HE EATS TO MUCH! - and never gets full

CAMSMOM1 wrote: My son is 20 months old, and has always loved to eat. I know that sounds like a good thing to most, but it's gotten to be bad. When he was an infant I breastfeed him, he would eat almost every hour, the doc said it was normal.
The older he got, the more he loved to eat. I mean, HE LOVES FOOD.. wakes up and goes to the kitchen, points at the mirowave and tells me to "COOK!"
Several times through out the day he goes to the kitchen and tells me to cook, even if he had just eaten something.
This is not a growth spurt, this is how he always is.
There are 3 reasons I'm writing this. 1st is that he is obsessed with food, he rather eat than play with his toys. You can't eat in front of him without giving him half your meal, or he'll throw a fit. He acts like he's starving, but trust me, he's not!
2nd when we are around family, he'll go and eat off of everyone's plate. They all think it's cute, because he begs like a puppy dog. Then it's hard for me to kee tract of how much he eats cause he's eating everyone's food. I have told my family a million times that he has a "eating problem" and to not feed him. That only I should feed him. Now my family is starting to see what a problem this is, and is more cooperative.
3rd thing is he never gets full. At his old daycare, the lady gave him 6 pieces of pizza and he still wanted more. (of coure he doesn't go there anymore) He can eat as much as a man would, and then 15 min. later wants more food!
At his last doctors appointment I brought it up to his doctor. I explain everything to her. She didn't see it as a problem. She said he is in the 100% for his weight and height. He weighs 36 pounds, but because he's so tall, he's not overweight. I went to get a second opionion, and this doctor told me the same thing.
They don't live with him and see how he eats. I have to monitor his eating, and deal with constant tantrums all day when I don't give him food.
Has anyone dealt with this before? What should I do? I don't want him to get overweight, and I know the holidays are going to be soooooo hard because there will be food out everywhere and he will be wanting to eat all day long.
When he's at my Dad's, he knows where he puts his cookies in the drawer, and I found him eating the whole box! This kid is smart when it comes to getting food.
Sorry for the long ramble, it's just something that has become a major problem and I've never heard of a child eating like he does.
Ann

kimberley replied: my first son is like that and he is 9yo now. he has always been a food lover from day one and does eat like a man if you let him. i also got the same response from his pediatricians. he just has a high metabolism and likes food. they did ask if he was regular using the washroom because if he wasn't, it could be a tapeworm. not the case for us.

in toddlerhood, i really didn't make a huge deal out of it once i knew the ped was not concerned. putting too much emphasis on food intake so young can backfire and cause an eating disorder imo. we did moderate what he ate but he always ate far more than any other toddler. now that he is 9yo, i am trying to teach him to eat until he is satisfied/full.. not until he can't breathe lol. it is slow progress. i guess the reason i never really worried too much also is that he is a generally healthy eater. he doesn't drink pop or eat many sweets but he loves his fruit and carrots and cheese and crackers.

the only real problem i have run into is with his current school. he was begging crackers off the secretary all the time (he loves soda crackers) and would fib to get them saying he hadn't eaten when the truth was, he had cereal, 2 apples, toast and juice for breakfast . then my headache with them and CAS started but he doesn't do it anymore. that is a whole other post

Hillbilly Housewife replied: It could just be that he's HUNGRY. I can eat like a man sometimes too... like a HUGE man... when I was 120 pounds I could pack away a 12 inch fully loaded sub from subways, then 10 minutes later go to McDonals and have a BigMac meal with supersized fries, and some ice cream afterwards, no sweat.

My oldest (3 yrs) has days where he'll eat only a peanut buter sandwich and some cheese crackers... and other days he'll eat 2 helpings of everything, all day. There's kids for ya...


I saw something like that on DrPhil not too long ago... but it was linked to Prader-Willi Syndrome. It's something not working in the brain - what usually tells us we're full. Characteristics are small hands and small feet, almond shaped eyes and mild mental retardation. I am assuming your child does not have this?

ETA: In no way am I saying your child is mentally retarded... PWS just came to mind because you mentionned him throwing a tantrum if you didn't give him food...and that's something pretty common with PWS.

PrairieMom replied: I was thinking you should look into the symptoms of PWS too. I've heard of people that need to actually lock their fridges shut to keep their kids from eating.
Have you been taking him to a pediatrician? a lot of time GP's miss things like that and dismiss moms concerns as just being overly worry some. If its bothering you enought to seek second oponions, I would keep asking different Dr.s until you feel satisfied that they are listening to your concerns, Or until you feel better about the situation.

