I just need alittle advice. My son is 4 and still won't eat his veggies. He ate them as an infant, but he won't now. Does anyone have any advice on how to get my son interested in eating vegetables?

What kind cartoons he watch tell him thats what they eat to grow big and strong...My son enjoys them....I gotta problem with potty training...Any tips would be HUGE

I would try placing a little bit on the plate anyway. If my child acted like something looked gross to eat, I told them that they had to eat 2 bites of it and if they didn't like it, that was okay. No power struggle then. Also, I've read that it takes the average person about 10 times of tasting a food to get used to it. My child now eats just about anything.

Have you tried raw veggies with ranch dressing to dip the veggies into? Kids usually like that. It tastes good and they can play with the food.

How old is he?

I taped a big piece of white paper onto the bathroom door. Every time my child went to the bathroom, they could put a cool sticker onto the paper. It helps if they are involved with the purchase of the sticker - going to the store and picking them out.

The other thing is patience. Each child is different and each child's bladder/bowel control matures at a different rate. It's not good to have a power struggle with this issue.

I agree w/ Winx' suggestions here.

On the 10 times tried-to-like method, I actually taught me daughter just that. If she doesn't like it on the 10th time, her tastebuds aren't ready for it. Think that if the taste isnt pallatable, maybe their digestive system isn't ready yet either. Veggies are the most complicated food to digest. Took me 25 years to like olives, now, I love them.

Start w/ what they already like and go from there. Avocadoes w/ a lil salt(guacamole)? Broccoli w/ a bit of olive oil drizzled on, or cheese melted on top? Mashed sweet potatoes. Just make it delicious - that is KEY!

Fruit is often the bridge. Here is a GREAT trick: V-8 Fusion Juice. Try the Strawberry-Banana flavour. OMG, it is SO good!!! And, it is packed w/ veggies they CANNOT even taste. It has beets, carrots, sweet pos, tomatoes. It is a saving grace! You will LOVE it too, promise! Don't get the "Fusion-Drink", just the pure Fusion juice.

Is the child a boy or girl and how old?

3 boy

If he is showing interest, they sell these targets that you place in the toilet and the child "shoots" them. They helped my son a great deal.

Was very difficult being a single mom teaching a boy.

But remember as Winx said every child develops at their own pace, there is no right or wrong age.

You also might want to bring him into the bathroom with you and let him watch that will help him learn as well.

No there is nothing wrong with letting him learn that way either. Child repeat what they hear and say and it is really the easiest way to teach them.

yea he has seen me...ive heard of the targets havent used them yet though...Him comeing off the bottle was a nightmare...I did come to just letting him do it at his own pace...just dont want him wearing diapers when he is gonna start school...that wouldnt be good ty

Has he worn Pull-Ups?

He's three so he should be wanting to learn soon....give him some time.........good luck

Show him some Popeye cartoons.

since august 08

My child had bladder problems for many years. We used nighttime pull-ups for a long time - up to the largest size.
I took them to a urologist. That's where I was taught about the different maturation rates of bladders. There are also different maturation times in the nerves in the brain communicating to the bladder to tell the child when they have to go to the bathroom.

This summer should make a big difference with potty training.
The child has less clothes on and it's easier and faster to go to the bathroom that way.

One good thing to remember - it will happen someday. Everybody uses the bathroom.

ty

You're welcome. Now enjoy that age! They do grow up so very quickly.

Here's what my parents did, and I think it worked, because while I was never a picky eater, all my brother wanted all the time was spaghetti. Mom mostly cooked what we liked, but every now and then, she'd cook something new, and we had to have two bites, no fighting, no spitting. You might also encourage the kid to "help" you cook, so there's more ownership there. That worked with my baby cousins.

And to the potty training man: Don't put your kid in pull-ups. Grandma always said if you do that, then there are no consequences for not doing what's supposed to be done. It's confusing to a kid. And if you don't want to get the little targets, cheerios are pretty cool, too. That worked on a three year old I was nanny for, and he was a tough little nut.

All children have a time when meals become an issue. potenial reasons are varied.
Mentally they are learning the whole "no" stage at around three.
Their taste buds are developeing.
Teeth are still coming in so chewing can be painful.
They are also starting to develope color, texture, and tempature preferences.
Children have a keen sense of smell.
Their appetite varies widely and often they satisfy it by graiseing or drinking.
Their stomaches are really small; overfeeding causes pain.
Fatigue. Waiting for Mom or Dad to get home so they are so hungry they are cranky it is going to be tough.
Competeing with siblings for attention.
The home being hot or steamy from cooking.
Feeling abandoned because parents are focusing on cooking.
However the biggest influence is what they see and hear Parents say about food. If you teach them that some foods are yucky or fattening, parents personal snacks, or dessert/reward foods then you are giveing food values and so will children.
The second is being part of meal preparation. Two to three year olds can help pick out things in the grocery store or better yet farmers market. They can scrub veggies and fruit with a tooth brush. Stir bowels of this and that. Crumble crackers. Sprinkle cheeze. Pump a chopper. Spread butter, jelly, mayo, or ketchup. Cut up salad items with Kitchen sissors or a smaller kid pair set aside for cooking. Having their own apron is good. Setting the table is with in there ability with plastic dishes put on lower shelves.
The third thing is kids can feel your vibe. If you are worried about what they are eating, or not eating, and feel powerless they can zero in on that. It helps to know that this is just a stage that will pass. The less attention you give it the faster it will pass. A kid will not starve. Put the food on the table, tell them to put a little of everything on there plate (you do the same) and set down and eat. Leave the lectures about appreciation, healthy, what tastes good, and hurry up out of the conversation. If plates are not cleaned do not serve dessert. Take your time and let them but keep them at the table with talking. If they are finished move the plate away so that food is not a toy. If they get a food that they eat over and over then don't buy it. You are in control of what is served until you give it up. Ignore tantrums. If they refuse to eat then offer nothing until the next meal. Keep in mind most young children need three meals and two or three snacks.

