My daughter (4.5 yrs) has zero appetite. I've got her both over the counter meds and hospital meds but none seemed to work!

Eating time is one long process. She will take forever to eat and she has to be pushed! Variety doesn't seem to work either. Even the things you would say she loves [The things she normally says "I want to eat this..."], it is still a problem to get her to eat nicely.

And it is not an occasional thing.It's been some time now - nothing to do with illness. When she was below 2 years, she was a very good eater.

What's the solution? Anyone who has had this experience, how did you solve it.

Buy her a bike, Take her for a ride and by the time you come back she will be complaining of hunger and sometimes feed her like a baby.

by the way is the girl active i.e physically at school or home ?

Take her shags and let her play with hardened kids there, by lunch time she eat even the ukoko left.

Sometimes children grow heads when they are over-loved and feel no competition!


My mum did this to me in 70s and my aunt says it worked wonders.

Thanks for that advice.Watoto wakule mapera in the village,fight and do all that pertains to that.The kid will learn to cook ugali,fetch water from the river,fetch firewood etc unlike some 27year old ladies who cant cook ugali and buy ugali from Naivas westlands.

Hee!!

Bike
Carrot Juice
Activities
Peculiar
Shags
Snacks
Guavas

......boys
Her agemates with healthy appetites can help her pick up the habit during meal times.
They love to imitate what their friends do but wacha pressure if she is ok.

I used to be that way! I never had appetite to eat... my mum tried everything... never picked up. My younger brother used to eat part of my meals. I hated meat e.t.c. BUT THERE CAME A TIME!! I was champion eater!! I finished 12 chapos, would eat bread like no ones business. When we went for family gatherings People actually thought 'hatulishwi kwetu' due to how i would eat. I am sure i have eaten close if not more than 2 kgs of meat at ole polos in one seating. So... if I am anything to go by - SHE WILL BE FINE!!!

Does she find snacks in the house any time? limit them

However As long she is not unwell....no need to worry. she will be fine. She will surely eat when hungry.

I know that hunger is the best sauce. To achieve this, i often give instructions to my household (wife, hsehelp, visitors) that TV is only allowed at certain specific times. The rest is for shudren to play... preferably outside.

The lessons I learnt from an older parent who do not negotiate with children under the roof. When I drop or pick my neighbour's kids from school, they always wonder how come we move so peacefully: belted, minimal fights, etc. My mentor friends told me 2 things:
1. Never argue with your child: your age -> life experiences -> wisdom -> God made you a parent for a reason. Listen to them, guide them, be a parent and friend (in that order)
2. Project your children's behaviour to when they are adults and if you dont like a habit now, it will be worse when they are older. dont imagine that age will automatically overcome certain bad habits: whining (you know such colleagues - very irritating), disobedient (you such junior who cant stick to the straight and narrow, etc)