Loss of appetite (anorexia) is a common symptom in children. Acute illness in childhood is often associated with transient loss of appetite. Prolonged loss of appetite associated with poor weight gain or loss of weight usually signifies a serious chronic illness, either organic or psychogenic.
What can you give a child for loss of appetite?
Snacks should be as good as meals if you want a better appetite. Instead of a cookie, offer a sandwich; instead of chips, offer muesli or cereal. Think of healthy replacements for snacks and notice the change in your child’s appetite.
Why has my child’s appetite decreased?
Growth spurts can also affect appetite. When your child’s growth slows, which it does for older toddlers, their appetite decreases in line with the slight decrease in nutrition requirements. Similarly, a change in activity levels, or exerting less energy can lead to less food being needed.
What to do if a child has no appetite?
Fuel your child’s appetite
- Make meal time fun. Meal times are important social times for growing children. …
- Division of responsibility. …
- Serve small portions frequently. …
- Vary your child’s menu. …
- Do not force-feed. …
- Avoid distractions.
When should I worry about my child not eating?
While picky eating is a normal phase for most toddlers, there’s definitely a time and place to call the doctor. Your pediatrician can rule out or diagnose possible underlying causes for your little one not eating, such as gastrointestinal disorders, swallowing problems, constipation, food sensitivities, or autism.
Why does my 9 year old not want to eat?
In children, feelings of anxiety also frequently cause stomach upset. That can lead to a lack of appetite and a decrease in the amount of food a child eats. If, over time, low food intake leads to low body weight or failure to gain the weight a child needs for healthy growth and development, that can become dangerous.
How long can toddler go without eating?
It’s Normal for Toddlers Not to Eat
Yes, it really is normal for toddlers to have days when they are just not that hungry. Usually, a toddler’s appetite balances out over the course of a couple days. So, maybe one day they have a good appetite, but then the next 2-3 days they don’t want to eat much of anything.
Can growth spurts cause loss of appetite?
But when that growth spurt ends, their appetite often falls off for a little while. We often see this temporary loss of appetite in three- to four-month-old babies because they’ve just come off of a growth spurt.
Do Autistic toddlers have trouble eating?
Even though picky eating is a common problem, research suggests that it’s usually a temporary and normal part of development. However, children with autism often have more chronic feeding problems that go beyond picky eating. This may mean the child won’t eat an entire category of food such as proteins or vegetables.