Extremely fussy 3yr old

My son is 3 and 3 months. He weighs 15 kgs and is 101cm. From about age 2 he has been fussy with his eating but of late it has become a not so funny joke.
He can eat something one day then wont touch it the next, will take only a bite out of food then leave it. I have offered a wide variety of foods, even tried giving them fancy names. The only thing he will have with no dramas is milk, sometimes up to 5 "bottles" a day. It brings me to tears at times and i am worried that he is not getting all the essentials that his growing body needs.

As much as possiable, try and limit the milk. if he can have up 5 cups of milk a day at age three, chances are he is filling up on milk and may not actually be hungrey anway. or he knows, you will give in and give him the milk.
i watched an episode on the supernanny about kids not eating. she said that children cannot go to cupboard and prepare their own meals, so it's up to the parents to put in front of the child what it is that you want them to eat, tell them "this is lunch,and thats that, mummy has the exact same" and soon enough they will eat it. after watching this, i thought "yeah right, that won't work", but now with a lot of consistency and of me being strong, my nearly three year old will polish off a bowl of veges! i just tell her, that is what we are having or nothing! and she listens. i will add though, this only works if i sit with her. the minute you walk away, they will too, you have to role model a good eating plan
ggod luck smile

My son is 3yrs 6months and weighs about 16kgs sometimes it's 16.5kgs when he turned 3yrs he was 99cm. He is a great eater but on the weight side your son is only slightly lighter. Whilst he is not fussy my DS2 is but have not made him extra food or substituted milk. My DS2 is getting less fussy because he knows that there is nothing else coming. I do offer lots of types of food at each meal. Including meat, veg, fruit and cheese. Your son won't starve himself.

I'd definitely reduce the milk as it sounds like he is getting full from milk. Good luck!

My DD is also 3. She has a cup of milk with breakfast and sometimes one at lunch or afternoon tea. DD is a great eater but still tries it on sometimes! Tonight she claimed she didn't want her dinner, we just said ok, but that's it until breakfast and DH and I kept eating. She sat there for a minute then finished her tea - she knows we were serious wink

I know it makes you feel horrible while you are doing it, but you just have to be tough. Give him what you want him to eat and leave him to it - don't nag or fuss, just eat yours. If he says he doesn't want it just say ok, but there is nothing else until your next meal. If he asks for milk just say sorry, there's none left. He won't starve and he'll soon get the idea.

Good luck!

as pps said it sounds like your boy is a healthy size for his age, and as long as hes bright eyed and still active be rest assured hes prob ok despite the eating issues. some things that ive found to help and even solve some of our eating issues when they crop up (as they do from time to time with kids, even the 'good' eaters) are:

-always eat together, and at the table.

-make sure they have the eact same things on their plate as you do on yours, even things your sure they wont touch put them on there anyway.

-and dare i say it you cant expect them to eat something you wont, i HATE parsnip but if we put it on their plate i HAVE to show them mummy will eat it (gag!)

-never offer an alternative

-dont fill them up with milk, we only have water with meals

-every few nights make something they will enjoy..a toasted sandwich for tea is ok every now and again if it keeps the experience positive.

-always finish on a positive note, even if theyve been horrid, even a praise for maybe sitting well or staying tidy.

anyway these things have helped us on and off :)good luck its soo damn frustrating but it passes xxx love and light