Eating too much? | Imamother

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> Toddlers

Eating too much?

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amother

OP ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 11:14 am

My eighteen month old baby is in like the seventy fifth percentile for height and weight. He’s pretty steadily been this size most of his life.

Problem is I feel like he is nonstop eating. I can’t pack his lunch because he comes in and screams for food, I can never eat anything myself or give his sister a snack because he needs his own. He doesn’t take bottles - only nurses once a night for cuddling but I feel like he eats too much is too chunky.

Everyone always says how fat he is and it feels like he eats as much as I do . Definitely more than his three year old sister, who I think he is bigger than.

He has multiple messy diapers, frequently blowouts a day which I think is from eating too much.

Im so worried he has like binge eating problems or something

I feel like I can’t take him anywhere because he’ll just gorge himself on food like his grandparents or to shul.

What do I do?

Brit in Israel ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 11:34 am

What is his average daily meal intake?
Some kids just need more food than others

teachkids

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 11:34 am

You keep offering him healthy food choices. That’s what toddlers do. They store up food and then they hunger strike for a month. Rinse and repeat. It sounds like his weight is in line with his height.

I do wonder if there’s a digestive issue that’s causing the blow outs and also not absorbing enough nutrients.

amother

Lemonchiffon

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 11:35 am

I don't know if the answer to your question is yes or no, but I can "commiserate" with having a toddler with a very healthy appetite.
The most important things:
1. how much your baby eats is not a moral failing on his or your part. He is so, so little and is learning about the world through food- let him! You don't ever want a young child to assocate food with size with better/worse
2. In general, we want to teach our kids good eating habits. If your house if full of healthy options, that is what you offer. If you keep junk around, either let him have it, or get rid of it- but you cannot restrict a "bigger" child from the unhealthy food that you are okay eating yourself.
3. Make a plate of food that you think is appropriate- if he asks for more, give it! But no need to give him an insane amount of food to start. Also offer water at meals.

amother

↑ OP

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 11:39 am

BH” I feel like he eats healthy. Junk is not the problem. It’s just that her eats and eats and eats

↑ Brit in Israel ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 12:05 pm

amother OP wrote:

BH” I feel like he eats healthy. Junk is not the problem. It’s just that her eats and eats and eats

What is he eating?
I know a 14 months who for breakfast will eat easily 2 slices of bread with cream cheese and a yogurt. If he sees food an hour later he will be happy to eat it but if he doesn't see food for 3 hrs besides his bottle he is also ok.
I know another kid the same age that won't even eat 1 bread and half a yogurt and will be ok for 3 hrs.

Are his breakfasts filling enough for him to go 3 hrs without another meal or is it just a bowl of cereal which for me is a filling breakfast but for a different person it isn't...

↑ Brit in Israel

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 12:08 pm

BTW all kids ask for food if they see someone eating. The best time was when I worked from home and had a toddler, I couldn't snack when I wanted.
It is also important if you know that have had enough to eat or they have their own food and see you or someone else eat something and request it to say no. It's important for them to learn that others can eat somewhere and they do t get it

amother

Natural

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 1:24 pm

I have a 2.5 yr old. We started from a very young age trying to teach her the concepts of hungry and full. When she asks for more we ask if her belly is full or she's still hungry.

I think it's healthy to teach kids to listen to their body and hunger cues.

amother

Daphne

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 1:32 pm

If height and weight are the same percentile, he's not overeating. He's growing, period. As long as he's eating good nutritious food and not empty calories, you have nothing to worry about.

amother

Mimosa

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 1:34 pm

teachkids wrote:

I agree with this. Maybe focus on cultivating healthy microbiome, like quality yogurt &, if he'll eat it, maybe miso soup broth or other fermented foods. Even baked fruit is a wonderful source of healthy probiotics & prebiotics, vegetablesfrol soups too, maybe try cheeses by "The Cheese Guy" brand, as his cheeses are of high quality. it might help his digestion, & perhaps he'll better absorb nutrients & thereby eventually feel more satiated?

The word "bindge" is just such a loaded term; I'd steer clear of pathologizing which us complex adults can be so quick to do, especially with such a young child but at any age. It might be a phase & maybe he'll lean out soon? Hatzlacha!:

https://www.drweil.com/diet-nu.....iome/

amother

Mauve

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 1:47 pm

OP im interested to know what is your child eating on a daily schedule.
what does his 3 meals look like. We cant know if he is overeating without this information

amother

Oatmeal

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 2:25 pm

amother OP wrote:

1. Have you been to a doctor and discussed this? Is he healthy? Diabetes etc?
2. If he is healthy let him eat as much as he wants. Obviously healthy food, try not to give him any sugar at all
3. Ppl are stupid ... it's nobodys business to talk about a toddlers weight. I have a niece who was a super chubby baby. Ppl kept on saying she was fat always mentioning it. You know what she is stick skinny. Lost all the weoght when she started walking and is just naturally thin. So let them talk. The onlything that matters is that your baby is healthy.

amother

Oldlace

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 3:44 pm

I think the overeating is related to the digestive issues. Frequent blowouts is a sign of a problem. Can you ask the pediatrician?

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