Let me start things off by saying that my son will be two in October. He isn't too skinny or too fat for his age (He was actually right at the 50th percentile at his 18 month check up, not that that really means anything). Here is his food schedule:
We have breakfast right after we wake up which is usually around 9:30am. We have lunch around noon. He usually takes his nap from 2pm to 4-5pm. He has a small snack both before and after his nap. We usually have dinner around 7pm. He has another snack before his bedtime at 10:30pm (I know it's late but it works for us).
The problem is that the entire time between meals/snacks he is begging for food... Well, begging for his favorite foods... Cheese, Apples, Gerber Puffs, Cereal (Usually Cheerios), and Animal Crackers. If I give it to him he will just continue to munch on it the entire time between meals/snacks. He doesn't eat any less at meal/snack time and chows down on that as well. He doesn't appear to get full. Yet, he doesn't wake up during the night hungry.
At first I was thinking growth spurt, but it's been going on for a couple of weeks now. Any ideas on what is going on?
He is definitely eating enough during meal time. He is drinking plenty of water throughout the day. He has been kind of pointing at his mouth and whining lately, so maybe it is a new molar or something?
Don't let him graze, but if he is eating enough at meals and not overweight, I would give him 2 to 3 snacks per day, but have him sit at the table to eat.
My daughter ate like mad and it worried me. She ate more than I did and it only just slowed down when she turned five. Five! We're vegetarian, but the amount was crazy! Toddlers are supposed to graze but I was concerned. I'm fit and small, but still eating more than an adult?
When it slowed down, she shot up: excellent weight, happy/healthy: )
I would say you may need to give him more protein? I have to think about her iron and protein intake and that may (or may not) be a factor for your son?
Is he eating enough during his meal times?
Then I'd let him eat his snacks.
It could be a growth spurt.
Also, some kids have a very high metabolism on top of it all.
Mine has the fast metabolism w/o the intake so I have to keep on top of it
and get him to eat.
So if he is in fact eating his meals, I'd let him continue to snack.
There's a reason for it!
When a child "begs" for food, listen. It's their bodies talking to them and thank goodness they are able to articulate it to you.
Probably just a growth spurt. My daughter has always eaten us out of house and home when shes' on a growth spurt! She will eat nonstop all day long if we let her. As long as its healthy food, it's all good!
More protein at meals will keep him full longer.....
If he is seeking food then he is hungry. Kids do not need to be on a diet so I would let him eat as much as he wants unless it becomes an issue then I would try distracting him with something her really loves.
I was wondering how much he is drinking. I know that for me, personally, I always feel hungry when what I really am is thirsty. If I drink a half glass of water, I realize I am not hungry at all, but was just dehydrated a little.
Is he drinking enough milk and water throughout the day?
I think it's common for this age to eat non-stop all day long. As long as he is eating enough at meals, let him have a snack trap filled with whatever.
My 2 year old eats all day long. His snacks are what I consider meal size, yet, he still sits down and eats dinner. He isn't fat, either, just a growing kid.
grow spurt was my thought too, what bout a molar breaking through, does he want the crunchy to soothe a tooth?
I would try to get him to eat meals/snacks every 2 hrs. sitting down at the table not running around, and i would also up his water intake.
I would limit the grazing. Have you tried giving him more at specified meal times and filling him with more good food? Kids his age are growing fast and need protein, for example. If you do give him an extra snack, make sure it's healthy (which it sounds like most of them are). Give his stomach time to register that it's full before giving him more. He may indeed just be growing but I tried to not let DD snack ALL day.
I'd determine if he has a molar coming in. I'd give him teething rings or Zweeback to gnaw on. (Unless he actually eats the Zweeback quickly - then you're defeating the purpose by giving it to him.)
He shouldn't be eating all day long, so don't let him do all that snacking. If what it REALLY is about is trying to get his favorite snacks, THEN only offer him raw vegetables. He'll either eat them because he's in the middle of a growth spurt, or because he needs to gnaw for his molars sake, or he won't eat them because all he wants is what he wants.
Truthfully, you need to help him think about something OTHER than food.
And don't forget Tylenol for teething - it really made my kids feel better.
Dawn
Yep sounds like a growth spurt and yes, it can last longer than a couple of weeks.
You are sure he is eating enough during the actual meals?
Maybe increase the size of his portions..
He is really active? If he is really getting around and playing a lot more he is burning up a lot more energy and this will increase his appetite.
