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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think poor behaviour is linked to hunger/thirst?

43 replies

SharkInThePark · 28/03/2017 17:10

Does that seem reasonable or am I making excuses?! DD is 4 and I'm struggling with her behaviour. Just general rudeness, not listening, not sharing, tantrums and tears. I've noticed today she was really hungry for her dinner and gave to her early. She's like a different child now playing nicely. Does anyone else find this? I'm not 100% convinced but trying to figure out why she's such a lovely well behaved child sometimes and others a horror!

OP posts:
MrsTwix · 28/03/2017 17:12

It's always worth checking, hungry, thirsty, tired.

It isn't always, but it quite often is.

IHaveBrilloHair · 28/03/2017 17:14

It is definitely worth considering, but at the same time don't fall into giving her a snack the second she's being minorly unpleasant.

PleaseTieMyBow · 28/03/2017 17:15

In this family, definitely. My dh gets really grumpy if he's hungry and 20 year old dd is a complete nightmare when she's forgotten to eat. Must be a delight at uni!

Justtrying · 28/03/2017 17:17

Dd nearly 6 is definitely like this at times, she isn't home from school until nearly 5 and our priority is a glass of milk straight away then dinner on the table within 30 minutes. If dinner is any later she has a snack. Always better all be it perhaps tired after her tea.

ImperialBlether · 28/03/2017 17:18

My son is adult now and really lovely, but he changes when he's hungry - gets much more ratty and impatient.

cliffdiver · 28/03/2017 17:20

It is possible.

When I am thirsty I get light headaches and irritable.

When I'm hungry I get really fucking angry cross.

Lonelynessie · 28/03/2017 17:25

Yep, we tend to get 'hangry' in this house 😂

steppemum · 28/03/2017 17:30

depends on child. Ds mood is extremely linked to hunger, has been since he was weaned. He is now 14, and when I pick him up after school, it is veyr easy to get into a row with him. I bite my tongue until we are home and he has had a snack, and then we can talk rationally.

Trying to get him to learn this for himself, now that he is a teenager, is a nightmare.

Vanillaradio · 28/03/2017 17:30

If ds (age 3) really kicks off he is likely to be tired, hungry, or both. Sometimes he's just being a 3 yr old though. Grin

GoodyGoodyGumdrops · 28/03/2017 17:30

Yes, call it 'hangry', too! Our 14yo dd is really affected by it.

ZilphasHatpin · 28/03/2017 17:31

Oh I'm a demon when I'm hungry! Always the first thing I ask myself when I feel the temper rising.

Semaphorically · 28/03/2017 17:33

DD's behaviour goes rapidly downhill with her blood sugar. We have to make sure she has a morning and afternoon snack in between meals and low GI carbs if possible or she gets very difficult. But then she's 3 so difficult is to be expected!

Birdsgottaf1y · 28/03/2017 17:38

My middle DD has always suffered from being Hangry.

At 22, we've all still got to make sure that she's fed and watered, when necessary, or we all suffer.

Camomila · 28/03/2017 17:44

It's definitely the case for DH and I, whenever one of us gets a bit snappy at the weekend the other asks 'have you had breakfast yet' Blush

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 28/03/2017 17:48

I used to teach a little girl who went out of class for elevenses everyday. She was a quirky, lovely little joy most of the time but a demon if it was missed.
We do a whole school breakfast once a week and there is a marked reduction in behaviour issues on those days.
I am horrible when I'm hungry and feel really unwell if I'm thirsty.

KanyesVest · 28/03/2017 17:51

Dd is 4 and had 2 tantrums before breakfast, one while I was literally pitting it in front of him, because he he didn't have much dinner last night, due to being tired. Weetabix solves most ills in this house.

Supernothing22 · 28/03/2017 18:03

I have a very 'hangry' 4 year old.

He will melt down rather than say he's hungry though so we know now the signs and try to catch him before he gets to that point.

BakeOffBiscuits · 28/03/2017 18:05

Yes and I would also add tiredness to the list.

allegretto · 28/03/2017 18:06

Yes, my youngest son is like this.

MrsDoylesTeabags · 28/03/2017 18:07

I get hangry, you won't like me when I'm hangry Angry

TinklyLittleLaugh · 28/03/2017 18:11

With a very badly behaved toddler we also noticed a spoonful of calpol having a magical effect once. So obviously some sort of pain, teething maybe, that he couldn't articulate.

It's a tricky one though, obviously not a good idea to dish the calpol out on the off chance.

Lindy2 · 28/03/2017 18:12

Yes DD and DH both get very stroppy if tired or hungry. Luckily they both know it so when I tell them to stop moaning and eat something things usually improve.

corythatwas · 28/03/2017 18:14

For some children. With other children, you'd end up with a very overweight child if you tried to pre-empt all misbehaviour in this way.

Also thinks the current habit of snacking and having lots of sugar added to meals means more fluctuating blood sugar- which then needs to be "cured" with more snacks.

KanyesVest · 28/03/2017 18:14

tinkly, I have been known to offer a half dose of prophylactic calpol regularly now and again. It works wonders.

d270r0 · 28/03/2017 18:17

Yes, definitely. My 2 are little horrors when they're hungry.