Hey new(ish) parents...

Post by **GORDON** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:47 pm

What do you do when your kid gets stupid about food?

Mine is 4 and all of a sudden he isn't eating most of the things that, a month ago, he loved and couldn't eat fast enough. He says, "My throat won't let me swallow it."

My first thought was "allergic/anaphalactic reaction," but he can eat other things on his plate, just not the hamburger/steak/chicken/whatever. Throat isn't closing, kid is just being a turd.

How do you beat that out of them without leaving visible bruises? Or is there a better trick?

Post by **Troy** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:54 pm

GORDON wrote: He says, "My throat won't let me swallow it."

Your kid is awesome.

Post by **TheCatt** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:27 pm

We make ours eat a little bit, then move on for that night/day/whatever. With most things, she's eventually started eating them normally again.

And we let her go hungry, quite frankly. She can eat something bland if she turns down a meal, otherwise she gets nothing.

Post by **GORDON** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:06 pm

I'm totally on board with the "he'll eat when he gets hungry enough," but the wife fights it and has to make it hard.

WSGrundy · Post by **WSGrundy** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:15 pm

GORDON wrote:I'm totally on board with the "he'll eat when he gets hungry enough," but the wife fights it and has to make it hard.

Sounds like you need to find a way to beat that out of the wife without leaving any visible bruises.

Post by **TPRJones** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:15 pm

That's what I do with my cats. They don't get other food until the food they have is gone. No matter how long that takes.

I figure the worst case scenario is they start eating other stuff outside and I can just stop buying food altogether.

Post by **TheCatt** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:34 pm

GORDON wrote:I'm totally on board with the "he'll eat when he gets hungry enough," but the wife fights it and has to make it hard.

I think we found your real problem.

Post by **Cakedaddy** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 9:42 pm

Maybe add some BBQ sause or catchup or something. Perhaps it's too dry and really getting stuck? If I eat unsalted fries too quick, they get stuck. Over cooked dry turkey does too.

Post by **GORDON** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:51 pm

No, this is a brand new development. Foods he has always devoured... now he "can't swallow."

He always has ketchup.

Post by **TPRJones** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:02 pm

Would it be a good idea to have a doctor look down his throat? Just in case?

Mommy Dearest · Post by **Mommy Dearest** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 6:21 pm

The kid is fine he just does not want that right now. Hasn't anything you had to swallow closed your throat?

Post by **TPRJones** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:20 am

Sure, I guess, if it was really really nasty. But meat isn't all that nasty, really ... unless the kid is turning into a vegan?

The phrasing was just odd, I wondered if he might be having some sort of reaction or something.

Post by **GORDON** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:38 am

Today he requested a second helping of spinach. Fine.

He takes a big bite... "My bite was too big. I can't swallow it. I have to spit it out."

After a bit of "discussion," and the warning that if he spits it out he doesn't get dessert, he spits out the tiny little bit that hadn't dissolved in his mouth yet. Then he continues eating his spinach.

Kid is just going through a phase.

Post by **GORDON** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 9:34 am

I actually just told my son, completely in context, "If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding."

Post by **TheCatt** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:10 am

How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?

Post by **thibodeaux** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:04 am

I've done that.

Post by **TheCatt** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 6:27 pm

So what's the deal with his tonsils?

Post by **GORDON** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 12:26 am

He's apparently well endowed with them.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:45 am

Until my daughter was four years old I could get her to do anything by telling her not to do it and making a big "Oh nooooooo!" fuss when she did it.

Post by **GORDON** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 12:03 pm

Paul wrote:Until my daughter was four years old I could get her to do anything by telling her not to do it and making a big "Oh nooooooo!" fuss when she did it.

He had a massive blowout temper tantrum at Target the other day.

When I pointed out to him he was behaving just like the bad bear cubs in one of his Barenstain Bears books, he got an "oh shit" look on his face... and he's been a lot more agreeable ever since. Still picky, just not as bad.