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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?

OP posts:

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poshwellies · 01/12/2008 11:49

My dd was obese and absorbed with food as a toddler (still is really) but our doctor pushed for her to be tested for prada willi syndrome (negative result) but excessive hunger/overeating is one of PWS symptoms.I DOUBT very much you ds has this though.

poshwellies · 01/12/2008 11:51

Prader-Willi Syndrome..Excuse my crapola spelling

witchandchips · 01/12/2008 11:57

Is it practical for him to have a cooked lunch; things like sandwiches, crisps and fruit are not great for blood sugar levels.

neolara · 01/12/2008 12:14

Is one of the things about CF that they should have a very high calorie diet, or am I making that up? I think I once had a converstaion with a mum of a child with CF who said that it was better for her child to have things like mars bars than fruit. I know this sounds odd, but she seemed very well informed.

DaidiNaNollag · 01/12/2008 12:26

Yes, neolara, they are advised to have a high fat diet.

IlanaK · 01/12/2008 12:32

Looking at your list of food, although it seems a lot of food in quantity, it is not the food I would think of as "filling". When my 4 and 7 year old are having growth spurts and hungry, I look at what I am giving them very carefully.

I think grains was mentioned already, but I would second that you should replace any "white" grain products with a healthier version. It really will help fill him up. Also, I think a cooked lunch is much more filling than sandwhiches and it doesn't have to be more expensive: fried egg is a favourite of my kids (they will often have two), wholewheat pasta with a cheese topping, baked potatoes with baked beans and cheese. We often just have leftover from dinner at lunchtime. If we are out and about, we do sandwhiches for packed lunch, but the boys need a lot of sandwhiches to fill them up.

I have been baking a lot of cakes recently for snacks also for this reason. Homemade cakes (mine are always veggie based - carrot, butternut squash, etc) are not unhealthy and are much much more filling than shop bought stuff.

If the types of changes mentioned don't actually make any difference to his hunger, then I would start to look at whether it is something else: is something physiological just not triggering his "full" switch? Is there behaviour/emotional issues?

I don't know your son and I know nothing about CF so can't factor either of those things in so sorry if this is not helpful.

Original poster

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 01/12/2008 13:21

Thanks again for all your replys.

DS doesn't always have what i listed he has a very varied diet and although its not practical in the week he always has cooked breakfast lunch and dinner at weekends. He will have beans/egg on toast or omellete or something similar.

I know nothing about Prader-Willi syndrome but i seem to remebmber someone saying that people with it will eat non food things aswell as food is that right? If it is DS doesn't do that although he does lick things that aren't food like the windows and doors.

It's not a problem with the Creon, ds has a late diagnosis and before he was diagnosed he was passing just fat now his stools are fromed and normal. He isn't obese but he is not under wieght he is a normal wieght, most children with cf are very underwieght.

Yes children with cf are encouraged to have a high calorie diet so that is why ds diet contains more fat than an average child.

I give him whole grains where i can brown bread/rice/pasta ect.

I have often wondered if it were a behavioral thing, like a comfort thing, ds has never had a comforter he never had a dummy/teddy/blanket that he was especially attatched to, and he has had a really unsettled life what with being so ill so i do wonder if his eating is a comfort and control thing, if that makes sense?

I will speak to cf team again but i have mentioned it several times, i think i will keep a food diary for him to show them.

Thanks again for your replys.

OP posts:

Threadworrm · 01/12/2008 13:25

Did the cf mean that he was incredibly hungry before treatment began? And could his memories (perhaps unconscious) of that hunger make him seize on food as a comfort now?

If it is behavioural in that way, then he might perhaps need some help finding security and comfort without food so that in future he doesn't become obese.

neolara · 01/12/2008 13:27

Do they have a psychologist attached to the CF team? I think some hospitals may. If so, it may be worth having a chat with them to see what their perspective is.

Original poster

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 01/12/2008 13:28

Yes he was always a very hungry boy becuase before he started on his Creon everything he ate would come strieght back out one way or the other. So yes maybe thats why.

He is settled now we have a good set routine for him so i am hoping he will settle down in time as liek i say he has such an uprooted life so far bless him.

Luckily i don't think he will become overwight or obese easily becuase of his cf but yes i agree if its something emotional i need to get it sorted asap.

OP posts:

Threadworrm · 01/12/2008 13:28

Good luck, anyway. Poor little lad. I'm glad the medication got the original prob sorted.

Original poster

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 01/12/2008 13:29

They have refered us to CHAMS at the hospital for behavioral issues with ds so again i can ask them but the actual cf councelor and psycologist mainly deals with teens.

OP posts:

edam · 01/12/2008 13:33

Glad this thread seems to be helping.

Original poster

CharleeInPantoPaperChains · 01/12/2008 13:40

Yes it is helping i have had a hard time to get people to listen to me about it. Anymore encouraging or helpfull posts are welcome.

OP posts:

littleducks · 01/12/2008 13:42

no real help medical wise but to make popcorn easily put normal popcorn in a brown paper bag (like a grocers one for fruit) with a iknob of butter and we put salt, maybe not for a child, scrunch top and microwave till popping has stopped

Much cheaper than microwave popcorn sold in bags, easier than washing a saucepan

edam · 01/12/2008 18:01

if you make it on the stove DO NOT forget to put the lid on the pan.

Themasterandmargaritas · 01/12/2008 19:09

Charlee, this is a tough one for both you and he. I have no experience of CF or any medical background but my instinct as a mother of a 4 year old very active boy is to say that it sounds more like a behavioural issue than a simply 'being hungry' issue. You must go with your own instincts too and keep pressing for someone to take you seriously. Good luck.

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