Toddler Always Wants to Eat

To make you feel a little better, I have a 13 month old who weighs almost 30 lbs! She also loves to eat. She hasn't had baby food since she was 8 months old and barely has any teeth! My son is almost 3 and I have to force him to eat so I am in the same boat as you. If you find any answers to this, let me know. :-) Thanks!

Hi J.,

Your little one has either gotten into a habit or there is a nutritional deficiency she is trying to satisfy. I can't help you with a habit but I do have suggestions for the other.

Has you seen any signs of Candida? In little ones it's known as thrush (visible on the tongue as a white coating) and it is simply a yeast infection. Yeast is a VERY common problem in our society today, in men, women and children, because of all the sugars in our diet. Not just processed sugars but white potatoes, breads and fruits. If there is a yeast issue, it is causing continual cravings. (Sugar feeds yeast just like you add sugar to a bread starter to keep it alive) Once yeast is visible on the tongue or their bottom as a diaper rash in a little one, or you know where in a woman, the entire body is already eaten up with it and it needs to be removed. Simple yeast creams just handle the outward symptoms and not the inward ones. It is possible to have yeast without any visible signs.

I use a product called Florify for my kids and myself if we have an issue. It is a probiotic/prebiotic and contains acidophilus. Acidophilus in yogurt is good because it somewhat neutralizes the yeast in the yogurt; however, there is not enough in yogurt to take care of an existing problem.

You may also want a to get a good, ABSORBABLE, chewable multivitamin also. As she gets the vitamins and minerals she needs, it will "snuff out" the cravings for other stuff.

I hope I helped some. If you would like more specific information, please let me know. I would love to help.

Regards,

M.

tell her no one time and then egnor her when she memtions food.

Fat people turn into diabetics. after 5o years of it and a daughter whohas had it for 15 years; Diabetes is royal pain and has caused many physical problems

Dear J.,
I understand your concern and you are doing the right thing by bringing this out for ideas.
I am familiar with nutrition and I believe your child may not be getting the necessary nutrients that her developing body requires. If her doctor had run the blood work to ensure she is not having any endocrine problems, then perhaps you may want to explore a way of nutrition.
I know of a fantastic formula that may help your child. The same scientist that created Enfamil for children is the one who formulated it but its for children (after they have been weened off the baby formula.)
Best wishes on your search.

Sounds like you're doing everything right with regular healthy meals and redirecting behavior. My kids tend to be under weight (comparatively) but all three have persistently asked for certain things, for example, every day asking for ice cream for breakfast even though that never happens.

As long as she's definitely healthy in other regards, it's probably just a phase. Maybe this is your daughter's way of testing boundaries? My youngest wants to eat all the time, too, but not necessarily meals and we have to be very firm about when it's not time to eat, especially in the middle of the night. (Our rule if she doesn't eat dinner is that she may have one spoonful of peanut butter and a cup of milk before bed, no variations on that).

Dr. Brazelton has good advice re fussy eaters which probably applies here as well: don't make a big deal out of it, and don't give this situation/your child more power than it merits.

L. D.
mom of three

Hi there!
I have the same issue here, my son who is a tad older than your daughter....he's 2.5 yrs old eats ALL THE TIME! He too was born a little eraly, 37 weeks, but even at 37 weeks he was a whopping 8 lbs! He too wants to eat all the time, eat and drink. We have had him medically cleared, and everything is okay....he is just hungry!!! I think they are too little to be put on a "diet" per say. I am subscribing to the theory that as long as I am giving him good, nutritious snacks, then if he's hungry he eats! I always think...what if they really are hungry? I wouldnt want someone to deprive me of food, so I try and act the same way!
I hope this helps you, and know that you aren't alone! I've got one hungry boy on my hands. He's 36 pounds at 2.5...at leat 4 pounds heavier than his four year old sister.
Good luck!

HI J.,
I have a 16mo daughter who is the same way and its no big deal...just make sure what she eats is good and not junk and you'll be fine....i feed her applesauce, yougurt, cut up fruit, etc....and then redirect her to play outside more...and she is fine....not over weight but 95% and loves to eat right now.....i have five kids, so I am aware of the differences and stages and it all works out! so dont stress or sweat it and don't impose worldly beliefs and "weight" or even make it an issue at this young age...teach great eating habits and types of foods and active lifestyle...and she'll be fine. my boys are the same way...but they can eat all the fruits and veggies they wish....no big deal and they don't get the wrong impression about food and weight...its all healthy, healthy discussions, etc...and I encourage the small, numerous meals daily...but good food! so just enjoy your daughter, encourage her eating of great food and great play time and you'll LOVE it, while other kids fight over food! :) you are blessed

