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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think my child can't be this hungry!!!!

28 replies

giraffes2021 · 29/10/2021 08:42

3 year old DD constantly asking for food! She is very slim but I think it's just habit now!
As soon as she opens her eyes she wants a snack goes mental until you feed her breakfast then she wants another snack she'll have breakfast before nursery breakfast at nursery and then lunch tea then she comes home and as soon as we see her she asks for a snack in the car on the way home!

Aibu to think that it might just be a habit now? Honestly I don't know how she eats so much!!! How do I deal with it do I keep just feeding her hahaha

OP posts:
GoodGrief100 · 29/10/2021 08:48

Mine is exactly like this. Any 'extra snacks' are healthy like veggie sticks or fruit - if she refuses them she doesn't get offered anything else (she can't be that hungry if she can manage a biscuit but not some veg or fruit 😉). They do go through stages of eating loads and then not a lot. If her weight is good, just give her something when she asks for it and don't worry too much.

Original poster
giraffes2021 · 29/10/2021 08:51

It's more that it's as soon as we open our eyes and we are trying to get her dressed and stuff and she's kicking off for food hahaha
Then it just feels like it constant but I know what your saying I might start offering her carrot sticks she'll soon stop asking hahahaha
It's probably my own fault as I do always buy nice snacks like yoghurt crumpets all that stuff but I guess if she's not overweight I should just keep feeding her! I'm sure nursery don't feed them enough!

OP posts:
Nearlytheretrees · 29/10/2021 08:52

Does she drink enough? I remember someone telling me that children often ask for food when they are thirsty as they can't tell the difference

SushiGo · 29/10/2021 08:53

Swap most of the snacks for fruit and veg, if she keeps eating the same amount she'll be getting lots of great vitamins and minerals in and if she doesn't no harm done, she must not really have been all that hungry!

MistyFrequencies · 29/10/2021 08:54

My 3 year old has breakfast at home then another at nursery. Then snack, lunch, snack then home for dinner with us then snack before bed.
He is a sturdy boy though, not overweight but tall for his age, defined muscles etc. So I don't restrict him. If he was overweight I'd do as suggested and make the snacks veg etc probably.

GoodGrief100 · 29/10/2021 08:55

I feel you, in our house we wake up to "MUMMY I'M SOOOOO HUNGRYYYYY" (accompanied by quite a sweet tummy rub) and then she snubs the banana she's offered and requests cake and chocolate 🤣 Errrr, no!

Bottleofstout · 29/10/2021 08:57

Growth spurt!

InTheLabyrinth · 29/10/2021 08:58

Aged 3, DS would have breakfast at home, go to nursery for breakfast/snack/Lunch (usually with seconds, sometimes with thirds)/tea. And then come home for a full dinner. And occasionally a snack before bed. His appetite is calming down now, aged 12, but he is still skinny enough to cause problems with trouser buying (I retired his aged 6 shorts this summer, as they were becoming too short - they still fit his waist).
If I thought he was eating through habbit or boredom, I'd offer something he was happy to eat, but wouldnt choose (bananas for DS1, cereal with milk for DS2).
If she is genuinely slender (be honest) trust her on the food. Offer healthy snacks and meals, and let her regulate.
DS1 can ask about what will be for dinner about 30 mins after lunch Hmm

girlmom21 · 29/10/2021 09:00

My 2yo has breakfast before nursery, breakfast at nursery (normally cereal and toast!), morning snack, lunch (often 2 servings), dessert, light afternoon meal, dessert, then comes home and will regularly eat a meal with us and have some fruit afterwards

Original poster
giraffes2021 · 29/10/2021 09:03

@InTheLabyrinth yeah she is defo slender tbh we are all however we are all quite tall I'm 5ft8 and dad over 6ft

It's seems like we aren't the only one ! Haha I can't afford to feed these children her little brother is exactly the same and he's 18months it's probably cause we all are foodies! At least I'm not struggling to get her to eat I guess!

OP posts:
Original poster
giraffes2021 · 29/10/2021 09:04

@Nearlytheretrees your probably right on that she doesn't Drink as much as she should!

OP posts:
Original poster
giraffes2021 · 29/10/2021 09:05

@GoodGrief100 yeah sounds exactly like us! She sometimes goes mum my tummy hurts I think I need a snack!!!

OP posts:
FAQs · 29/10/2021 09:27

My daughter is like this at every growth spurt. She has been like it for the past few weeks and I measured her yesterday (she is 17!) and she has grown another inch to 5’ 7”and is now taller than me and very happy about it! She has always been the same. She is a tiny size 6.

