she wolfs her plate down and asks for seconds, cool. She's not going to starve and when I brought it up with her pediatrician, she wasn't concerned in the slightest.
Message edited 12/6/2017 9:12:19 PM.
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| Posted 12/6/17 9:11 PM |
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Jenn79
One more?
Member since 2/12 2410 total posts
Name:
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Re: what to do about a non- eater?
My dd was the same way. She's now 5 and slowly coming out of it. The one thing I made sure to never do was offer something else other than what was made for dinner. If she didn't eat, then she didn't eat. I didn't want her getting used to us making her something else every night. It seems to have worked bc she's eating more and more every day now. And we made her sit with us everynight no matter what too. So I'd say just keep doing what you are doing!
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| Posted 12/6/17 10:42 PM |
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jams92
Member since 1/12 6105 total posts
Name:
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Re: what to do about a non- eater?
DD is almost 5 and is the same way. Breakfast is never an issue and I will offer to make her breakfast foods for dinner sometimes. The only thing that getts her to eat is to tell her she can get a reat if she eats all of her dinner. she has a sweet tooth so it usually works
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| Posted 12/7/17 9:55 AM |
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Michi
My Love
Member since 5/05 31600 total posts
Name:
M
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what to do about a non- eater?
To me I am happy if my kids eat a fruit, yogurt and cheese stick for "dinner" It is all food and healthy options. I dont make an issue out of it if they dont eat the meal" I cooked.
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| Posted 12/7/17 10:20 AM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
Name:
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what to do about a non- eater?
DD has slowly become a crappy eater. She'll eat rice (half of which ends up on my floor), cheese, crackers, sour cream (like not as a condiment, she'll shovel it in with a spoon) and sometimes pasta and pulled pork. Maybe a few bites of pizza.
Honestly as long as she eats SOMETHING I try not to worry. Her teacher says she eats well in school because she copies the other kids. So if she's eating enough for breakfast, lunch and snacks I let it go for dinner.
She's always up for desserts though.
Oh and fruit. She can down an entire cantaloupe or container of blueberries. And that's often what she ends up eating for dinner.
Message edited 12/7/2017 10:33:01 AM.
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| Posted 12/7/17 10:31 AM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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what to do about a non- eater?
You know, my 5yo makes me nuts with her picky eating but for some reason with my 3yo I'm able to let it go more. Maybe bc 9 nights out of 10 I make a separate meal bc I know my 5yo won't eat our food so when she still doesn't eat I get so annoyed. My 3yo is more willing to try different things but only when she feels like it. Many nights a week she takes two bites, plays with her food for a bit, and then she's done. She also is so inconsistent. One day she loves something and then the next 10 times she won't eat it. If I let it bother me I would lose my mind. I do leave her dinner on the table until she goes to bed bc she'll ask for something else and I try not to give into that. She will occasionally eat a few bites of her dinner before bed bc she realizes she's hungry and that's her only option.
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| Posted 12/7/17 10:56 AM |
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IVFmiracle
Complete
Member since 12/12 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: what to do about a non- eater?
DD was the same way for a long time. She wouldn't stay seated and wouldn't eat pretty much anything. We let it go for a bit figuring she would come out of it but when her vitamin levels came back low and she was only in the 10% for weight we decided to do something about it.
We started by letting her pick out a dessert and would allow her whatever she picked if she ate her dinner. We started with 5 small 1 inch pieces of protein, and a few of whatever vegetable we were having. She could only get her dessert if she ate that. That was just about a year ago and she would only get her dessert once and a while. Fast forward, she now has her dessert about 80-90% of the time for eating a full meal. We know eating is hard for her. We see it in her face when she eats. We give her extra time and praise her when she is done.
Other ideas for your picky guy... Maybe letting him help pick out some of the meals or incorporate some foods you know he will eat into the meal plan. Once and a while if I don't have a balanced meal for her or we are eating a few foods I know she won't touch I will give her sliced fruit instead. Maybe putting some fruit you know he likes on his plate might help him?
Message edited 12/7/2017 11:43:58 AM.
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| Posted 12/7/17 11:42 AM |
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newlywedT
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/11 793 total posts
Name:
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what to do about a non- eater?
I wish DS ate what yours eats.
He is almost 2.
Has not eaten meat in...well I dont think he has ever eaten meat.
This weekend, he ate half a boiled egg for breakfast (no yolk just the white).
Then lunch he ate 5 spoonfuls of avocado and cottage cheese.
Dinner he ate a few spoonfuls of mac and cheese
He drank probably about 10 oz of milk through out the day.
He also had a few grapes and a few slices of apple.
If we try to give him more he refuses.
We've tried hiding ground up meat in his mac and cheese and he refuses to even try it (dont know how he knew there was meat there)
His bodyweight percentile is about 8%
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| Posted 12/7/17 5:22 PM |
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aliwnec10
mom of 3 boys
Member since 4/06 11426 total posts
Name:
Ali
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Re: what to do about a non- eater?
