My 2Yr Old Wont Stop Eating!

Allowing a child to regulate how much they eat is important in maintaining the ability to know when they are hungry or full but the parent's responsibility is to set the time, place and foods that are offered. Ellyn Satter has several books that can really help with developing good eating habits and eliminating the meal time struggles. I am a Registered Dietitian working with parents all the time and this method really does work (i also have a 4 year old and 2 year old who have tested every area of eating!). You have to set guidelines and stick with it - there will be some temper tantrums but it really is worth it in the end. Look into her books - they are easy to read and offer wonderful advice. Good Luck! J.

Hi A.,
Why is a 2 year old helping himself from the fridge? My kids were not permitted to do that as toddlers. You need to make a clear rule that he needs to ask mommy if he can have a snack or drink. Even watered down juice is only recommended in very small quantities. First, I'd make sue that he's eating regular meals. No morning snack unless he's had a good breakfast, no afternoon snack unless he's had a good lunch. Then time healthy snacks so that they don't interfere with meals. My youngest liked to "graze" when he was little - I moved the snacks to a higher shelf in the pantry, I was lucky to have a bottom-freezer fridge so he couldn't open the fridge, I even had to get rid of the fruit bowl from the kitchen table because he'd eat five pieces of fruit a day and then not eat meals - even too much of a healthy snack is not a good thing
Good luck

If it makes you feel any better I'm in the same boat with my 2 1/2 year old daughter! She asks for snacks ALLLL morning long sometimes. It drives me crazy! The only thing I can say is try to offer healthy snacks...like the other mom said, we are the boss! I'll tell her "no, you can't have X right now, but you can have an apple or raisins if you're hungry". Sometimes, if we've just finished a meal, I'll tell her she needs to wait an hour for anything else- and then stick to your timeline. Toddlers, huh?!!!!

Just eliminate the 'bad' snacks from your house. if it isn't there then you can show him, and even though he won't understand at this age, at least you know, YOU can't give in because the chocolate milk isn't there. Get whole white milk for your older son too. I personally don't give chocolate milk. My kids get one juice box a day and the rest is water
good luck

We only do snack food on special occasions and don't normally stock it. Snacks in our house are vegetable sticks with nut butter, hummus, eggplant spread, mashed up avocados or other dips; whole fruit or leftovers. Cooked veggies don't go over too well with my 3 year old, but if it's fresh and crunchy she'll gobble it up ;-) Drinks are water or herbal teas. Celestial Seasonings has some really good blends that go over well with kids and are good either hot or cold. By only offering this kind of stuff between meals, meals are less of a struggle/worry.

I wouldn't worry about it. Most moms are freaking out because their children aren't eating. My son is all about going into the refrigerator too. He likes to get his milk and juice out to help me. As for snacks, I just try to limit him, keep them as healthy as possible and if its close to a meal time and he's looking for a snack I just feed him the meal. If he's hungry though, feed him! He's two, I'm sure he's active and burning a lot of energy - if he's anything like my 2 yr old he doesn't stop moving all day! My 2 yr old all of sudden doesn't really eat veggies either, but I just keep giving them to him hoping he'll change his mind one day. Instead I focus on the good fruits and proteins that he will eat.

Welcome to my world. My son's are older but the same age difference! My problem was that my little one would only eat chicken nuggets - so I bought morning star farms "chicken" nuggets. Is he a healthy weight? What snacks are you giving him? If they are healthy snacks this isn't a problems - they usually eat six meals a day. I also make casseroles with veges minced so small they don't know they are eating them. Try savingdinner.com or allrecipies.com for ideas! Carolyn

One of my twin boys (he's 4 now) has been like that for a while. He just eats and eats all day long. He LOVES snacks, but will eat more than just junk food. He sometimes asks for fruit or vegetables, but it's amazing to me how much and how often he can eat. He walks around saying "I'm hungry" all day. And he's very skinny! I think some kids just have that sort of metabolism (wish I had it!) Just try keeping "healthy"-ish snacks around so it's not all cookies and candy and ice cream. My kids love hummus, so we try to give that to them. Or sometimes carrots they can dip in peanut butter (protein).

As far as juice goes, what we do is make a big pitcher (eco-friendly!) of Propel Water for them to drink. We call it "water juice." It's just water with flavored electrolytes. We started doing this because I hate drinking non-flavored water. Propel has about 5 calories a serving and the kids feel like they are drinking something sweet. They ask for it all the time!

Hi A.,
I would suggest to get a gate to the kitchen or a lock on fridge. And if the child is hungry feed him. My son goes through stages he is 4 now that he will eat all night long or nothing at all. Kids eat when they are hungry. I wouldn't worry too much this will pass. Best of luck.,

I would put snacks out of sight if possible and just keep fruit in the fridge. I had to stop giving my son juice boxes because he was drinking too much because he thought it was fun to drink out of them. Even the motts for tots adds up if they have too many Instead I water down juice in a sippy cup and I finally got him to drink water by putting it in a Diego straw cup he likes. He's still not thrilled with it but he drinks it when he's thirsty. So if you can find a cup that he likes that might help. Is it possible to hide the juice boxes and chocolate milk so your older kid knows where they are but your toddler can't see it? Otherwise, all in all as others have said its good that he is eating so I wouldn't worry too much if these things don't work. With my son he's pretty good with fruit and veggies but I have a hard time getting him to eat protein foods. Always something huh? Anyway, good luck!

