My 3.5 year old daughter has been terrible about eating this past week. She is PI but doesn't have any lung disease as of now. She was diagnosed a little over a year ago and pretty quickly gained about 4 pounds. She has now been "stuck" at around 28 lbs for 6+ months. Sometimes she eats well but other times she will take a few bites of food at a time and that's it. She never wants to eat in the morning so i have stopped trying and wait until 10 or so to make her food. She also hasn't been wanting to drink milk so i know we have lost some fat and calories there as well. I have tried being creative, asking her what she wants etc. She will still only eat a few bites. Any ideas to stimulate her appetite?
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3.5 year old doesn't want to eat
- Thread starter dlo2977
- Start date
My 3.5 year old daughter has been terrible about eating this past week. She is PI but doesn't have any lung disease as of now. She was diagnosed a little over a year ago and pretty quickly gained about 4 pounds. She has now been "stuck" at around 28 lbs for 6+ months. Sometimes she eats well but other times she will take a few bites of food at a time and that's it. She never wants to eat in the morning so i have stopped trying and wait until 10 or so to make her food. She also hasn't been wanting to drink milk so i know we have lost some fat and calories there as well. I have tried being creative, asking her what she wants etc. She will still only eat a few bites. Any ideas to stimulate her appetite?
My 3.5 year old daughter has been terrible about eating this past week. She is PI but doesn't have any lung disease as of now. She was diagnosed a little over a year ago and pretty quickly gained about 4 pounds. She has now been "stuck" at around 28 lbs for 6+ months. Sometimes she eats well but other times she will take a few bites of food at a time and that's it. She never wants to eat in the morning so i have stopped trying and wait until 10 or so to make her food. She also hasn't been wanting to drink milk so i know we have lost some fat and calories there as well. I have tried being creative, asking her what she wants etc. She will still only eat a few bites. Any ideas to stimulate her appetite?
Could it be that she's been outside and due to the heat, she's just not hungry? Maybe she needs more salt. Or is she just BUSY and not wanting to take a break to eat. We've had to negotiate. Can't do something until you eat.
DS has always been more of a snacker, so he tends to graze. Sometimes on the weekends he seems to eat constantly. I keep snacks in my car, usually water or juice. I take him to the store and let him pick out snacks, meals...
He's always gotten carnation instant breakfast made with whole milk or water. He gets it in the morning before school/daycare and with his meals at home. He doesn't like chocolate milk, so I buy the vanilla. He prefers salty snacks and more sour snacks to sweets such as cookies and bars. Though he can sit and eat 3 packages of fruit snacks on the car ride home from daycare.
How is her output? Is she having any bathroom issues -- very loose stools and/or constipation?
DS has always been more of a snacker, so he tends to graze. Sometimes on the weekends he seems to eat constantly. I keep snacks in my car, usually water or juice. I take him to the store and let him pick out snacks, meals...
He's always gotten carnation instant breakfast made with whole milk or water. He gets it in the morning before school/daycare and with his meals at home. He doesn't like chocolate milk, so I buy the vanilla. He prefers salty snacks and more sour snacks to sweets such as cookies and bars. Though he can sit and eat 3 packages of fruit snacks on the car ride home from daycare.
How is her output? Is she having any bathroom issues -- very loose stools and/or constipation?
Could it be that she's been outside and due to the heat, she's just not hungry? Maybe she needs more salt. Or is she just BUSY and not wanting to take a break to eat. We've had to negotiate. Can't do something until you eat.
DS has always been more of a snacker, so he tends to graze. Sometimes on the weekends he seems to eat constantly. I keep snacks in my car, usually water or juice. I take him to the store and let him pick out snacks, meals...
He's always gotten carnation instant breakfast made with whole milk or water. He gets it in the morning before school/daycare and with his meals at home. He doesn't like chocolate milk, so I buy the vanilla. He prefers salty snacks and more sour snacks to sweets such as cookies and bars. Though he can sit and eat 3 packages of fruit snacks on the car ride home from daycare.
How is her output? Is she having any bathroom issues -- very loose stools and/or constipation?
DS has always been more of a snacker, so he tends to graze. Sometimes on the weekends he seems to eat constantly. I keep snacks in my car, usually water or juice. I take him to the store and let him pick out snacks, meals...
He's always gotten carnation instant breakfast made with whole milk or water. He gets it in the morning before school/daycare and with his meals at home. He doesn't like chocolate milk, so I buy the vanilla. He prefers salty snacks and more sour snacks to sweets such as cookies and bars. Though he can sit and eat 3 packages of fruit snacks on the car ride home from daycare.
How is her output? Is she having any bathroom issues -- very loose stools and/or constipation?