Wow... you and I should get together... too bad we dont live in the same town!!!! I have been going through the SAME situation with my little boy... he is 30 months and weighs 38 lbs (yikes) (39'' long) and eats like a horse (if we let him... which we DONT) I even took him to a psychologist b/c I thought there was something really wrong with him!!!! It turns out this is just as normal as an extremely picky eater, just the other side of the spectrum. The thing is that you and I really need to be careful b/c of the weight gain...
one good thing that has come out of my issue is the fact that Chris eats very healthy... there is no junk in his diet or any sweets or candy, not even a cookie... no juice or french fries... everything I make is from scratch and the most natural, organic ingredients I can find... It has not been easy since I work full time but I learned how to organize myself to make sure that whatever he eats is just healthy...
when he asks for food (specially 10 min after he ate) I offer him a carrot or a celery stick... for many months there was a lot of crying and tamtrums, but now he eats it if he is hungry... and if he really isnt hungry he will stop asking since he knows that's the only thing there is to eat
It hasnt been easy, and I am still going through it... we have our good days and our bad days... but everyday that goes by I feel more confident about it!!!
I am also reading this book: a parent's guide to childhood obesity... although my son is not obese, it is a great reference on portion size and good ideas on healthy eating habits...
Hang in there, it will get better... and send me a message if you want to talk more
Best of luck
C.

PS you can read my desperate post about this situation... I even went to the extreme of not giving him any fat (I was desperate)... now I know better!!!! =)

I can't believe it...I'm not alone! I have a little boy who just turned 3 on Easter. He has been just as you describe, since birth! I think his first word might have been "snack"! He also, would ask for snacks just minutes after a meal and eat huge portions at meal time. The one good thing was that I always served him healthy food. Even with brusel sprouts on his plate, he'd cry "mommy, more brusel sprouts"!My husband and I are both very lean, a combination of good genetics, (mostly) health eating, and an active lifestyle. Our son is not "fat", but thick. He has always had the "buddah belly." At his 2 year apt., his Dr. wasn't concerned, but I have yet to bring him to his 3 yr. apt. At first, I was concerned that he had OCD. I ended up speaking to a child psychiatrist about it because it was getting to the point that he would scream and really cry, "I'm still hungry", even after he had already eaten much more than I had! I could get him to redirect his attention, but it would take a while. I went to a professional because I didn't know if I was doing the right thing by telling him no with regards to food. I didn't want to set him up for an eating disorder or somehow harm him psychologically. She said that redirecting his attention was the best thing to do and that I needed to help him regulate his appetite, that I should set reasonable limits for him. She said that you have to set limits for kids...1 hr. at the playground, etc... You don't feel bad making them leave even if they are kicking and screaming. Kids need limits. I'm just really sensitive to the food issue, saying no to a toddler that's screaming "I'm hungry" is a lot harder to do than making him leave the playground when I say no. Anyway, I had to do something. It was so bad that if our friends had us over for a party and there was food out on the table, my son would stand in front of it and keep asking for more...he wouldn't let the food out of his sight! So, I started to portion out what I thought he should eat at each meal. I would put 2/3 of the meal on a plate and serve it to him. When he was done and wanted more, I would give him the remaining 1/3 and tell him right then that that would be all. At first, he would ask for more and maybe put up a fit, but after he realized that that was the routine, he is MUCH Better! He rarely ever asks for more...he knows that after seconds, that's it! My only problem now is at daycare, where I think the portion sizes are outrageous! My son will still eat everything if it is presented before him. So, when given the opportunity to have 2 corndogs, fruit, vegetables, and milk...he'll eat every morsel. Personally, I feel that one corn dog is plenty for a 37 1/2 inch, 34 pound child! So, at this point, I have it under control at home, when he's with me. He is switching to a daycare in june, where I provide the lunch so I'm really hoping that this will finally get it under control and he'll be able to eat healthy choices. He's not the typical kid, he'll eat a sandwich on whole wheat bread and every vegetable under the sun! I could bring his lunch in now, but I don't want him to feel "different" than the other kids and I can't ask them to not offer him a second corn dog if they are offering it to all of the other kids. Anyway, my goal is to teach him healthy eating habits and have it under control by the time he is able to chose for himself! I understand your struggle and hope this helps! Feel free to email me to discuss further!

K.