My youngest two children, ages 3 and 5, eat all day long too. We have rules in our house that they have eventually accepted. One rule is that they get to have juice once a day, milk twice and then it's water for the rest of their drinks. Another rule is that they get a sweet treat after school and maybe after dinner (such as 1 cookie or 1 piece of candy) and that they may snack all they like on fruit, whole grain bread and bagels, low-sugar peanut butter...etc. Cutting things up in fun shapes and making them easy to eat helps.
We always have a couple of vegetables at dinner and those have to be finished. I let the kids help me shop and choose what veggies to serve at night. I don't harp on the proteins I serve, although at least a little of that gets eaten each meal and over a week they get enough.
I hope this helps - good luck!

I would check with pediatrician. Could be several things.
My daughter ate and drank like crazy and she ended up
having juvenile diabetes. However, she also was lethargic.
If he seems healthy it might just be a habit. Better to be
safe than sorry. GL.

Get a fridge lock if you need to. Try to be the one in control of snack and meal times. I don't understand a child that age dictating their own eating. Take charge mom. He won't like it. Just hold fast and he will get used to the new deal. Be sure to give him choices and make sure he knows you mean it when you say it is this, this or nothing. If he chooses nothing wait till he asks for the offered items or the next meal. He won't starve to death but he will learn who is the parent. Best wishes.

my son doesn't eat enough...his doctor recommended that I gice him carnation instant breakfast with his breakfast. It has protein and nutrients, but tastes like chocolate milk...not a solution for you, but it might help a bit...

I am so jealous! Sorry, it's just that I have the opposite problem with my son! I have seen suggestions on this type of thing before. First, I wouldn't lock the fridge, but would make a special drawer or section of the fridge for him and his snacks. Of course you will only stock that drawer with things you'd want him to eat. I've heard this works well, because at this age, they will get locked into a power struggle with you over anything, because of their growing independence. Better to re-direct their behaviors rather than try to roadblock them, I think. And don't worry about not eating at meals. This is completely normal--toddlers and pre-schoolers graze, and this is actually a healthier way to eat. I don't care if my son grazes, as long as he is eating mostly healthy snacks. If we sit down to eat and he isn't humgry because he's snacked, he will either just eat a few bites, or I will serve him some fruit, which he will almost always eat. As for the juice, I would allow it--but just slowly change the ratio of juice and water until it is mostly water with just a splash or so of juice. As for the chocolate milk, that is up to you. Some moms are totally against it. I don't mind it, but I make my own, using Ovaltine or Carnation Instant Breakfast, so that I feel he is at least getting some additional nutrition out of it. If you do that, talk it up and call it his "special" milk. (I did this with my son when he wouldn't eat cheese--I bought string cheese and called it "special cheese" -- now he eats it up and asks for more special cheese!

BTW, here's where I got some of that info (having shelf space just for your toddler)...although the article is about picky eaters, it talks about typical toddler eating behavior, and also tips for feeding them...
http://askdrsears.com/html/3/T030800.asp

Good luck!

you are the boss... give him a small snack.. pour something out into a bowl.. not a lot.. for an afternoon snack.. .. then when it comes to dinner.. tell him he has to eat a certain amount.. like 6 peas.. and count them out.. then tell him he will get a small bowl of sherbert.. or 2 cookies.. don't let him overeat. as for drinks.. pour it into a glass.. juice boxes are for when you go out.. when you pour it out into a glass.. add ice.. or a little water.. tell him no for chocolate milk or yes if he eats his dinner.. besides veggies try watermelon, strawberries or cut up apples.. don't keep the chips... around for him to see... tell him you only have fruit.. remember you are the boss... start him out with good stuff now.. it will be easier as he gets older..

Hmmm, my little boy goes through growing/eating spurts for days and days eating his meals, whateveranyone else is eating AND snacks!! Then a few days with just snacks. I do give water or watered-down lemonade or oj or plain milk to drink. Hopefully he'll outgrow it when he doesbt beed to burn so many calories!
Good luck!

Hi A.,he might be snacking frequently b/c he is bored. Are you engaging him throughout the day with activities and distractions? If not, try it and I am sure you will see a difference. As for eating more fruits and veggies, you can make meals where there is no meat to eat-only veggies, he will begin to eat them. Make sure they are well seasoned.I love to add olive oil and garlic to my brocoli, which my kids love. You can also bake a sweet potato and add sugar and cinnamon-if you must. Try serving it w/o it first. Corn is also a vegetable that kids like to eat flavored with butter (yes, butter and not margarine that clogs your arteries). I hope this helps.

Sounds like your little one is having a growth spurt. Start him young and get him used to fruits, vegetables and water. Good luck!!!

My daughter (2) would also love to eat snacks non-stop and is not too interested in eating meals. She is at daycare all day, but what I do at home for dinner is this: She has to eat her meal. If she says she is done, I put it away. I don't throw it away. If she wants a snack after, she can have her dinner back, that's it. If she is really hungry, she will eat it. I don't allow snacks to replace meals.

So, anytime he starts helping himself to the fridge, pull him away and offer him the leftoevers of his last meal. If he doesn't want it, then he must not be hungry and you are dealing with displaced "hunger". Something else is driving him to eat and you definitely need to get to the root of it.