Could it be that she's been outside and due to the heat, she's just not hungry? Maybe she needs more salt. Or is she just BUSY and not wanting to take a break to eat. We've had to negotiate. Can't do something until you eat.
<br />
<br />DS has always been more of a snacker, so he tends to graze. Sometimes on the weekends he seems to eat constantly. I keep snacks in my car, usually water or juice. I take him to the store and let him pick out snacks, meals...
<br />
<br />He's always gotten carnation instant breakfast made with whole milk or water. He gets it in the morning before school/daycare and with his meals at home. He doesn't like chocolate milk, so I buy the vanilla. He prefers salty snacks and more sour snacks to sweets such as cookies and bars. Though he can sit and eat 3 packages of fruit snacks on the car ride home from daycare.
<br />
<br />How is her output? Is she having any bathroom issues -- very loose stools and/or constipation?
<br />
<br />DS has always been more of a snacker, so he tends to graze. Sometimes on the weekends he seems to eat constantly. I keep snacks in my car, usually water or juice. I take him to the store and let him pick out snacks, meals...
<br />
<br />He's always gotten carnation instant breakfast made with whole milk or water. He gets it in the morning before school/daycare and with his meals at home. He doesn't like chocolate milk, so I buy the vanilla. He prefers salty snacks and more sour snacks to sweets such as cookies and bars. Though he can sit and eat 3 packages of fruit snacks on the car ride home from daycare.
<br />
<br />How is her output? Is she having any bathroom issues -- very loose stools and/or constipation?
I think you're doing the right thing by not making food a battle. It is so worrisome when we know they aren't getting enough calories.
One thing that naturally stimulates appetite is physical activity. If you have a small trampoline or a swimming pool, those are great exercise, and usually kids are hungry after doing both. Maybe play a game that involves racing or put on some music, and dance with her for a while.
I know there will be lots of great suggestions from other moms. I hope you find what works for your daughter.
Stacey
One thing that naturally stimulates appetite is physical activity. If you have a small trampoline or a swimming pool, those are great exercise, and usually kids are hungry after doing both. Maybe play a game that involves racing or put on some music, and dance with her for a while.
I know there will be lots of great suggestions from other moms. I hope you find what works for your daughter.
Stacey
I think you're doing the right thing by not making food a battle. It is so worrisome when we know they aren't getting enough calories.
One thing that naturally stimulates appetite is physical activity. If you have a small trampoline or a swimming pool, those are great exercise, and usually kids are hungry after doing both. Maybe play a game that involves racing or put on some music, and dance with her for a while.
I know there will be lots of great suggestions from other moms. I hope you find what works for your daughter.
Stacey
One thing that naturally stimulates appetite is physical activity. If you have a small trampoline or a swimming pool, those are great exercise, and usually kids are hungry after doing both. Maybe play a game that involves racing or put on some music, and dance with her for a while.
I know there will be lots of great suggestions from other moms. I hope you find what works for your daughter.
Stacey
I think you're doing the right thing by not making food a battle. It is so worrisome when we know they aren't getting enough calories.
<br />
<br />One thing that naturally stimulates appetite is physical activity. If you have a small trampoline or a swimming pool, those are great exercise, and usually kids are hungry after doing both. Maybe play a game that involves racing or put on some music, and dance with her for a while.
<br />
<br />I know there will be lots of great suggestions from other moms. I hope you find what works for your daughter.
<br />
<br />Stacey
<br />
<br />One thing that naturally stimulates appetite is physical activity. If you have a small trampoline or a swimming pool, those are great exercise, and usually kids are hungry after doing both. Maybe play a game that involves racing or put on some music, and dance with her for a while.
<br />
<br />I know there will be lots of great suggestions from other moms. I hope you find what works for your daughter.
<br />
<br />Stacey
She usually has a bowel movement once a day and hasn't gone since Friday. I thought she was constipated which has happened a couple times before (not common for her), but the weird thing is that she isn't asking to go or saying she has to like she did when she was constipated. I went ahead and gave her a suppository (we did miralax twice a day thru the weekend) and she went a normal size consistency piece of poop or I really don't think she is. Is it possible she has eaten such a little amount that she hasn't had to go????
I just made her a snack and added olive oil to her lemonade since she didn't want milk (sounds nasty but you can't taste it). She ate some peanut butter out of the jar and a little cheese. It is just frustrating because I want her to get past that 28 lb slump she is on....
I just made her a snack and added olive oil to her lemonade since she didn't want milk (sounds nasty but you can't taste it). She ate some peanut butter out of the jar and a little cheese. It is just frustrating because I want her to get past that 28 lb slump she is on....
