16mo constantly hungry

[AdoraDreams]

Hiya, my LO has always been a big eater, and never leaves a plate bare or turns down a snack, but recently he's been signing HUNGRY and FOOD for all of his waking hours. he's good at signing and communicating but if I fed him every time he said he was hungry I'd never stop! is this a normal thing, maybe a growth spurt? is he just testing the signs? I'm worried that he is actually hungry and I'm denying him food.

They do eat a lot, especially if he's tall. Coukd you give us a rough idea of what he's had today? Also, what does he do if you distract him?

What kind of foods does he eat?

he had a banana, a breakfast bar and a big bowl of porridge for breakfast, a banana as a mid morning snack, a ham wrap, ANOTHER banana and a biscuit at lunch, another breakfast bar, some baby crisps, and a lot of grazing food for tea - he may have snacked in the early evening but I was at home whilst he was at a party with my partner so can't verify. he also had a nap in the day today which is rare for him.

I'd up his protein at meal times and also try to include some in all snacks. So rather than the breakfast bar (which are mostly full of crap, despite the 'healthy alternative' marketing) I'd perhaps try following his porridge with some eggy bread or a nut butter on toast or scrambled egg, etc. (There's a good thread on here called something like 'what do you really feed your DC for breakfast' which has some good ideas.) And sorry but I think three bananas is a bit much - they're healthy but that's also quite a bit of sugar for little teeth. And baby crisps are a bit pointless, they certainly won't fill a hungry tummy. Perhaps try a more filling snack so something like some chunks of cheese and ham, some homemade savoury muffins if you don't mind cooking (they freeze well), slice of toast with nut butter or philly, etc.

I wouldn't give him that many bananas either. I thought they were too high in potassium and even adults were only supposed to have one a day?

I would increase his protein and main meals also. Apart from porridge the rest of the day looks like snacks to me

Add eggs, meat, fish, rice, dairy.

Max one banana, they will make him constipated

Agree with others, that is quite carb based and won't really fill him up. Some good suggestions above, I'd also try slices of apple with smooth nut butter spread on. Cubes or sticks of cheese with halved grapes are another good snack as are Hummus and veg sticks.

I'd up his oily fish to 2 or 3 portions a week. Try salmon fish cakes or sardineson toast or salmon sandwiches for quick lunches, one egg omelettes are good for filling up and are an easy lunch too. Like others have said, I'd give breakfast bars a huge swerve, full of sugar and not very good nutritionally. He's likely to have huge sugar surges and come downs.

Could you try him on more grown up food for his evening meal? How is he with your food?

Actually, thinking about it I need to put some thick pancakes and savoury scones in the freezer for my 2 how are older but still constantly hungry!

I know I always go on about cheese straws but i seriously recommend baking some and replacing the breakfast bars with a couple of these and some halved grapes. They keep in an airtight container for a few days and apparently will freeze but my lot just scoff them. Sounds like they could be a good alternative to those sugary breakfast bars

Oatcakes are another easy snack, and a break from wheat. Plain, with cream cheese, hummous, or my dts have discovered the delights of cheese oatcakes.

Agree that adding protein will help keep him full longer. Eggs - as suggested above, or an omelette (with cheese). Yoghurt after meals? Greek yoghurt has higher protein level. Avocado slices? He needs plenty fat in his diet too, does he drink much milk?

I rarely get around to baking but do often make pancakes - ones with Greek yoghurt are more substantial. Or ground almonds replacing some flour - adds protein and fat.

Having said all this, I know he's signing for food, but is he grumpy all the time? IME babies/toddlers are really grumpy when hungry, if he's not he might just practicing his communication?!

I don't think the OP is coming back Twins.