My kid is five and we're still dealing with this. I am at a loss. I can put food in front of him all day, but he simply will.not.eat anything other than soft textured, bread-like foods. He will skip meals consecutively until I freak and just give him what he wants, so maybe I'm doing this to myself, but I can't stand seeing him go without eating. I know conventional wisdom is that they will eat when they are hungry, but we're to the point that his weight is a concern and I feel like I can't afford to wait him out. His pedi has told us that there are many things you can make your child do, but unfortunately eating isn't one of them so don't make it a struggle. Ugh, I don't know.
My kid is five and we're still dealing with this. I am at a loss. I can put food in front of him all day, but he simply will.not.eat anything other than soft textured, bread-like foods. He will skip meals consecutively until I freak and just give him what he wants, so maybe I'm doing this to myself, but I can't stand seeing him go without eating. I know conventional wisdom is that they will eat when they are hungry, but we're to the point that his weight is a concern and I feel like I can't afford to wait him out. His pedi has told us that there are many things you can make your child do, but unfortunately eating isn't one of them so don't make it a struggle. Ugh, I don't know.
Sorry to thread-jack.
I wonder if it's a texture thing that could be worked on w a food therapist or something like that?
Post by youbetcha on Sept 26, 2013 13:23:17 GMT -5
Mine can both totally sense how bad I want them to like something. It has taken me years to learn to not act like I care so much if they eat it or not. My son was super low weight from 6 months to 2 years and I was so obsessed with putting weight on him. And he could tell and reacted accordingly.
Our rule now is as many bites as you are old of each thing, though sometimes if I know they really, really don't like it, I just say one bite.
how long has she been signing "all done" when you walk in the room?
I don't know, it's been awhile. It just annoys me more now for various reasons. I *think* she just wants to get down and do whatever I'm doing or see what I'm up to, but she doesn't eat any better if I sit down with her. It is getting really frustrating. Apparently, she eats fine at my mom's house and when I'm not home, so it's just me.
Kids become strange when mom is pregnant. C became crazy clingy and wanted to be where I was, only wanted me to do certain things, etc. They can sense the change, I'm telling you.
I know it's hard, but I would look at this as just a quirky phase and do what you need to do for her to eat dinner. Maybe hang out elsewhere and then have H tell you when she has eaten most of her meal before joining her or something.
I feel like parenting is a constant game of survival and it is always changing. And I didn't read an asshole tone in your posts.
I admit to being pretty paranoid about choking, but I thought keeping an eye on them when they eat was standard. I thought everyone was saying they just don't get up in their faces, which makes sense. But if I even walk into the room when she's eating, she start signing "all done all done." I've been feeling like I have to put H in charge and go hide lately, and I don't like it.
I hate this topic, because everyone ends up sounding like vaguely smug and assholish. I am even reading my own posts with undertones of asshole. Why am I in another one of these again?? lol
I think it's the advice giving. Misery loves company. Misery does not want advice because if misery thought it would work misery would have done it already.
Post by thebuddhagouda on Sept 26, 2013 13:25:45 GMT -5
I don't think anyone's being an asshole in describing what works for them. You just kind of have to read posts like these with a filter. Take the ideas that might work for you away with you and leave the rest. No two kids are the same, and no approach is going to work for everyone.
My kid is five and we're still dealing with this. I am at a loss. I can put food in front of him all day, but he simply will.not.eat anything other than soft textured, bread-like foods. He will skip meals consecutively until I freak and just give him what he wants, so maybe I'm doing this to myself, but I can't stand seeing him go without eating. I know conventional wisdom is that they will eat when they are hungry, but we're to the point that his weight is a concern and I feel like I can't afford to wait him out. His pedi has told us that there are many things you can make your child do, but unfortunately eating isn't one of them so don't make it a struggle. Ugh, I don't know.
Sorry to thread-jack.
I wonder if it's a texture thing that could be worked on w a food therapist or something like that?
That must be so hard
I just filled out an updated food checklist for his speech and occupational therapists, so we'll see what they say. /fingers crossed
The worst is that now that he's in school full-day, we're having a lot of problems getting him to eat anything at lunch. His teacher and classroom assistants have been really great about trying lots of different tactics with him, so I'm hopeful.
I admit to being pretty paranoid about choking, but I thought keeping an eye on them when they eat was standard. I thought everyone was saying they just don't get up in their faces, which makes sense. But if I even walk into the room when she's eating, she start signing "all done all done." I've been feeling like I have to put H in charge and go hide lately, and I don't like it.
I hate this topic, because everyone ends up sounding like vaguely smug and assholish. I am even reading my own posts with undertones of asshole. Why am I in another one of these again?? lol
I think it's the advice giving. Misery loves company. Misery does not want advice because if misery thought it would work misery would have done it already.
anlo, good luck! I think sometimes new eyes help these things -- either at figuring out a method or just a change in people for the kid. I'm thinking of you!
anlo, good luck! I think sometimes new eyes help these things -- either at figuring out a method or just a change in people for the kid. I'm thinking of you!
Thanks, Cleo. I guess I could, like, go clean a bathroom or iron or something while she eats dinner. lol. Make use of the time.
Exactly. Sometimes i would sneak off and read for a little while. and then there was the period of time where I had to "leave" my house at night so H could get C to bed. If not she would take foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrr if it was me and there would be much crying too. ugh lol