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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

4yr old stealing food and drink from the house. What to do?

42 replies

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 01/12/2008 08:48

He is terrible for taking food that isn't his or from the side or whatever.

He is well fed with a huge appitite but still if he even finds a crumb on the floor he will be after it.

He will steal ds2's food if i am not looking and is really sneaky about it to.

If one of us has had a can of coke or something he will snaek in and drink the dregs out of it.

If there is a dirty bowl or something waiting to be washed on the side he will take it and pick any left over food out of it.

Its disgusting to see and frustrating as i don't know why he does it.

I suppose i could just keep everything constantly kept out of his way and all dishes washed imediatley after use ect but it's not possible.

How do i tackle this?

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misdee · 01/12/2008 08:50

is it linked to his cf and the meds he is on? is he on any steroids?

Original poster

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 01/12/2008 08:52

I have asked his cf team but they say it shouldn't be, he is on Creon (pancreatic enzymes) to make him digest his food and its goodness so he shouldn't be going hungry or lacking in any nutrients or vitamins.

He's not on any steroids and never had been, he has never had a wieght problem.

CF team say its just a growth spurt as he asks for food and drink constantly and will keep eating untill he is sick. Its been going on for ages though so im not sure.

OP posts:

edam · 01/12/2008 08:53

I wouldn't class it as 'stealing', it's his home. Might call taking ds2's food 'pinching' but 'stealing' is really OTT.

How old is he? And how often does he eat - do you do snacks as well as main meals? Lots of people say boys are like dogs and need plenty of food and exercise. Does he get plenty of protein, fat and carbohydrate (low fat, high fibre diets are NOT healthy for growing children)? Is there any particular time of day when he takes food he's not been offered? Does he take mainly grown up food?

Maybe you could offer him an occasional very small glass of coke. I know it's not great for children but he clearly sees it as a treat that he's been denied.

edam · 01/12/2008 08:55

Ah, didn't know about CF, although you say CF team say it's not related. If it is a growth spurt, he obviously needs more filling up.

Why don't you try just feeding him more often/bigger portions and see if it works?

seeker · 01/12/2008 08:56

It's not stealing - you can't steal food in your own home!

Just give him more to eat!

Original poster

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 01/12/2008 08:57

He eats 3 huge meals and 3 snack s a day, there is no way he can be hungry!

Sorry i didn't mean to sound OTT with saying stealing im not being harsh its just the first thing that came to mind.

Just taking him to nursery then i will be back.

OP posts:

misdee · 01/12/2008 08:57

how about keeping bottles of drink for him (sports bottles) in the fridge. and free access to the fruit bowl. some people on here have snack boxes which kids have free reign to throughout the day.

has he started nursery/school recently? dd3 is 'staaaaaaaarving' when she gets home. mind u i can never fill her up either. the amount she eats she should be huuuge!

Original poster

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 01/12/2008 08:59

I will give you a rough day of what he eats when i get back.

OP posts:

fishie · 01/12/2008 08:59

or how about his own shelf / cupboard with things you don't mind him eating, say dried fruit, breadsticks.

edam · 01/12/2008 09:00

You might think that but he clearly IS hungry, isn't he? Or at least it's the first possibility that should be dealt with.

Dunno about Creon but is there any chance he's not on a high enough dose or it's not working properly?

Coagulate · 01/12/2008 09:04

Tell hill off!
Don't be such a weakling!

thisisyesterday · 01/12/2008 09:12

to be quite honest with you, you don't know when he is hungry.
he does.
my almost 4 yr old eats like a horse, and grazes throughout the day.

if he is "stealing" food as you put it then maybe, just maybe, you could consider the fact that he is just plain hugry????
why not make sure that healthy food is available to him throughout the day, that way he won't feel the need to take stuff you don't want him to have.

Original poster

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 01/12/2008 09:51

Please no flaming to day ladies.

I am feeling like shit i just got to nursery only to be dragged aside to ask if iam feeding ds properly as he is so hungry all the time and is taking the food off the other children.

Here is what he eats in a day.

Breakfast - Big bowl of cereal/ 1 slice of toast, fruit and a glass of juice.

Snack - At nursery he has usually bread and a topping or furit or veg sticks with hummous or something similar and milk.

