Hi,

I have a 2 yr old daughter who refuses to eat and drink milk. She was anyway very fussy before and I use to try all the possible tricks to feed her. Now nothing works and day by day she gets stubborn and very fussy. She'll somehow manage to have 1 meal and 2 cups of milk in a day and thats it. My husband told me to stop getting on her back all the time and wait until she's hungry. But believe me even if its 7-8 hrs she doesn't seem to be hungry. That makes me very sad and worried cause she won't gain weight this way. She is 27 mths old and only weighs 23 lb. I also tried putting some snacks on the table while she's playing so that way she can nibble on it. But she just take it twice or thrice and then will play with it and mess up the house. Can someone write to me who has the same problem? Also, can anyone give me some solutions for this? Will this affect her growth and weight? Please write to me. Meera replied. Hi Swati and Sonia,
I am also sailing in the same boat. Actually, I being a working mother keep my daughter in day care center. And as you know, in day care centers they can't afford to give special attension to one kid, so I have to make sure that she eats something in breakfast and dinner. I usually try preparing varieties for her, feeding her while playing. My daughter is 19 mths. The trick that works most successfully is taking turns in feeding i.e. I'll feed her one spoon and then she'll feed me. Most of the times instead of forcing her for eating something speific, I'll give her choice eg.whether she wants to eat fruit or drink juice or milk shake. Sometimes, we'll put some cassette and feed her while dancing.:-). Please let me know of some special recipes for kids, so that I can try it for her.
Thanks,
Meera. Swati replied. Good to hear that my reply to you has helped! There is so much that you still have to face that it all seems to be an uphill task! My daughter has not eaten a thing for the last 3 days and I tried force feeding her today cos' she is soooo constipated but I am at my wits end now as to how to get anything into her!

I am from Bangalore! Yep it should be fun to keep in touch! Swati replied. Dear Sonia

I know exactly how you feel and I am in the same boat as you! There is no way that I can get anything into my daughter's mouth and have to canstantly threaten her or distract her to get small amounts into her!

The best thing to do is (A) Feed the baby while your husband is not around....These kids are very smart and they know that Papa is the one who will side them not to eat! We are fighting a losing battle with their father's around! Believe me I took his stand and would not force my daughter to eat or drink anything and she did not eat anything for 21 days......and was badly constipated too and had become so reed thin that I had to take matters in my hand and force feed her! I literally dumped soups and pureed food into her mouth by pinning her down and letting her cry and all this when the father was not around! I had to get something into her. I think certain kids are too engrossed in playing and so forget they are hungry and then the hunger pangs pass and then they have their way.....which is not GOOD for them! You are the MOM and you got to keep your husband out of this fray!

Tell me how you fared! Also very important try not to give your kid snacks and then expect her to eat.....or pile up her plate and expect her to eat.....I myself can get very full just looking at a plateful of food!Imagine the child.....She must start with feeling hey this is so much of food and I am going to have to finish all this -its not worth even attempting!