My friend in a VERY good child pshychologist specializing in infant and toddler disorders. I care for a child with similar issues and consulted her about it. She said to make sure she has lots of play food and a kitchen with lots of plates, cup, etc. A baby doll with a highchair and bib with baby utensils so she can model feeding the baby. This wil help keep the topics of food and eating less taboo. She hears you talk with family and friends about your concerns and will begin to feel like food is something she shouldn't have all the time, and then will become obsessed with getting it. Playing with pretend food will help her explore this pattern that she enjoys so much, who knows, she might become the next Rachael Ray. Second, she might have some oral sensory integration problems, where food is a stimulas for her orally. This can be helped with therapy from an occupational therapist. You can ask your doctor for a referral and they can test her to see if she needs a little help. If she has a pacifier still, i would let her continue to use it for another year or so. Also, sippy cups like the Nuby style that have the soft silicone sipper are comforting to toddlers mouths, like a bottle would be, but a step away from the bottle. Although you may see her chewing it or just holding it in her mouth instead of drinking, know that it might be offering her a soothing, comfort. You can get safe objects that she won't choke on and necourage her to put them in her mouth and tell you if they are bumpy, smooth, round, what shape it is, etc. Babies learn more with their mouths about things than with their hands and eyes. Make sure you offer very well balanced meals and perhaps let her scoop the food onto her plate that has portions to help with portion control. Put the food away before everyone eats, even if you have to shove it in the oven out of site. That way the concept of seconds is eliminated. Offer plenty of fruit and vegetables. Put out a plate of sliced apples, and super thin carrot sticks as a grazing snack plate throughout her day. Offer lots of ice cold water as she may be eating when she is really thirsty. Offer her a half piece of the double fiber whole grain bread with a little olive oil or THIN butter before every meal. This will help her get some great whole grains, omega-3's for brain development and will fill her up before eating. This is a good 10 minute before you eat habit for everyone in the family and it will stop the whining while you are cooking. Start a habit of her going to the table to have her bread and coloring while you finish preparing her meal. Good luck, your concerns almost gaurentee that you care about her nutrition and will raise a healthy happy daughter. Good mommy!!!

I have friends whose child (who is now 6) is CONSTANTLY hungry. I have kept her before and she is ALWAYS asking for food. But rarely eats the whole meal sitting at the table. Since that does not seem to be your situation, I would leave it at 2 things. 1) make sure you keep good communication open with her dr. - could she have some sort of illness that this is symptomatic of?; and 2) be very conscientious (I am sure you are already) of WHAT she is eating. I have found, that in general, for myself AND my children, if we eat food items that contain little or no protein, we stay hungry. So I would simply enjoy the ease at introducing new foods, and try to ramp up the protein a bit... maybe offer her yogurt, slices of cheese (or cheese with crackers - but not "cheese crackers" i.e. goldfish), apple slices dipped into peanut butter, peanut butter on nilla wafer cookies, etc. The most important time to be sure she is getting sufficient protein is at breakfast. My daughter is almost 7, and she still eats a frozen waffle (cinnamin toast) with peanut butter smeared on it for her breakfast. That, and sometimes dry Special K cereal (which for regular old cereal has the highest protein content), both accompanied by a glass of milk. (since she doesn't care for eggs). But your daughter might enjoy scrambled eggs for breakfast... That is the best thing I know to suggest... the protein lasts longer in the stomach and she will feel full longer, it does not burn off as quickly as carbohydrates.

Is she drinking milk and getting enough of it? I realize that alot of doctors say that milk isn't important but after talking w/ my doctor who just gave me a bone density test at age 56, it is. Milk helps fill them up and the calcium and protein in milk gives nourishment, therefore a full feeling. Then you might want to look at the types of food. If when she wants more food she has something with just a little bit of salt or sweetener in it, that enhances the appetite. If when she's hungry still you give her veggies than she probably is hungry and needing it. I realize that this sounds a little picky but I found it makes things easier, plus your child will stay healthy.
Good luck.

Maybe you should consider having tests ran... thyroid, diabetes, etc. Your Dr should be able to run a panel of tests to rule out any other conditions that might be causing the constant hunger.

Good Luck!

--P. M.

"Prader-Willi Syndrome is a rare, hereditary condition where the sufferer has an uncontrollable urge to eat. A 3 year old was diagnosed with the disease after initially being misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy due to poor muscle tone, however after the age of 2 she began to eat excessively and became obese. "

have her tested for illness, deficiencies etc.

I have a 6 and 3 year old that are the same way! I have been told that because we eat and live healthy, our kid's digestive systems are working at peek performance and don't struggle with issues that children who are eating and living unhealthy run into.

