What age to be concerned about food quantities?

[Indecisive29]

Full disclosure - I’ve been very overweight since I was a child and have struggled all my adult life with my weight too. I don’t want my DS growing up the same! I’m not sure how much my own weight struggles affect my judgement on these things so I’d appreciate advice.

At what age would you be concerned about a child “overeating”? I have a 15 month old who LOVES his food. I’ve never had issues with him being fussy, he eats whatever is put in-front of him. He can use a spoon and a fork so eats his meals himself. I’ve really just let him take the lead when it comes to food. Everything he gets is homemade and I try to keep his diet as healthy as possible. When he was younger he’d let me know when he had enough or wanted more but the last couple of months he seems to want more at every single meal or snack 😳 obviously he’s gradually wanted bigger meals as he’s got bigger which is to be expected but I feel like he’s just never full now 😬 as soon as he’s finished what’s on his plate he’s moaning and shouting for more then gets upset. Obviously if he’s hungry there’s no issue with him having more but he’ll happily finish what’s added to his plate then do the same again - is it possible for that to become a habit at this age?!

I feel like he’s eating loads but I’m a FTM so have no idea how much it’s normal for a “good eater” to be eating at this stage! He was last weighed etc at 13m and was tracking perfectly on his charts (98th for height and 91st for weight as he has been from birth!) but his appetite seems to have really ramped up lately!

A child portion of protein is what they can hold in the palm of their hand. If he's hungry, give extra vegetables or more milk, and maybe speak to your health visitor if you are concerned.

I wouldn't limit the quantity of healthy food. Just offer more protein and veg when he asks for more. I would only limit junk food (which at 15 months, he shouldn't really be having anyway), but anything sugary or simple carbs. Offer lots of fruit and veg as snacks between meals, etc.

I've been reading up on this myself lately. (Same as you, I've always had my weight go up and down and I don't want to give the same habits to my baby)

Adopt the approach that you are responsible for What they eat Where they eat and When they eat. Let them set the pace on If they eat and How Much they eat (of whatever is provided).

Don't micromanage portions and don't say "we aren't having any of X because it's bad for you" - this makes the "bad" food rationed and more desirable. For example, 2 squares of chocolate. It's not up to a very young child to regulate the What. (Either you present them with it, or you don't.) But when it's there, they can eat 1 square, both squares or no squares with no judgement or talk about how the rest is being saved for later because it's "naughty" etc.

It's difficult for very young children to over eat. Let him eat to his hearts content! Some children do have bigger appetites than others. Make sure there is a ready supply of food to eat until they're satisfied. If you don't want them filling up on pasta or sausage, just don't make extra of that available. But make the veggies unlimited.

Also, zero distractions. If the telly / a screen is on, he's not learning to regulate what he's eating.

I wouldn't restrict meals at all. I would be careful with snacks, they're not really always necessary and can encourage boredom grazing.

Make sure he's getting enough protein to fill him up!

@mindutopia

I wouldn't limit the quantity of healthy food. Just offer more protein and veg when he asks for more. I would only limit junk food (which at 15 months, he shouldn't really be having anyway), but anything sugary or simple carbs. Offer lots of fruit and veg as snacks between meals, etc.

@mindutopia @JustWonderingIfYou Thanks. He definitely doesn’t get any junk. Snacks are all fresh fruit/veg sticks & hummus/ sugar free homemade blueberry pancake etc. At most he gets 2 snacks a day, between breakfast and lunch then lunch and dinner but it just depends. He never moans for food between meals - it’s just after hes finished his plate that he asks for more.

@PeeAche Thank you! I’m very cautious of the language used around food too. I’d hate for him to grow up with food issues like myself. At the same time though, I’m aware that me being overly cautious with all these things may make things more of a big deal if that makes sense? 🙈 I just want him to have a normal, healthy relationship with food! It’s really important to me that we all sit at the table for meals and eat - that’s something I never had growing up, so I make sure we eat together as much as possible. The TV isn’t switched on at all during the day while he’s awake so definitely no screens etc for distraction 😊

Mine at that age would eat huge meals. Think adult size pasta portions in the likes of Prezzo. People were always amazed. Now at 3 I'd say he eats less and (frustratingly) is far more picky. Will miss a meal if he doesn't like the look of it. Looking back I wonder if its because they have so much growing to do at 0-2 that they eat so much? He is also big 98/99 centiles. But not overweight.

Same as @vera16 my DS at that age could eat an adult portion of porridge or scrambled eggs, and was well known at roast dinners for hoovering up his own portion of broccoli and then wanting everyone else’s - he could easily polish off 7-8 florets. (The next day’s nappies were quite something)

If you are filling a child-size plate with a range of foods and offering more protein and veg if he wants it, that’s fine. Over the next few months as more words come, they might pick up some cues to actually tell you - ‘more’. Like others have said it’s so rare for babies and toddlers to over-eat.

@vera16 @Traumdeuter thank you both! That makes me feel much more reassured 😊 I have a couple of friends with children similar ages and one still won’t eat anything that isn’t blended and the other barely touches his plate 😬 so I know they’re all different and I’m very grateful to have the “good eater” 😳 he could definitely rival some adults with what he eats though so I was a bit unsure 😅 I’m sure his fussy stage will come as they no doubt all do.

I do always offer more protein and veg when he asks for more 😊 Haha, it’s green beans that my DS would fight you for! I swear he’d easily eat a whole bag in a sitting if I let him 🙈 and spinach!
He’s been walking since 10months and now goes everywhere at a run 😅 every group that we’re at or if we go to softplay etc people are always shocked at his age because hes tall runs around and climbs with the confidence of a 3 year old 😅 so I guess it makes sense that he needs the calories to fuel up 😊

Both of mine have polished off an astonishing amount at this age. I recently ordered both of mine the same pasta when we we're out and the 1yo finished off his 4yo brothers portion. They're constantly on the go at this stage too so they use so much energy. DC1 definitely slimmed down after 2yo.

My oldest did (and still does) eat a phenomenal amount. If I thought he was asking for too much more (his first word!) as in thirds and fourths, I'd offer something he was less keen on (a banana in his case). How hungry he was compared to just liking the meal was judged from that!
He's a skinny thing tho - usually around 6th centile, so occaaional overeating wasn't an issue.