CAMSMOM1 replied: Yes, I watched a show on TLC on PW syndrom, he doesn't have any of the characterists....PW has mental retardation, small hands/feet, no metabolism...WTS...he doesn't have any of those symptoms besides never getting full. I talked to my Doc about Potter Willy's and he said she said he doesn't have it. It maybe that he has a HIGH metabolism and gets hungrier faster.
He is a good eater. He'll eat anything I put in front of him. One time he ate sardines, loved them. So I try to give him healthy food.
I'm soooo going to cry right now. My son is in timeout because he was screaming for more food. He ate an entire thing of grapes, and wants more. When only have tantrums if he's hungry. (sometimes if hes' tired)
I feed him more than most toddlers would eat. I'm scared his stomach will stretch out. So that's why he gets 3 meals a day and two snacks, nothing more than that. I do have to lock up the food and keep it out of reach or else he'll eat it. He ate through a package of RAT POISION because he thought it was food! I caught him just in time before he ate it, it was out at my Mom's house in her backyard, he found it in a bush. He even eats dog food, so I have to keep our dog's food put away until night time so he can't eat it!
I don't know what to do.
Ann

jacobsmama replied: When he eats does he get to walk around and snack??? (which i'm not saying is wrong because my son does sometimes) But the reason I was asking is because maybe this is a habit for him..Maybe try making him sit at table everytime he eats so he knows that is what has to do when he has food. Because he may just be is doing it out of habit?? I"m not sure have never really dealt tith this but just tryingto offer incouraging words..I would think as long as he is having regular bm and drinking this could be normal?

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
I'd get a second opinion.

I really would. If you have to lock up food because he'll find it and eat it... at 20 months old that can be dangerous. Climbing up on counters etc... drinking poison etc... even if he doesn't present the characteristics of Prader-Willi... he couls still have a mild case of it.


If it makes you feel any better - my daughter eats more than the norm too.... she eats a lot, and is a little chunky - but she IS only 2, and still has lots of babyfat. she just eats more than my 3 year old.

she had, for instance, yesterday:

a decent bowl of cereal for breakfast (Cheerios), and a banana.

For snack, she had a muffin (regular sized, not child sized), some cheese, and a yogurt.

For lunch, she had about 2 ounces of steak (leftovers), about 1/2 cup of rice, and about 4 tablespoons of corn. Then about 10 minutes later, she was hungry again... she ate 2 slices of bread with peanut butter.

For snack after her nap, she had 1/2 a green apple, a fruit cup, some soda crackers (5) and 3 boxes of dried raisins

For dinner, she ate 2 hot dogs with ketchup, a big glob of mashed potatoes, then she had a cinnamon roll I made. It was about 2 inches by 2 inches.

Before bed, she asked for something to eat - she got a few slices of cheese, a mandarin orange, and later on, she got a YOP.

I think that's a LOT... and sometimes she'll ask for something to eat - and I have to tell her to wait until snack time or meal time. If she still gets mad or whatever... I just give her a few fish crackers to shut her up.

PhiMuMommy replied: my son could kill an entire banquet dinner (salsbury steak one) the adult size by himself at 8 months old..... so i feel you. just stuff em with healthy snacks.. apples with carmal, carrots and ranch, celery with peanut butter or cheese... and make sure they play alot. it'll all be good..

My3LilMonkeys replied: Brooke eats a lot but not enough for me to worry about. I just make sure 90% of what she eats is healthy. She takes after DH who eats me out of house and home - but he doesn't eat healthy and is a BIG guy.

On the other hand, I am struggling with my weight but have a small stomach and can't eat alot. Rocky's 2 year old's menu is more than I eat on an average day.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
Ditto - *I* don't eat that much in a day.........

sunrosejenn replied: I would definetly get another opinion ... Eliana is totally the opposite ... she only eats 1-2 tablespoons of food per day and is 13 months ... what she eats all day is 1/2 of what some 7-9 month olds eat in one meal ... Eliana is being evaluated Thursday by a occupational (they cover eating issues) and developmental therapist ... since she has reflux she associates throwing up with food and therefore I believe she won't eat like she should be ... also there could be something else wrong besides reflux as she always acts hungry but when you offer food she pushes it away ... 1st Steps is doing her evaluation, wonder if they have something like that in your area? ... what city and state do you live in?

this is what First Steps does and is all about http://www.indiana.gov/fssa/first_step/icc...alreport03.html

CAMSMOM1 replied: I probably should get a 2nd opionion, just for peace of mind at least. I know that it is a habit for him, and I can't imagine him being that hungry all the time. He does like to snack and eat. One of his favorite "toys" is carrying around an empty yogury container and a spoon, he pretends to eat it through out the day. He is very active and seems to be burning it off. And he just hit another growth spurt and grew 3 inches. But even without the growth spurt, he's always hungry. I know I don't help, because if I'm taking him somewhere and I need him to be "entertained" then I give him food. I know it works, but I'm not setting good habits.
Someone asked if he is having good bowel movements. And yes, he does. 2 or 3 a day. Is that normal? And pees a lot! I give him lots and lots of water. I also try to fill him up on healthy snacks.
I guess I just need to have him seen by a professional. I'm not sure who to go to, since his doctor doesn't see it as a problem.
Ann