How do you stop a child eating fruit?

[Twiglett]

It is one of those extreme situations that actually becomes irritating

He really does eat far too much fruit .. since I've been noticing (at around 4pm) he's had 2 oranges, 4 apples, a pair and about 1/2 lb grapes and now he's come back with another orange and an apple

and I'm just cross .. because I'm sure the fruit acids are destroying his teeth

that'll be a pear and not a pair

Tell him he can chose x amount and then that is it.

start getting him to ask permission.

Issue fruit out - put fruit where he can't reaach it so he has to ask.

When you've worked it out, tell me. Ds2 is 18mths and keeps fetching the step from the bathroom in order to raid the fruit basket. I've had to put it at the back of the kitchen worksurface, which just inconveniences everybody.

Don't stop him eating it just teach him to brush his teeth afterwards.

and me too twig... ds1 eats a whole bag of granny smiths in a couple of hours.. I'm worried about his teeth as well (never mind his guts )

My dds are 12 and 10 now but still ask permission before getting food (although usually the answer is yes; always yes if it's fruit). Could you just put it higher up, or is that me being too simplistic?

well currently I'm trying the you can eat as much as you want as long as it's at one sitting to avoid the constant grazing

but it doesn't work

make him ask.

and no, that much fruit isn't good for him - there is such a thing as too much of a good thing...

Teeth can always be brushed! Does it affect his bowels in anyway? Or his appetite?

I used to have 2 fruit bowls when dd started doing this. One on the kitchen table with a reasonable amount in it and one in a cupboard out of sight.

has he got bad teeth?

well he's just had 4 molars removed and one capped under GA .. but that was mainly down to problems with enamel not forming properly and the paedodontist said not to worry about the fruit but I don't think he quite realised the extremes to which DS goes in his fruit fiendish behaviour

oh sorry to hear that

it is difficult because it can affect teeth as you know, and it isn't advised to brush straight away as this makes it worse (as you probably also know)

ds also a bit of a fruit monster

could you work out how many portions of fruit you think is reasonable today, and then tell him to stick to this limit? I would bet he would like to avoid another GA, poor soul

Am I right in thinking your ds is 6 or 7?

You could print off a 5 a day chart and get him to complete each day (or do your own version, say 4 portions of fruit and 2 veg)

not today, I meant per day

Brushing immediately after fruit isn't that good an idea, AFAIK, because the fruit acids soften the enamel temporarily so if you brush straight after you remove more enamel. Rinsing his mouth out with water might be better. I think I'd be inclined to hide the fruit or just not buy any!

have just sent him to brush his teeth

arrgghhh have just been looking it up and found "Healthy foods such as fruit and fruit juices are not always the best options for teeth if you have too much of them. It is also recommended that you do not brush your teeth for at least one hour after eating or drinking anything acidic, so that your teeth can build up their mineral content again."

Sorry F&Z, cross-post re brushing.

does he like less acidic stuff like bananas btw? are there other ones which are less acidic? melons? (pure guessing)

Buy so much say like 3 pieces for each day & tell him it has to last X amount of days, if he eats it all at once & does not spread it over X amount of days he will not have any for some days.

oh, I know, CHEESE

does he like cheese? i think if you eat small piece of cheese after having fruit it helps to neutralise the acidity

Yes, I used to get dd to eat cheese after fruit (doesn't work now though)

Or could you substitute sweet tasting veg - carrots, mange-tout, red pepper?

DS2 is my fruit guzzler, and his teeth aren't great.

Limit the apples. Make him drink lots of water. I've rather successfully moved him away from so many apples and towards peppers instead - the red and yellow ones - which are just as sweet to taste but without the acid. He eats them like apples

from health point of view much better all round to be eating veg than fruit

I let ds graze on because it is so ruddy convenient, though. If carrots only need a quick run under the tap I would be leaving those in the fruit bowl instead