My 3 year old has been a picky eater since the age of 1. When I express concern about it to his doctor, the doctor says that it is a phase that some kids go through and he will start eating better by the ages 3-4. I give him a flintstone vitamin everyday so he is healthy. BUT he is so skinny that you can feel his bones when hugging him and his thigh and leg is the same size. He was recently sick and lost weight that he could not afford to loose. I have tried all flavors of pediasure in which he will not drink. He will not eat any pastas, breads or vegetables.And have you seen a kid that dont like candy, icecream and cake! The only things he basically eat is meat, cereal, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt and junk foods like chips, chicken nuggets and fish sticks. And he dont eat much of that. It take him like an hour during dinner to only eat a few tablespoons of whatever we are having. Should I be concerned? Should I get another opinion? What are some foods I can feed him that will help gain weight?
Keep a food diary for him. Either you will realize how much he really is eating, or you will have documentation for the doctor look at.
Keep offering new foods, even if he sticks his nose up at them. It will take several tries before he adds anything new to his diet.
As far as being thin, my son was/is like that (even though he's a good eater). He's 11 and can put on his little (6 yrs old) sisters pants. Some kids are just that way.
... my son was a picky eater. He is not now, much. But again, I don't expect him to eat like me nor like the same things nor have the same dislikes.
Anyway, Grandma used to make comments like my son is SO skinny, that she can see his ribs, that he "never" eats etc. But that is not true. That is just her, perception.
When in fact, my son is a TALL boy for his age, and is very lanky and never was a chubby baby like how all those Hallmark cards make you think your baby has to be and look like.
So, one day I take Grandma to my son's well-check.
I TOLD the Pediatrician that Grandma thinks he's too skinny, never eats etc. and that a boy should be husky etc.
WELL, per ALL of my son's percentages/growth/BMI etc., the Doctor said my son is PERFECT and NOTHING is wrong with his growth or build or anything. He ALSO said, that my son... eats PERFECTLY. Why? Because, I have taught my kids, to eat according to their body and to KNOW their body's cues. ie: to know when they are "hungry" and to know when they are "full" and they thus... do not eat according to emotional eating or boredom nor to please other people. They eat, according to their body's cues. Which our Pediatrician said is the MOST healthy way to eat. And that, eating dysfunctions occur due to emotional eating and being forced etc. and when it is treated as a behavioral "problem."
So now, Grandma.... does NOT ever, complain about my son's physique nor his eating. Because, he is healthy. And he grows by leaps and bounds. And he is just a tall lanky kid, who grows in height more than in girth.
I cook and feed my kids the way I cook and know what they like. My kids eat. My son eats. But he eats the amount, that is appropriate for HIS age. Per serving sizes etc. And, JUST like an adult... some days your appetite can be low or high. Same for a kid. And JUST like an adult... even we get tired of certain foods at times, or crave something else. Fine. No biggie.
And JUST like an adult, kids too, have their own palates.
Though my son was picky when younger, I never used rewards or punishments for eating. And naturally, he just began to eat more things. Some things which I, don't even like. No biggie.
My daughter is not picky at all. She will eat anything or try anything no matter how exotic or unusual.
To me it sounds like he actually eats a pretty good variety of foods for a 3 year old. He has only really eliminated one food group - vegetables. My 3 year old will only eat cooked vegetables and only certain ones.
If he is truly underweight (not just skinny but underweight per his doctor) then you need to focus on what he will eat rather than trying to get him to eat new foods. Nutritious high calorie foods such as cheeses, nuts, nut butters, avocado, etc. can help children gain weight.
Some children cannot swallow properly or have reflux which can create eating issues so if you think he has a medical issue going on then you need to take him back to his doctor and demand that he have testing. If his doctor won't agree to testing then seek another opinion.
Good luck.
I think he sounds fine. Skinny isn't bad! Most kids tend to be too large! You don't want him fighting obesity. Worrying about being skinny doesn't make sense. Unless there was a medical concern.
The vitamin won't make him healthy. It might provide some needed iron, but it can't make up for a poor diet in the least bit. All the vitamins he needs are in food. Foods have literally thousands of vitamins in them...and a Flinstone has maybe under 20. So, it is no comparison. Also, many vitamins cannot be absorbed if not gotten through food.
You can try altering the foods he will eat to include healthier options. Check out the Sneaky Chef books...
Like, grinding up fresh chicken with shredded carrot and zucchini, and making chicken nuggets with that. definitely better than processed nuggets. (Could do the same with fish.)
You could try the Carnation instant breakfasts as well... I loved the chocolate milk one when I was young.
When I was young, I was super skinny too. I was awkwardly skinny until I hit about 17, and even though my eating habits didn't change much, I finally filled out. It may just be his natural state.
My dd has been the pickiest eater, but I found out over time that a lot of the foods she won't eat (i.e. cake, breakfast foods) contain eggs which we later found she was allergic to. I guess her body was telling her something. She's still picky but getting better. I found that when she's hungry, she'll eat. Yes, she's small, but so am I.
I have two boys that were really picky when they were little. The best way I found for getting them to try new foods was to take them to a buffet for dinner once in a while and let them pick what they wanted to eat. They usually tried and liked something new each time. They enjoyed having the choices and the power to choose. Another thing that helped them try new foods was letting them eat at their friends houses. They would often come home and say "Guess what we had for supper at Connor's house...spaghetti with meat sauce! It was delicious. You should make it sometime mom." Yeah, like I had never made spaghetti with meat sauce before. I had stopped making it because they didn't eat it!
His diet sounds fine except for the junk food.
When he hits a growth spurt he'll want to eat more.
Please do not get him use to the sweet stuff - it will be somewhat addictive and then good luck with getting him to eat anything that doesn't have a ton of sugar in it.
At 5 and 6 as they are getting use to sitting in a classroom and don't get to run around as much, the weight gain will be easier.
In a few years you'll be worried about him weighing too much.
So don't worry about his weight right now.
If his doctor is happy then you have nothing to worry about!
Our son's never been a picky eater.
He's 15 right now at at the stage where he barely stops to chew.
If I serve him first his plate is empty before I sit down to start eating from my plate.
Watching a teenage guy eat is a scary thing!
He will eat when he is hungry. Don't fight this battle...you will be the one that loses.
What you can do:
-only provide one meal...don't play short order cook until you find something he'll eat. He will learn that he an throw a fit until he gets what he wants.
-no other foods until he eats at least some of his dinner. If he refuses dinner and then wants chips...nope. He has to wait until breakfast to eat. He'll be fine...I provise.
-Don't stress over it. He won't starve.
-Remember that it IS OK for him to not like foods. You don't like everything either. But learn to tell the difference when it is a control issue vs. something he really doesn't like.
-If he says he doesn't like something, don't fire back with "sure you do!"...just say OK. Let him make the choice to eat or not eat, based on know that he's not getting anything else until the next meal time.
These have really worked for us. We still battle sometimes, but the kids know the deal if they boycott food.
Get rid of the chips but the rest isn't awful. Find one veg he will eat. Mine has only eaten red pepper but at least she eats 2 strips w lunch and dinner. So lots of fruit too. Is he constipated? On the right weight percentile?