She usually has a bowel movement once a day and hasn't gone since Friday. I thought she was constipated which has happened a couple times before (not common for her), but the weird thing is that she isn't asking to go or saying she has to like she did when she was constipated. I went ahead and gave her a suppository (we did miralax twice a day thru the weekend) and she went a normal size consistency piece of poop or I really don't think she is. Is it possible she has eaten such a little amount that she hasn't had to go????
I just made her a snack and added olive oil to her lemonade since she didn't want milk (sounds nasty but you can't taste it). She ate some peanut butter out of the jar and a little cheese. It is just frustrating because I want her to get past that 28 lb slump she is on....
I just made her a snack and added olive oil to her lemonade since she didn't want milk (sounds nasty but you can't taste it). She ate some peanut butter out of the jar and a little cheese. It is just frustrating because I want her to get past that 28 lb slump she is on....
She usually has a bowel movement once a day and hasn't gone since Friday. I thought she was constipated which has happened a couple times before (not common for her), but the weird thing is that she isn't asking to go or saying she has to like she did when she was constipated. I went ahead and gave her a suppository (we did miralax twice a day thru the weekend) and she went a normal size consistency piece of poop or I really don't think she is. Is it possible she has eaten such a little amount that she hasn't had to go????
<br />
<br />I just made her a snack and added olive oil to her lemonade since she didn't want milk (sounds nasty but you can't taste it). She ate some peanut butter out of the jar and a little cheese. It is just frustrating because I want her to get past that 28 lb slump she is on....
<br />
<br />I just made her a snack and added olive oil to her lemonade since she didn't want milk (sounds nasty but you can't taste it). She ate some peanut butter out of the jar and a little cheese. It is just frustrating because I want her to get past that 28 lb slump she is on....
How are her sinuses? In some areas the pollen levels are really high. So if she can't smell or has a stuffed up nose it could affect her appetite as well.
I still wonder about the heat/salt issue. Maybe see if she wants some pretzels, plain old salt on her hand (that's ds' favorite)....
Oh and if DS had his choice in terms of drink -- it'd be ice water. He sometimes tries to switch out skim milk with his carnation instant breakfast. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> And when he was younger, I read an article that indicated drinking juice can lead to childhood obesity. So I'd give him white grape juice with his afterschool snack.
I still wonder about the heat/salt issue. Maybe see if she wants some pretzels, plain old salt on her hand (that's ds' favorite)....
Oh and if DS had his choice in terms of drink -- it'd be ice water. He sometimes tries to switch out skim milk with his carnation instant breakfast. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> And when he was younger, I read an article that indicated drinking juice can lead to childhood obesity. So I'd give him white grape juice with his afterschool snack.
How are her sinuses? In some areas the pollen levels are really high. So if she can't smell or has a stuffed up nose it could affect her appetite as well.
I still wonder about the heat/salt issue. Maybe see if she wants some pretzels, plain old salt on her hand (that's ds' favorite)....
Oh and if DS had his choice in terms of drink -- it'd be ice water. He sometimes tries to switch out skim milk with his carnation instant breakfast. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> And when he was younger, I read an article that indicated drinking juice can lead to childhood obesity. So I'd give him white grape juice with his afterschool snack.
I still wonder about the heat/salt issue. Maybe see if she wants some pretzels, plain old salt on her hand (that's ds' favorite)....
Oh and if DS had his choice in terms of drink -- it'd be ice water. He sometimes tries to switch out skim milk with his carnation instant breakfast. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> And when he was younger, I read an article that indicated drinking juice can lead to childhood obesity. So I'd give him white grape juice with his afterschool snack.
How are her sinuses? In some areas the pollen levels are really high. So if she can't smell or has a stuffed up nose it could affect her appetite as well.
<br />
<br />I still wonder about the heat/salt issue. Maybe see if she wants some pretzels, plain old salt on her hand (that's ds' favorite)....
<br />
<br />Oh and if DS had his choice in terms of drink -- it'd be ice water. He sometimes tries to switch out skim milk with his carnation instant breakfast. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> And when he was younger, I read an article that indicated drinking juice can lead to childhood obesity. So I'd give him white grape juice with his afterschool snack.
<br />
<br />I still wonder about the heat/salt issue. Maybe see if she wants some pretzels, plain old salt on her hand (that's ds' favorite)....
<br />
<br />Oh and if DS had his choice in terms of drink -- it'd be ice water. He sometimes tries to switch out skim milk with his carnation instant breakfast. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> And when he was younger, I read an article that indicated drinking juice can lead to childhood obesity. So I'd give him white grape juice with his afterschool snack.