Is My 16 Month Old Eating Too Much??

I've got an incredible eater too! My daughter is 26 months old and will eat an ENTIRE foot-long hotdog from Costco! (She's done this twice!) She has always been an excellent eater (eats ALL veggies, including broccoli and brussel sprouts) and we feed her healthy food at home. (Well..okay, I let her have mac-and-cheese about once every two weeks.)

Since her three month well check-up, we have asked the Pediatrician, "Are you sure her weight is okay?" "Is she eating too much?" And once she began eating table food exclusively, "How much should she eat? Should we limit her food?" We always were told, "Oh, she's just fine...let her eat as much as she wants. She'll stop eating when she's full." Then, at her 2 year appt, the Pediatrician OUT OF BLUE said, "We need to start getting her weight closer to the percentage of her height." My husband and I looked at each other and almost laughed! That's what we've been worried about all along!!

I'm sure you are doing the same things I am -- absolutely no treats until good servings of veggies, proteins and healthy carbs have been consumed. And we don't give treats more than twice a week (a sugar cookie, animal crackers, etc.)

My daughter is not fat, but her weight has always been in the 90-95% while her height has always been around 80%. So...I'm cutting her fruit off after a 1/2 cup serving at the end of her meal. If she says she's still hungry, I offer her more carrots. Sometimes she takes more carrots!

So...I don't really have any advice for you at all! But I wanted you to know that you are not alone!!

Yes kids that age are so busy they need a lot of calories to keep up with it! My son (23 months old now) regularly will eat 2 entire bananas plus a piece of toast in a single sitting. (He's a complete stringbean - we have to pin the waistband of his pants or they fall off him).

The shoving food in the mouth is also normal. Reminder to take bites and chew - that's about all you can do. Kids at this age are very good at regulating their metabolism - much better than adults are. As long as her weight looks reasonable, just continue to offer her a variety of healthy food and she'll let you know what she needs. Enjoy it now - because she'll likely become picky at some point and then you'll miss how easy it was to get her to eat! :)

Yup its pretty normal. My 16 month old son has always been a piggy eating 8 oz every 2-3 hours while I worked starting at like 4 months old. Our sitter couldn't believe it! Since eating foods he shoves them in his mouth as fast as can be. He will eat an couple pancakes, some cheerios, and an entire banana and 8 oz milk for breakfast. He doesn't always pig out at lunch/dinner as much but he still eats fast and messy. Some kids are neater than others. My new sitters son and several of my friends daughters can eat an entire bowl of O's or fruit without dumping it or choking but not my boy :) If she is a healthy weight I wouldn't worry. Just make sure you offer lots of fruits and veggies (which have few calories) instead of higher calorie options or snacks. Oh yeah and I'm an OB RN.

Oh my gosh, you are describing my son! We have to ration his finger foods because he will shove it all in at once. more than one time, i've had to pry his fat little mouth open and dig out the excess. He will eat a whole grilled cheese, and a whole banana, and a sippy cup of milk at lunch. he does however, eventually stop :)

If that weren't enough, he actually 'looks' fat... i mean, he is chubby all over, and it isn't excessive anywhere but his feet. I'm not kidding when I say his feet look like little baseballs. we say he has 'pillow top' feet. I cannot find a pair of shoes that fit the girth... i have velcro ones that are soft soled, and so forgiving in that respect,... but the velcro barely touches, and if he bends his foot at the ankle, the velcro busts open - LOL! - his weight and height are right on according to the doc... I make sure he gets a good amount of veggies, and fruit and protein during meal time... then for snacks he can have teddy grahams, or multigrain cheerios, gerber puffs...

All my in laws make comments at how 'thick' he is... sometimes it really irritates me, but they are used to my picky nephews, who you practically have to beg to eat anything! Not my boy - he LOVES food! :)

So i think your daughter is normal... my other kids have been good eaters too (one babysitter actually increased her weekly fee because my kids ate a lot more than her kids - she commented 'they eat TWO packets of oatmeal!!' - I really thought that this was normal... but i guess not).

As long as you're putting as much good as you can in, she shouldn't hold onto any excess weight :) my 2nd was a chow hound and today, she's a skinny little twig and still eats very well.

so..... here's to good eaters!

To be honest, I don't think this is "normal". I strongly agree that children eat "a lot" during this period of their lives because they are "so active". However, you must feed children the same why you feed yourself. If you are consuming more calories then you are burning it is not healthy and you will gain weight...this is the same for a child. Check out www.mypyramid.gov for the correct amount of fruits, veggies, grains, protiens,and fats your child should be consuming!

Also, obesity is a rapidly increasing problem in the US...and by constantly allowing your child to eat beyond her necessary needs you are contributing to this problem. Focus on her health...she doesn't know how to do that...it is your job!

Good luck!

I also have a 16 month old "eater". She has been a good eater from birth. My daughter can also eat a whole sandwich, veggie side, fruit side and a 4 - 5 oz of milk. As long as your daughter is falling in the average ranges for height and weight during her check ups with her physcian, I wouldn't worry. At first I was also worried that she was eating too much, but then I realized how lucky I am that she eats so well. I see other stuggle with what to feed their child. With ours, we never have to worry about what to cook, what to order and where to dine out. She eats so well. I taught my daugter the sign and word for "more" and "all done" that she has been using since about 7 months. That's helps me know when to take the plate away and when to replate with more food.

I would say unless her Dr has advised otherwise, let her eat and know that food is important to noursish our bodies and so long as it's a mealtime and not all day snaking, let her eat her full.