Is this amount of food normal? Where is it all going?

[sweetmeatsandale]

DS is 22 months. He weighs around 20lb. He is in 9-12 clothes. 6-9 month vests.

He's tiny. But it's a gigantic amount of food. An example -

5, yes 5, brioche rolls. A banana. A yogurt. A handful of strawberries.

Spaghetti B for lunch, a child's portion but a bigger child. I'd expect a 9 year old to be satisfied with it. He isn't - He will then have seconds and polish the lot off. I wouldn't offer the seconds but he looks around frantically and moans if others are still eating.

His nursery have reported having to always give a second helping since he's very quick and takes other children's food who are sat there looking into space! We ran into trouble a few weeks back because he quickly snatched and gulped down a sausage (meat). He's veggie.

For dinner he'd have something lighter, a sandwich with some crisps. A piece of fruit. A slice of cheese. But recently I've just been giving him a portion of my food since he isn't satisfied with something light after a heavy nursery 'tea'.

Other foods for breakfast include two scrambled eggs on toast, nursery often say he has a slice of marmalade toast to keep him satisfied.

Lots of fruit, lots of cheese. He likes anything and everything.

Last night he ate, yes he ate the whole thing, a plate of nacho cheese with jalapeños on top! Didn't bat an eyelid at the spice. Even dipped the nacho in the salsa

He will eat sushi. He will eat a roast (his favourite). He will eat and eat and eat and I don't think he

I kit don't know where all of this is going. I know some children 'burn things off' easily but his seems so extreme. I would be overeating if I consumed what he does.

Give him meat and fish. He is craving animal protein

joy Ahh, I was waiting for that comment.

“Give him meat and fish. He is craving animal protein”

What’s that going to do?

If it was Pradawilli he’d be packing on the weight. I agree diabetes might be a concern. Or it might be he doesn’t eat much and Op is overestimating his intake which is why I think experts need to be involved

Overactive thyroid is also a possibility. Definitely needs to be checked out. GP is likely to be better than health visitor for this type of thing.

Pass he certainly does eat much. I thought too maybe I'm overestimating but the proof is in front of my very eyes

No brioche left in the pack now. No strawberries left, hardly any cheese left. Almost out of yoghurts, crisps, meat replacements.

None of it goes in the bin or in my mouth.

And to add to it, his nursery say he's a little pig too

I would take him to the GP

Also be aware that lots of nurseries give very small portions so wanting seconds there isn't unusual at all, or still being hungry when he gets in.

I've been in ones that offer lovely big portions when it's parents day or something on show, which then revert to tiny portions when it's a normal day

TKe hi to the GP, a medical reason needs ruling out. At first glance he should be assesses for
Diabetes
Over active thyroid
Coeliacs disease

Oh and worms

My DD has been like that from weaning also. She used to eat or at least taste everything in sight. Even now at 5yrs old she eats what I call a working mans lunch for school lol. Plus she snacks after school and has a big dinner. However, shes extremely active and runs everywhere! Is your little one hugely active? If so that would obviously keep him in shape, burn it off and he refuels.

How active is he?

My DD eats a lot, but she never ever stops moving so I can kind of understand why.

Does it basically all come out the other end? That could suggest a problem with diet.

I would go back to the GP but this time insist on a blood or urine test.

@Passthecherrycoke yes you are are right about PW, ignore that op.

I would be getting a GP appointment and be asking for a paediatric referral and tests for diabetes, coeliac etc. The amount he's eating does not match his weight, something is amiss somewhere.

My cousin has Coeliac's disease, and before diagnosis (when he was about 2) he was simply not gaining weight despite eating plenty. As others have said, worth checking out.

Prader Willi comes with more than just an increased appetite. Those with PW often have very poor muscle tone, have a weak cry as babies, are difficult to feed as babies as they have a poor suck, have distinctive facial features, have eye problems and they often have developmental delays and learning difficulties too.

Your DS is smaller than my 21lb 19 month old who barely eats anything. Like 2 strawberries would be a good snack. I'm getting concerned about my DS size as he's dropping centiles although HV is not concerned. I would be very concerned about your DS and certainly make a GP appointment.

Classic symptoms of diabetes.

You can ask for a simple urine test. Do not be fobbed off!

Prader Willi comes with more than just an increased appetite. Those with PW often have very poor muscle tone, have a weak cry as babies, are difficult to feed as babies as they have a poor suck, have distinctive facial features, have eye problems and they often have developmental delays and learning difficulties too

Yes that's definitely not my DS. Breastfed like a pro from his first ever feed, never ever cluster fed. Always an outstanding sleeper. Didn't really cry as a baby but his cry wasn't what I'd call weak. Nothing amiss with his facial features or eyes. Although he doesn't speak yet apart from the a two letter word.

The thing is, even if he was craving a different type of protein, this much food would be making him gain weight if he's only eating i tbecaues he's snot getting what he needs. So it does seem a bit odd. Does he seem well in himself? Chirpy, alert, energetic?

Certainly, I would also see a GP. But my GP is very open to this kind of concern and at the very least would do a quick urine sample etc. I took DS to see her when he started drinking a lot at around 18 months as we have a family history of diabetes and she said that even though it was unlikely I'd done exactly the right thing, and did a quick urine test.

Hi OP

I am definitely not criticising your DS's vegetarian diet. I'm bringing up two little veggies too.

And I agree with others that you should get him checked out with the GP - bringing with you a diary to make sure they understand just how much he's eating.

I do wonder whether some kind of vitamin or iron deficiency could be lurking, as that could make you crave food as your body desperately tries to get what it needs.

Iron can be tricky with veggie children - is he eating lots of green veg, dried fruit, lentils, pulses, fortified cereal, etc?

Is he eating plenty of eggs and dairy, even Marmite, for B12?

Is he getting a range of protein types? Most veggie sources of protein are incomplete (unlike meat), so you need to make sure he's getting dairy, eggs, nuts, seeds, pulses, soy etc.

I'm sure you know all this though. Certain conditions (Coeliac disease, pernicious anemia etc.) can prevent you from absorbing nutrients, so that's worth considering too. Hopefully it's just a phase and his eating will settle down and he will do some growing soon :)

I don't want to alarm you, but he might not be digesting fat. Ask your GP to refer him for tests. DS1 wasn't diagnosed with cystic fibrosis until he was 5.

I'm wondering about diabetes. I think growing children can eat a lot. Then at times not bother. But this feels a bit insatiable and him being small too.

I'd get him checked out with GP but you're getting a lot of unwarranted judgement about his size - my almost 2 year old is about 24 pounds, she is following her charts perfectly though and moved up through the percentiles- she was just tiny at birth. If you start life at a few pounds growing to 20 lbs is a lot of growth!

If he wasn't digesting fat I think you'd see it in his nappies. Loads of people raise vegetarian kids and they aren't this hungry. I think a trip to the GP to rule out diabetes is a good idea. Do let us know how he's doing op.

I don’t want to be rude op- but why on earth did you allow him to eat 5 brioche rolls?

If it’s not something medical, a parental attitude of no food limits can’t be helping this situation either?

5 of those, a banana, strawberries and a yoghurt (if it’s not just natural) is a hell of a lot of sugar for breakfast.