Lunche - a big plate filled with a variety of sandwiches/crisps/fruit/cheese/crackers/nuts/raisins. Drink of water or juice
Its a large amount of food.

Snack - Tosat or crackes with cheese or ham plus a drink.

Dinner - Huge plate of Spag bol with salad and garlic bread or a roast with several sides he will have seconds if availiable and dessert. Drink of water or juice.

Bedtime snack - Biscuit/fruit/humous and dips. Milk

All his meals are adult sized

Plus he will eat anything anyone offers him and anything he can find or take from others.

I have tried open friut bowl we had it for a month or 2 and he was eating a whole bowl of fruit a day and i just cant afford for him to do that as well as the meals and snacks he is having.

He may be hungry like you say i don't know but if he is its not normal he eats more than dp and i and is still saying hes hungry.

I have asked HV and dr's about it and am fed up of saying 'feed him more' i can't afford to ffed him more like i say he is eating more than most adults do. He does alot of excersise and i have been assured its nothing to do with his cf.

I am not stupid i have a sensible head on my shoulders so i know its not a normal child thing to do, i have another son and a huge family with lots of children.

To be blunt of ds didn't have cf he would be very overwieght. I am worried about him thats all.

Sorry for sounding harsh like i say i am feeling fragile.

OP posts:

SpirobranchusGiganteus · 01/12/2008 09:58

It does sound like you should be going back to the docs to press them more about whether his cf or any other medical condition might be causing this.

Meanwhile you need MN to come up with suggestions for the cheapest possible healthy snack that he could help himself yo whenever he wanted.

Anyone any ideas?

SatsumaMoon · 01/12/2008 09:59

It does sound like a lot of food - as you say most children would be overweight if they ate that much. My 4 year old (big for his age) wouldn't eat anywhere near that...

I know it is a pain but I really think you need to go back to the gp - if he's eating that much and not putting on much weight his medication can't be right. Or could you ask to be referred to a nutritionist or maybe have his thyroid levels checked?

Original poster

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 01/12/2008 10:00

Thank-you spiro some helpfull advice without being harsh (just what i need right nowwith my wobbling lip)

I have just had a chat with dp on the phone , we are going to bring back the fruit/food bowl and just out less in it each day so he can help himself to it and maybe alternate fruit with plain popcorn or nuts or something similar, this will be in addition to his normal meals and snacks.

He is in hospital for some i.v antibiotics on Wed so i will ask them again about it.

OP posts:

SatsumaMoon · 01/12/2008 10:02

I was going to suggest popcorn as a cheap and filling snack - especially if you make your own. You can buy a bag of popping corn very cheaply (about £1) and it makes loads.

SpirobranchusGiganteus · 01/12/2008 10:03

Oh yes plain popcorn a good idea. Hope you've got one of those popcorn machines.

And you musn't feel bad about this. It does sound like these is some underlying medical thing year that you are doing your very best to deal with.

SatsumaMoon · 01/12/2008 10:05

If you haven't got a popcorn machine you can just use a saucepan with a lid - heat a little vegetable oil, put in the corn, put on lid and wait till popping stops!

Original poster

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 01/12/2008 10:06

Yes i will do popcorn.

Anything else?

OP posts:

edam · 01/12/2008 11:23

Presumably nursery knows about the CF?

Think you really need to go back to CF team and explain exactly what he eats and the portion sizes and that he's still helping himself to anything he can get his hands on at home and nursery. I'd be very suspicious in your shoes that the Creon just isn't working effectively, especially as he's not overweight.

misdee · 01/12/2008 11:30

porriage, sometimes dd3 polishes off 3 kiddie-sized [portions in the morning.

misdee · 01/12/2008 11:32

also can u add some yoghurt into breakfast as well?

wingandprayer · 01/12/2008 11:32

is he having brown bread, brown pasta, brown rice? Lower gi stuff should mean he feels fuller for longer. Porridge for breakfast too.

ib · 01/12/2008 11:35

I make banana pancakes for ds - mash a banana, add an egg and a bit of milk, then add oats and flour until the consistency is thickish but easy to spread iykwim.

I make thickish pancakes that ds can just help himself to. It's a pretty healthy, filling snack.

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