3yr old always tired - lacking iron / vitamins??

[Zil131]

My nearly 3 year old is pretty standard in terms of todder eating habits. I feel that generally the quantity of what he is eating is probably about right, although the quality is skewed very much towards carbs - but that's toddlers...
And he sleeps every night from 8pm to 7am; and a few days a week still has a 2 hour lunch time nap.
However I do feel he's always tired. His comfort things is sucking silky labels in clothes, and every day several times he seems to 'crash', gaze into the middle distance and suck a label. He also always wants to ride in the buggy rather than walk, and isn't keen on going to the park.
I obviously should really discuss with the GP, but he tends to be a bit dismissive, so I wondered whether any other NMers have had a similar child, and whether diet / vitamins could be a cause

It could be the amount of carbs. wheat can cause inexplicable tiredness you could give him rice krispies and ryvita's instead.

I honestly wouldn't start excluding or restricting anything from a 3 year olds diet without seeing a doctor. Lots of 3 year olds are a bit lazy when it comes to walking very far but if you are worried then you just have to bite the bullet and go to the Doctors, and ask to see someone else if you don't think you're being taken seriously.

Agree with glasscompletelybroken. Certainly wouldn't play with a child's diet like that without proper medical advice. Ryvita is high fibre and would actually fill the stomach and prevent the child getting adequate nutrician, which would make matters worse not better.

Thanks all. I'll keep a food log for a week or so, then go and see the GP.

bruffin; Ryvitas are made with rye flour which is more nourishing than wheat and, we're talking having 1 or 2 compared with overeating white bread. Most 3yr olds exclude foods on their own IMO

What is suitable diet for an adult is not necessary suitable for a child.

This is from the FSA website

"But if you tend to eat high fibre foods, remember that young children's stomachs can't cope with foods such as wholemeal pasta and brown rice. Also, too much fibre can sometimes reduce the amount of minerals they can absorb, such as calcium and iron."

yes i totally agree about whole WHEAT but Ryvitas are not made with wheat. My DH is terrible with wheat but can eat rye no probs.Of course too much of anything is not good.

It's about high fibre, not whether it is wheat or rye.