Posted by IVFmiracle
DD was the same way for a long time. She wouldn't stay seated and wouldn't eat pretty much anything. We let it go for a bit figuring she would come out of it but when her vitamin levels came back low and she was only in the 10% for weight we decided to do something about it.
We started by letting her pick out a dessert and would allow her whatever she picked if she ate her dinner. We started with 5 small 1 inch pieces of protein, and a few of whatever vegetable we were having. She could only get her dessert if she ate that. That was just about a year ago and she would only get her dessert once and a while. Fast forward, she now has her dessert about 80-90% of the time for eating a full meal. We know eating is hard for her. We see it in her face when she eats. We give her extra time and praise her when she is done.
Other ideas for your picky guy... Maybe letting him help pick out some of the meals or incorporate some foods you know he will eat into the meal plan. Once and a while if I don't have a balanced meal for her or we are eating a few foods I know she won't touch I will give her sliced fruit instead. Maybe putting some fruit you know he likes on his plate might help him?
I guess i should have put this in the post. We try bribing him all the time with treats after dinner! 85% of the time he'll try to eat something and then gag and make himself throw up. 
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| Posted 12/7/17 7:59 PM |
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ap123
LIF Infant
Member since 10/10 268 total posts
Name:
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Re: what to do about a non- eater?
Can you cut out snacks after lunch so he is hungry at dinner time?
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| Posted 12/7/17 8:06 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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what to do about a non- eater?
If he's gagging and throwing up I might consider feeding therapy. Dd rarely gags although she probably dares to try a new food 2-3 times a year. I've considered feeding therapy for my 5yo at times but I'm holding off for now.
One idea you could try is snack plates. I put them out sometimes for lunch but usually early afternoon as a snack. I put out 5 or 6 things and just hope they'll try things that might be new or just not a favorite. I do nuts, seeds, raw veggies, fruit, crackers, cheese, etc. I don't push them to eat anything specific but I also won't refill the crackers or fruit when there's a bunch of stuff still there to be eaten.
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| Posted 12/7/17 8:13 PM |
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nycgirl
Angels!
Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
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Re: what to do about a non- eater?
What has worked with my kids and those of my sister are a strict 3 meal a day plan. No snacks, no desserts, no extras. Make sure kids are hungry at dinner and offer all kinds of things.
Obviously, this is not for kids that are clinically underweight or have an eating disorder... it’s just for picky eating.
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| Posted 12/7/17 8:33 PM |
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aliwnec10
mom of 3 boys
Member since 4/06 11426 total posts
Name:
Ali
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Re: what to do about a non- eater?
Posted by MrsT809
If he's gagging and throwing up I might consider feeding therapy. Dd rarely gags although she probably dares to try a new food 2-3 times a year. I've considered feeding therapy for my 5yo at times but I'm holding off for now.
One idea you could try is snack plates. I put them out sometimes for lunch but usually early afternoon as a snack. I put out 5 or 6 things and just hope they'll try things that might be new or just not a favorite. I do nuts, seeds, raw veggies, fruit, crackers, cheese, etc. I don't push them to eat anything specific but I also won't refill the crackers or fruit when there's a bunch of stuff still there to be eaten.
what exactly is food therapy?
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| Posted 12/7/17 8:45 PM |
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IVFmiracle
Complete
Member since 12/12 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: what to do about a non- eater?
Posted by aliwnec10
Posted by MrsT809
If he's gagging and throwing up I might consider feeding therapy. Dd rarely gags although she probably dares to try a new food 2-3 times a year. I've considered feeding therapy for my 5yo at times but I'm holding off for now.
One idea you could try is snack plates. I put them out sometimes for lunch but usually early afternoon as a snack. I put out 5 or 6 things and just hope they'll try things that might be new or just not a favorite. I do nuts, seeds, raw veggies, fruit, crackers, cheese, etc. I don't push them to eat anything specific but I also won't refill the crackers or fruit when there's a bunch of stuff still there to be eaten.
what exactly is food therapy?
I was just thinking this myself after seeing your latest update. I am not 100% sure but I think an occupational therapist can work on eating. I don't know where you live but a quick Google search brought up NYU's feeding and swallowing clinic in the city. First you would want to rule out any medical issue that could be limiting his ability to eat and swallow, and then an OT would introduce him to different foods slowly and in small quantities.
Message edited 12/8/2017 12:11:41 PM.
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| Posted 12/8/17 6:28 AM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Re: what to do about a non- eater?
Posted by aliwnec10
Posted by MrsT809
If he's gagging and throwing up I might consider feeding therapy. Dd rarely gags although she probably dares to try a new food 2-3 times a year. I've considered feeding therapy for my 5yo at times but I'm holding off for now.