PumpkinPie2016 · 29/10/2021 09:35

My son is like this (he's 7 now) and always has been.

He often has toast and cereal plus an apple for breakfast. Then grabs a babybel as he heads out to school.

He takes a piece of fruit and breadsticks for morning break at school.

School dinner - he definitely gets his moneys worth 😂 he has the hot meal plus extras off the salad table, including bread and the dessert.

Snack as soon as he gets home.

Then a full evening meal. Usually something for dessert - maybe apple and cheese or similar.

Then milk and banana at bedtime Halloween Shock

He is tall for his age and skinny - I buy those trousers with adjustable waists as otherwise, they would be falling down!

I think some kids are just hungry Halloween Grin

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 29/10/2021 09:38

My Niece was like this at a young age - DS would pick like a bird. DN now has levelled out and DS will eat anything that's stationary ! As long as the food and snacks are healthy , keep feeding .

trumpisagit · 29/10/2021 09:40

Watch out for teeth if she is almost constantly eating.
DS2 was slim (and still is). Because he is small overall we always gave him food when asked. He had to have 4 decaying milk teeth removed in ks1.
He didn't eat sweets, chocolate, sweet food, only drank water.
It was having food on his teeth for too much of the day. We encouraged him to stop grazing and teeth are now fine.

RacketeerRalph · 29/10/2021 09:45

@giraffes2021

It's more that it's as soon as we open our eyes and we are trying to get her dressed and stuff and she's kicking off for food hahaha Then it just feels like it constant but I know what your saying I might start offering her carrot sticks she'll soon stop asking hahahaha It's probably my own fault as I do always buy nice snacks like yoghurt crumpets all that stuff but I guess if she's not overweight I should just keep feeding her! I'm sure nursery don't feed them enough!
We have to provide breakfast as soon as my 2 wake up. They're ravenous after a 12 hour break from food!

They get a bowl of cereal, usually porridge, with a dollop of full fat Greek yogurt on for protein which helps fill them for longer. But they still often want second breakfast, but that's not allowed until they are dressed.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 29/10/2021 09:47

I had a cat that started acting like this, would beg for food, even ate a slice of white bread!
It turns out that she was pregnant - but I don't think you need to worry about your DD on this point. Smile

CoolOven · 29/10/2021 09:50

Does she drink enough? I remember someone telling me that children often ask for food when they are thirsty as they can't tell the difference
I think this is quite common. It was the case with all mine when young. Drunk first.

CoolOven · 29/10/2021 09:50

Drink obvs.

IndecentCakes · 29/10/2021 09:53

As long as the snacks are mostly healthy and she's in the correct weight range, it's fine.

DressedUpAtAnIvy · 29/10/2021 09:56

My daughter had two phases like this when she was three. She eats a lot but is very active (she’s not at all overweight), and sometimes it was a growth spurt but often I think it was about control. I think they start to realise that they need food and have no means of getting it themselves. I let her have a bag with water and a rice cake and at home left the rice cakes and fruit on the table where she could reach them and she didn’t usually eat them but did stop asking.

FreakinFrankNFurter · 29/10/2021 09:56

My DS8 is still a right moody lump if we try to make him get dressed and ready before he's had breakfast. I think he wakes up ravenous after 11/12 hours.

Your DD doesn't sound unusual so try not to worry. DS would eat colossal amounts at a similar age. When he started school just days after his 4th birthday, the breakfast club staff used to ask where he puts it all! That was after he'd had a breakfast at home!
He does still have a big appetite despite being slim and isn't fussy at all. We've always let him regulate his own appetite, never encouraged him to eat a bit more if there's a day he isn't eating much.

If you're unsure if she's hungry or habit then give boring food. Something you know she will eat but not her favourite or treat stuff

Triffid1 · 29/10/2021 10:01

Does she have milk? At that age, I'd give her a small cup of milk as soon as she wakes up as I don't think it's odd that they're hungry after being asleep all night and in fact, they're probably thirsty too. Then dressed etc before breakfast.

wanting a snack immediately after school or nursery doesn't seem odd to me either as I think they're often hungry and the portions at school/nursery don't tend to be massive and the kids are very active.

More important is what snacks you're giving her. if it's biscuits and cakes, that's a problem. If it's fruit and vegetables, a rice cake or some yoghurt/cheese I don't think it's an issue really.

Siameasy · 29/10/2021 10:02

Mine does this and she’s 6 now. But I’ve noticed she actually often doesn’t finish her dinner and in any case we have a few rules:

No pudding during the week
Here’s your dinner eat it or don’t but there’s nothing else
After dinner, kitchen is closed
Water only to drink apart from special occasions