It's been said that before there were grocery stores and such planned daily schedules in society, food was eaten when it was found. Now, food is so readily available, it's way too easy to overeat! To me, it seems as though what you stated, "It isn’t like we give into her when she asks." is one of the keys. Good going. Keep up the great work in redirecting her and match your determination with hers!

I'd like to add that many of the situations that I know, when one has to 'force-feed' a child, he/she has been enabled to be a picky eater. It can be a battleground or be used by the kid to manipulate the parent/s. When my children ask for more I just say, "Yes you may, at the next meal/next snack time"

I also try to keep in mind, by observing and knowing the general growth charts, when my kids are have growth spurts. I always allow for more during these times. There are so many differing views out there, but I hope that something I may have said could be of some help!

C.

My little boy was the same way at that age. He always wanted to eat. But he was constantly growing. He has always been off the charts, but at a proportionate rate. Basically, he's 2 and a half and he's the size of a three and a half year old. He is by no means fat and he is incredibly active. At 21 months we were a little concerned because he would eat more than me at meals and still want to eat all the time. We offered him healthier choices and absolutely no processed foods or major sugars. Long story short, he eventually evened out. It was just a growth spurt. He needed that food because his body was growing in leaps and bounds. Now sometimes we have to beg him to take a bite of his dinner. And otehr days he's ravenous. We just let his body tell him what it needs and continue to provide teh right kinds of nutrition for him.

Good luck!

-T. Q

My son is the same way. He's 27 mths and weighs 36 lbs. He was also born early (5 weeks) and was only 6 lbs. He was almost 9 lbs by 6 weeks and has been gain weight since. He eats all the time and is active. Sometimes I wounder where he gets all the engery and even ask him if I can have some. In the past couple of months he's been thining out a bit. He's always had a budda belly. So I'm sure your daughter will do the same. I wouldn't worry yourself to much. Just be gratefully that she's not a picky eater. My step-daughter is that way and it's so hard to get her to eat. My son and daughter are about the same hieght and wieght and their 2 years apart. Just keep up what your doing and things will be fine.

My son was born 2 weeks late but has always been a good eater. He eats 3 meals a day plus 4-5 snacks a day. At the table he can sometimes rival the same portion I'm eating.

My best advice is to let her eat HEALTHY snacks. There are times that my son will tell me he is hungry, if I hand him a snack bag of something healthy he may tell me he doesn't want that. I explain that if he is hungry he will eat the snack I'm providing otherwise he can wait.

People who have the best metabolism are those who constantly eat. The more often you eat the better your metabolism is. So, I wouldn't worry about how often she is eating instead focus on what she is eating and see how healthy you can make her snacks and meals. In addition, fruits and veggies have more protein in them which is also what makes you feel more full so don't be suprised if in a few weeks you see her appetite go down.

Kids also go through growth spurts which can have an effect on their appetite ~ For most kids I know they get hungrier. My son's appetite deminishes and he needs more sleep.

Most children take spells on eating. Your child is not satisfied with a taste or just something she is needing in her system. Try vitamins. Shaklee has a wonderful childrens vitamin and its all natural. I keep honeynut cheerios and goldfish for my greatgranddaughter and if she feels a little hungry that seems to help, but she gets irritable when hungry and I feed her. It doesn't take much to satisfy her. Try the vitamins and keep a small snack around to help her. Balanced diet is great but sometimes there is something the body needs to satisfy it.

Hi J.,

I think you shouldn't worry as much as you are but consider this... children this age do not eat for other reasons than hunger. So she must be asking for something else her little body needs. I feel that as long as you are providing a variety of good nutritious choices, such as fruit and yogurt for snacks, vegetables with lunch and dinner and whole grains like oatmeal for breakfast, you shouldn't worry about giving her as much as she wants. If she is primarily asking for more of things that only taste good, like cookies, potatoes, mac & cheese or other things that are not quite as good for her nutritionally, I would just offer something else. But I wouldn't deprive her if she's asking, no matter what she weighs now. Toddlers have an innate way of getting as much or as little as they really need to eat and it changes quite often depending on growth spurts, etc. You may find 3 months from now that her appetite tapers off and she doesn't need as much, but I'd let her body regulate that rather than you trying to do it.

I'd also recommend switching to 1% or skim milk if you haven't already. While kids definitely do need some fat in their diets, they usually get plenty from a balanced diet.

Good luck, but try not to worry! This is the time when a child has no worries about weight or appearance and I think it's a blessing to let them enjoy it. She'll have her entire teenage and adult years to worry about her weight, take the pressure off all of you for a while.

K.

Have you tried giving her a water cup to carry around with her always. Maybe that would help her to feel more full if she is drinking alot.