Part of the reason kids tend to shy off veggies as they are just too hard to chew with tendar molars. By steaming them slightly and then chilling them they are more munchable. Dips are ok but many healthy things can be blended for dip includeing other veggies. also dipping veggies in crushed crunchies. Letting kids play tasteing games, or making silly sandwiches with cookie cutters. or toothpick shishkabobs is a good way to let them try new flavors. Something that was always successful for me was taking the kids through the produce department last and picking a treat that they want to try to end the shopping trip. I tended not to take my kids in the check out line as unnessescary aggravation. Because I almost always had several kids I had kids in one cart padded with a blanket and groceries in the other. If you put one of those dollar store kneeling pads in the front their legs won't go to sleep and hurt as fast. Until they were big enough to be taller than the cart there was no question about weather they rode in the cart rather than running the store wild.

Potty training isn't rocket science.

Something that makes it much easier is takeing your child to the bathroom to change diapers. A bathroom should not be a place young children/toddlers are allowed to go unacompanied but keeping a pad or plush floor mat in the tub makes it easy to get the mind set that they are clean and comfortable by going to the bathroom.

If you check your little ones diaper regularly you can pretty much learn their changeing cycle. Once you get an idea watch for subtle signs that they are having the need. Clinching fists, pulling up their knees, touching their genital area, and sometimes rubbing their face or ears.

Kids have developemental markers that signal when a child is ready for it. Probably the easiest to spot is when they stop running up on their tiptoes and go more to a heel to toe gait. The later is signaling better muscle control. Bowels firm up a little. Avoid flu season or when your child is cutting teeth or has a cough/cold.

Keeping note of what may stress your child's bowels or bladder is helpful. Soda, citrus juices, eggs, cheese, chocolate, and pop-corn are usual offenders but do not introduce new foods during potty training.

Your best time to potty train is Spring/Summer. The less clothes the easier. If you start while the weather is still cool try useing a diaper and slightly larger tube socks that will keep their legs warm but make struggleing against elastic and zippers or buttons unnecessary. Avoid shirts with long tails.

Then start takeing the child to the bathroom just prior to when you anticipate them having a BM. Since I don't think it is necessary to physically show your privates to your child, even a same sex child, set on the toilet and let them use a potty chair while you both read a story book and let nature take it's course. After 30 minutes even if nothing has happen pull up the drawers, wash there hands, and give them a hug and let them go play but no remarks and no facial cues how you feel except a smile. If soon after they use the bathroom in the diaper just change it and don't make a big deal of it. Sooner or later you will have success. Be patient.

You can't go to the bathroom on command and neither can your child.

If they do potty then calmly and gently wipe them, or if they want let them wipe themselves, dress, wash, and give them a hug.

After they have left the bathroom flush the remains. Don't make a big deal out of it. Unless you want your child to talk about potty at inapproriate times this is a good time to subtly start training about privacy and that some subjects are between you and them and are to be talked about in the bathroom. DO NOT announce bathrooming abilities in front of the child.

Once you get the BM mastered give your child pull-ups and start increaseing the routine times to include urinateing. If you see stress signals tell them to go try with a smile and the handsign for bathroom. Fist closed thumb up rotateing the wrist back to palm in front of the mouth and nose. When you plan to eat. shower, go to bed smile and signal your child to go to the bathroom. Tell them they can signal you when they want to go. Once you have success in useing the toilet don't immediately stop taking your child to the toilet. Your absence of attention will encourage them to revert to "accidents".

I know diapers are terribly expensive and there is a monetary incentive to get away from there use or reduce the number of diapers but if your child is used to wearing a diaper until it is saturated you are going to have a longer time to wait to train them. Pull ups are a good transition diaper. Special underoos can be a good motivator.

If your child has stress incontinence (accidents when they cough) putting a mini pad in their panty or breifs can help as they get older. A child over four that soils the bed should be taught to strip and remake their own bed. An incontinent pad can help with this problem. NEVER allow siblings or others to make fun of a child's incontinence.

Under the sink turn the hot water down or off so they can not scald themselves and have a wide base step stool so that they can reach the sink. Leavered handles help a lot. Pump soap is easier and telling them to scrub long enough to sing the birthday song. Useing a saftey pin to anchor the drying towel on the rod helps keep the bathroom orderly. NEVER leave medications, make up, or cleaning products in the bathroom unless they are in a locked cabinet. Hanging a jingle bell in a cord on the bathroom door can help you know when your child goes to the bathroom unattended. Be sure to remove or at least have a ten penny nail to trigger open the door lock.

Keep in mind some children DO NOT potty train compleately before they go to Kindergarten. If by four your child is not at least trying to go to the bathroom, even if they don't always make it, they should be checked by a pediatric urologist to make sure there is not a problem. It can be something small like cronic bladder infection from playing in the sand pile, bubble bath allergy, food allergy, or worms. If your child is born with special needs, premature, or been injured it may take longer to master potty training. A new family member or sitter can disrupt or slow the process.

I have never been a big fan of junior toilet rings. They shift, pinch, and can scrape; especially little boys. If the child feels like they are insecure install a grab bar or a larger draw pull with anchoring screws.

Good Luck!!!

Try the shredded dry veggies from the health food store.. They tast just like french fries and look like them too..( They are so good and all natural)
Kids are picky at this age.. Ive been teaching a while and now have a home day care.. at first they love the veggys when introduced then they back off only to love them again at 16.. ha ha
No later....