Problem with young child overeating??

[andrewsmom]

Hi!! I hope everyone is doing well.

I was wondering if anyone had this problem with their children at a young age. Andrew is only 2 but will just eat and eat. He never seems full and I have watched him fill himself so much he will actually get sick. I have to stop him from eating because he won't stop himself.

Sometimes when he figures out I won't give him anything else to eat, he asks for milk...I mean cup after cup...and once again will throw up because his stomache is so full. (Hard to believe this child was on special formula not too long ago to "up" his calorie intake).

Anyone else have this as an issue? I thought this might just be a passing faze but it has gone on for too long now. Anyone?? Advise??

Thanks
-Trisha

[Connie]

Trisha,

Collin is now 6 and at times, depending on what we are eating he will do this. So, we really try and watch what and how much he is eating. We really have to watch it when he is eating waffles, oatmeal and cinnamon rolls and drinking Orange Juice.

But, I can say he is starting to show progress on limiting himself and beginning to tell me "No Full" but , its still not a soon as I would like.

Connie

[meghans_mom]

We don't have a problem with MM but there is a little boy in MM's class and he doesn't seem to be able to stop eating. We took them to McDonalds the other day (the whole class) and he ate his entire happy meal, then proceeded to go around and take french fries from all his classmates. He then ate his ice cream cup, and then stole MMs and ate half before we got it away from him. He is on the heavy side though, but I dont know if his brain just doesnt signal to him that he is full or if he just likes to eat a lot.
It's definitely something to watch because I've seen from the graduate kids from last year that around 5 or 6 that weight can sometimes start to become a problem.
I don't know how you curb it though -- best of luck. laurie

[hannahph]

I have heard that since most of our kids have lower muscle tone it is harder to recognize that they are full. As for keeping them from over eating , well that is a tough one. The only thing I can think of is locks on the cabnets and if he is asking for food give him two choices but with a healthy snack so he feels in control of the situation(by choosing) the other thing is maybe just checking in with the Dr just to rule out anything physical going on.

[Emilysmom]

When Emily was younger, we had more problems with her overeating by sneaking into the refrigerator and eating whatever she found...........sometimes right after a meal! I used to get so frustrated because she'd grab a ziplock bag that had a huge block of sliced cheese and would take a huge bite into it and put it back in the bag! This kind of thing almost never happens anymore. (although just a few weeks ago, 2 raw hot dogs went missing and Emily acted very suspicious.........YUCK!!)

The best thing for her is that she has always eaten very slowly..........I think that really helps her to get full on less food. It used to be that we'd leave a restaurant, after eating a good meal and she'd see another restaurant she loves and say "Can we go there now"? Now, at the end of a meal, she says "I'm stuffed"! So, I do think she FEELS full more clearly now. (I hope that makes sense)

I tend to fill each person's plate at the stove and place it on the table (rather than having serving plates/bowls of food ON the table), and I have always placed small servings of each item on Emily's plate...........she seldom asks for seconds because, by the time she is finished with her first helping, everyone else is finished and ready for dessert. For her, portion control has really helped with weight control because we haven't been very good about allowing only healthy foods. I'm finding it interesting that the older she gets, the more different foods she enjoys............she never would have touched a tomato for 14 years, but suddenly likes them!

[andrewsmom]

As long as I'm not alone on this one, I feel much better.
I like the idea of filling plates at the stove rather then serving platters. Right now, all our food goes on platters or in big bowls on the table and everyone helps themselves to more if they want it.
Andrew also eats slowly....kind of like he is "savoring" every last bit...LOL! He enjoys his food more then anyone I know!
He doesn't go back to the doc for any checkups until next March, but my older boys (who have the same doc) have an appointment next week. I think I'll try to sneak in this question for him.
Thanks guys!!

-Trisha

[marisa]

Just want to add that I started making plates at the stove and serve "restaurant" style now and not "family" style. Laura would do the same thing, eat eat eat. Now she knows when her plate is empty she is done. This has helped out alot!! Also, I do the heathly option thing and she gets 1% milk.
Laura is a chubby girl, but I would not call her overweight. I want to keep it under control now so we don't have issues down the road. I know exatly where you are coming from

Marisa

[Claire]

Adam now almost 9 was on pureed foods until he was 5. But he sure made up for it once her learned how to eat regular food. I can't event tell you how many yogurt containers. puddings, cereal bars I have found hidden in the last year hidden in different areas of the house. What we do now is serve by plate at the counter instead of at the table, I also prepare healthy snacks like carrot sticks with dip (you can get the little container with the little hole in the middle for dip in most stores), crackers and cheese, grapes pre-cut so he won't choke, sliced apples and so on. We made a small area in the fridge with Adam's name posted on it. Now he knows that when he's hungry he can grab anything on that shelf without me saying no. It did take a while to get him to understand this but was it worth it. The only problem is when we go to someone elses place, first thing he does is open the fridge door and say where's Adam. ;D ;D ;D If any of our relatives know we are coming they make him his space in the fridge with his name on it. ;D ;D

[Jessie]

We serve dinner restaurant style as well, so Jason's plate is set when he comes to the kitchen to set the table. I think Jason would just tend to make more bad choices with food rather than eat too much food. He would have potato chips & french fries for every meal if we let him. However, he stops when he is full - he will grab his belly like and shake it, laughing because he is full. He's a goof.



Jessie

[Valerie]

Nicholas has recently started doing this! He is constantly in the refrigerator getting anything out that he can reach. It could be right after a meal, but he acts like he's starving. My short term solution (until he's taller!) is to tie the refrigerator doors shut! And I'm like you, it's hard to believe this is the same kid who would take an HOUR to get an ounce of formula down and still only weighed 7 lbs at 3 mos old!

[Connie]

I just wanted to add a nugget of food for thought (LOL).

I know our kids have a tendency to over eat because Collin has an still does at times. But, I want to remind parent of younger children not to confuse over eating with eating because of a growth spurt.

My kids all do this when they are getting ready to have a growth spurt. We can just finish dinner and withing 30 minutes they are in the pantry digging for something to eat acting like I never feed them. This usually last for 7-10 days then they are done and I am out shopping because they have just out grown their pants and really don't want me to chop them off at the knees so their pants will fit....I really don't understand why they don't want me to do this...LOL.

Connie

[andrewsmom]

LOL Connie....You make me laugh!

Yes, I agree, Children do eat more when they are growing. My six year old is growing right now and boy oh boy... one week she is a bottomless pit and the next I have to persuade her just to finish her dinner. It has been this way all summer. (what a pity we will have to go clothes shopping again...hee hee).

Thanks to everyone for all your support and great ideas. This is why I love this place!!

-Trisha