Concerned about 13 month old's food intake

[calilark]

Hi, hoping for some advice on my DD's food intake as I am concerned about the vast amount she can eat.

On waking this morning, she had a long lazy boob feed for about 40 mins. Then downstairs she has a small fistful of dry Cheerios, a piece of toast with strawberry purée, and a handful of blueberries.

Then about 30 mins later she was having a snuggle with her daddy and watching Cbeebies, I came in with my toast and ended up giving her half a piece which she wolfed down like she was starving. She's having a nap now, and she'll eat a whole banana when she wakes up.

At her one year weigh in, she was on the 50th centile, so perfectly average. She is developing a lot at the moment and very close to walking, cutting new teeth etc so obv needs the energy but I am worried for her when she is older in case she ends up taking after me - bottomless pit, can always eat more, and obese by the age of 20

I am very mindful to not make a big deal of food and diet when she is older, but the sheer intake of food for a tiny tummy is worrying me!

Anyone?

To be honest it sounds like you are projecting concerns about your self-image onto your DD. Many children that age need to eat often and what you describe all founds like reasonably healthy foods. Try some porridge if you want to try something filling but if I were you I would forget about it.

Yeah, it sounds very normal to me. My DS did use to eat huge amounts of food, and I let him eat to his appetite. Now at 2 years old he eats a decent toddler portion of food and is neither fat nor skinny. I know he eats to his appetite as he will stop eating even his most favourite food when he is full.

I understand your worries - my DS is also a significant eater. He's just turned one and I regularly get reports when I pick him up from nursery that he's had second portions of lunch/extra fruit/extra yoghurt/extra milk etc.

He's also around the 50th centile for weight (and always has been) - and he's had a mini height leap too recently so he's heading back towards the 50th on that line too (tho still a shortarse for his age - only at around the 25th but used to be 50th).

We liken him to a puppy - always asking for food from our plates (even when he's finished his own dinner), and will often cry when he's finished because he wants more.

I find it very worrying and stressful at times, as it's not easy to get good advice about what they need.

But... he is nearly walking, he's clearly growing, and he's making mental development leaps all the time - he's not fat (just short!), so I'm trying to chill out about it a bit.

One thing I will do, is encourage him to drink more water - often humans think they're hungry when they're actually thirsty.

Just to say my DS (14m) eats quite a lot more than it sounds like your DD does. He will often have 1.5 Weetabix plus some fruit at breakfast, sandwich (one slice of bread folded in half with dairylea) for lunch, a fairly big tea (eg. a fishfinger, half a dozen chips and as many peas as I'll let him eat) plus a couple of snacks (fruit/breadsticks/fromage frais etc). He also has 250ml of milk first thing in the morning and before bed.

I am conscious of not over-feeding him, but he is 75th centile for weight and 91st for length and has been since birth, so this just seems to be what he needs. He's chubby in the legs and has a baby pot-belly but definitely not Michelin-baby - you can see his ribs.

Doesn't sound too bad. My 10month old has a weetabix, 210ml milk, fruit and half a toast. Similar big lunch and big dinner.

He really struggled to not drop 2+ centile measures when he breastfed, since we introduced solids it's been the opposite.

He's 91st centile for length and 75th maybe for weight, which isn't surprising I think. He looks like a baby shape, not fat for sure.

Make sure you teach good food habits, good food combinations and discipline and it'll be fine.

Children will eat to appetite when really young, as long as offered a range of healthy options. Denying food when hungry will not teach them discipline, it will teach them that sometimes there isn't enough food to fill them up. Just let them eat until full.

I meant food discipline, not eating sugar and junk.

What is food discipline?

Could be a growth spurt!

My DS eats a lot too. He has been 96 centile consistently since birth, now 16months. But I wouldn't worry too much, if they are asking for it they must need it hey. Hope so! I understand how you feel, I'm quite lean but DH can eat and put on weight easily. Just make sure it is all healthy and not too many treats. I think we would worry more if they weren't eating.

its normal. Please ignore the supernanny nonsense of one spoonful per year or whatever it is (and she is overweight ) . The only things to be careful with are foods with refined sugar and rubbish like crisps.

You are breastfeeding so don't see what she crams in. Many FF babies at about 6 months will easily down half a pint of milk in one go. Tummies aren't that tiny!

They eat me during growth spurts. They also eat less at around 2 for some reason, it all evens out.

eat more but tbh they probably would eat me

Food discipline, you can google it, but basically it's just new trendy term for having a balanced diet.

Not eating loads of sugar or fat, but if you do eat junk, make sure you exercise and eat salad or whatever. Understanding the impact of food, obviously at 10months it's balancing fruit and veg and meat and 'treats' but as they get older you can talk about it.

Continentals like the french are much better at it than the British. Of course it helps if you have the same attitude.

My 11 month old eats loads more than that as others have said as long as the food is healthy I wouldn't worry.