Is it normal for a 3yr old to eat so much?

[boofer1502]

My sons just turned 3 in August.

About beginning of September he has started constantly feeling hungry ( I feed him his usual full meals and snacks so I know he's not starving) but it's literally every second of the day " mummy I'm a bit hungry" ( I also hear his tummy rumble so I know he's not saying it just for the sake of it) and I'll give him something and straight after he has finished it's the same again! I know in growth spurts they eat a whole lot more but this is literally all day long for a month now!? He has always drank around 15 large bottles of water/squash a day too and someone mentioned that's a common sign of diabetes? Is it worth taking him too be seen by someone or am I just insane???

That is a lot of drinks. I would start only giving water but yes to see I f the GP.

What do you mean by a large bottle? That's a lot of fluids, how much is he peeing?

What kind of thing does he eat?

Is. He at school now?

Hello seems a bit much for his age I'd take him to the gp just to be safe.

I would put an appointment on with the GP. No harm in having him checked over. Like a pp said, that is a lot of drinks but some kids are thirstier than others. I don't know what he's eating but could you look at more calorie dense foods so that he's supposed to be fuller for longer IYSWIM and see if that makes a difference. Could his portion sizes maybe need a wee bit tweaking?

That’s a lot of juice/liquid. How big is big? DD is 3 in December and drinks maybe one 400ml bottle of water and a small cup of water/juice with a meal.

That seems a huge amount of water for a child.

DD (9) suddenly started eating abnormally large amounts, drinking huge amounts & weeing a LOT. in retrospect all were symptoms of type 1 diabetes; diagnose June & now a different child (in a very good way!). See your doc just in case!

Yes straight to gp. Undiagnosed type 1 diabetes is a medical emergency.

Keep a food diary for a week, detailing the exact amounts he eats each day, as well as exact quantities he drinks (nit what you give him). Also, record how often he goes to the toilet, both a wee and poo.
Take this information to your GP. The GP will then have a clearer idea of what he's consuming. If possible, also take a urine sample with you so the GP can test for sugar.

15 large bottles??? That's a massive amount.
I think those small fruit shoot bottles are 200ml. And thats a small bottle. So he's taking well over 3 litres of fluid a day.

I didn't get to the end of your post before type 1 diabetes popped in my head. Def take him to the GP.

15 small bottles would be a lot never mind large!!!

I was going to say yes my DS was 3 in June and the last couple of weeks it’s been constant eating and hassling me for more food. I do think they go through growth spurts and are really hungry for a few weeks!

But 15 bottles of squash a day? That is a huge amount! My son probably has 2 cups of milk and 2-3 cups of water in a day. And his cups are just regular 6oz kids cups

1.5 bottles, no? The fluids alone would send me to the GP.

My DD has always eaten a lot. She loves fruit and veg so was probably getting a lot of fluid from that but barely drinks. She can go a whole morning without a drink other than her morning milk. It’s not a case of forgetting as I ask her to have a sip every now and then and she just says she’s not thirsty.
In your shoes I’d book an appointment just to be safe. Good suggestion from the poster who suggested keeping a diary and taking a sample.

Wow that's a huge amount of drink in a day

Definitely get checked.
Food I wouldn't be too concerned about but that's a lot to drink?!

Another one incredulous at the amount of fluid.

Thats an aweful lot of drinking! I would record everything he eats and drinks as a PP said and take that to your GP. On the drink intake alone Id be concerned.

If you hadnt said that I was going to say is he mistaking a different feeling for hunger? Like maybe some kind of bowel issue or intolerance. Still worth a trip to the GP

Thanks everyone. His meals portions are on the regular side and he usually asks for seconds! Then wants pudding and is still hungry.. it is just literally constant.
He's always been a massive drinker. when I say squash that's not every bottle it's more twice a day, the rest is water as he drinks so much I don't want it to be squash all the time. I've kept count of the drink intake by bottle but I'll do it properly with his eating and take it into the doctor. He does pee an awful lot but has been like this since he was born. No one ever mentioned anything until this lady told me about the diabetes! Thank you everyone for your advice I'm definitely booking him in too be seen! I've attached a picture of his preferred bottle that he drinks from and it averages between 13-15 bottles a day then another through the night.

That bottle is huge. My son would drink one of those a day give or take. He's 4. Even just 10 of those is an incredible amount. Definitely get him seen.

I don’t even know adults who drink that much! I’d be on the toilet all day.

My almost 4 yr old is constantly looking for food, but the amount your son drinks is definitely not normal in any way. No harm to get that checked out

Dear god thats an insane amount of fluids. Get him to the GP immediately.

That is a lot of fluid for a 3yo. I would get it checked out.