One idea you could try is snack plates. I put them out sometimes for lunch but usually early afternoon as a snack. I put out 5 or 6 things and just hope they'll try things that might be new or just not a favorite. I do nuts, seeds, raw veggies, fruit, crackers, cheese, etc. I don't push them to eat anything specific but I also won't refill the crackers or fruit when there's a bunch of stuff still there to be eaten.
what exactly is food therapy?
I don't know what types of strategies they use but it's done by speech pathologists and occupational therapists. You should be able to do it through your insurance. Our ped had suggested we see his nutritionist as a first step but that wasn't helpful at all really. An acquaintance of mine used Huntington speech and feeding therapy (I may be slightly off but I think that was the name) and saw a good amount of progress.
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| Posted 12/8/17 2:12 PM |
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aliwnec10
mom of 3 boys
Member since 4/06 11426 total posts
Name:
Ali
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Re: what to do about a non- eater?
Posted by IVFmiracle
Posted by aliwnec10
Posted by MrsT809
If he's gagging and throwing up I might consider feeding therapy. Dd rarely gags although she probably dares to try a new food 2-3 times a year. I've considered feeding therapy for my 5yo at times but I'm holding off for now.
One idea you could try is snack plates. I put them out sometimes for lunch but usually early afternoon as a snack. I put out 5 or 6 things and just hope they'll try things that might be new or just not a favorite. I do nuts, seeds, raw veggies, fruit, crackers, cheese, etc. I don't push them to eat anything specific but I also won't refill the crackers or fruit when there's a bunch of stuff still there to be eaten.
what exactly is food therapy?
I was just thinking this myself after seeing your latest update. I am not 100% sure but I think an occupational therapist can work on eating. I don't know where you live but a quick Google search brought up NYU's feeding and swallowing clinic in the city. First you would want to rule out any medical issue that could be limiting his ability to eat and swallow, and then an OT would introduce him to different foods slowly and in small quantities.
I see. I just don't think he has any issues or eating issues. I think it's a power thing. I mean one day he ate 4 chicken nuggets and the next few times he won't touch them and gags on purpose. I think he knows if he gags on purpose, we won't make him keep eating. We continue to put stuff on his plate in case he wants to try, but he won't. I just worry sometimes that he's not getting enough vitamins or protein.
I mean he'll eat plenty of fruit, ham, sometimes bologna or salami, pasta with butter (again sometimes), hot dog sometimes, yogurts, any kind of chip created, popcorn, nutrigrain bars, applesauce, just not much else...
he used to love pancakes. Ate them all the time. Now hasn't touched them in months. When i ask him to eat one, he gags and that's the end of that.
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| Posted 12/9/17 3:54 PM |
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IVFmiracle
Complete
Member since 12/12 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: what to do about a non- eater?
Posted by aliwnec10
Posted by IVFmiracle
Posted by aliwnec10
Posted by MrsT809
If he's gagging and throwing up I might consider feeding therapy. Dd rarely gags although she probably dares to try a new food 2-3 times a year. I've considered feeding therapy for my 5yo at times but I'm holding off for now.
One idea you could try is snack plates. I put them out sometimes for lunch but usually early afternoon as a snack. I put out 5 or 6 things and just hope they'll try things that might be new or just not a favorite. I do nuts, seeds, raw veggies, fruit, crackers, cheese, etc. I don't push them to eat anything specific but I also won't refill the crackers or fruit when there's a bunch of stuff still there to be eaten.
what exactly is food therapy?
I was just thinking this myself after seeing your latest update. I am not 100% sure but I think an occupational therapist can work on eating. I don't know where you live but a quick Google search brought up NYU's feeding and swallowing clinic in the city. First you would want to rule out any medical issue that could be limiting his ability to eat and swallow, and then an OT would introduce him to different foods slowly and in small quantities.
I see. I just don't think he has any issues or eating issues. I think it's a power thing. I mean one day he ate 4 chicken nuggets and the next few times he won't touch them and gags on purpose. I think he knows if he gags on purpose, we won't make him keep eating. We continue to put stuff on his plate in case he wants to try, but he won't. I just worry sometimes that he's not getting enough vitamins or protein.
I mean he'll eat plenty of fruit, ham, sometimes bologna or salami, pasta with butter (again sometimes), hot dog sometimes, yogurts, any kind of chip created, popcorn, nutrigrain bars, applesauce, just not much else...
he used to love pancakes. Ate them all the time. Now hasn't touched them in months. When i ask him to eat one, he gags and that's the end of that.
If that’s the case then a simple reinforcement system and consistency could help. You just have to find what motivates him. For my DD we cut up pieces really small too. When my DD would gag I would let her spit the piece and tell her to try again. Now the only time she gags is if there is a large piece of fat or cartilage in her protein or the piece itself is too big. It look us about a year to get to a good place with her eating. Good luck!
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| Posted 12/10/17 7:05 PM |
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