Kids stealing food

[whosaidtha]

My 5 year old will not stop stealing food. He is constantly taking treat food out of the cupboards and eating it. I'm taking - Nutella, Galaxy ripple, marshmallows and cereal bars. And that's just today. It's beyond a joke. I've talked to him, removed puddings and even taken his pocket money to pay for the replacements. It's got to the point where I have to hide anything remotely treat like and I don't want to live like that. He can't possibly be hungry because if he asked he could have food, probably not the treat stuff he wants but there's fruit, yoghurt etc he could have.
What can I do to stop this? It's driving me mad.

Just stop buying it?

Yes but I like to have the odd bar of chocolate and he even ate my protein bars. Also I have three kids so it doesn't seem right that they can't have marshmallows on a hot chocolate or an occasional cereal bar as a snack.

The kid is 5, you're telling us there's no cupboard that's out of reach? Just keep all the treats up there, treats are treats, just keep them somewhere only adults can reach so you can dish them out.

You have 3 options

1- scare the crap out of him forceful parenting/punishing, probably turn it into a whole big thing that gives him issues with food in the process.
2- stop buying it. Fully appreciate what you’ve said above though.
3- put it out of reach or out of his way until he’s old enough to understand better.

Yes. But he brings stools, chairs or just climbs on the worktops to get to the cupboards. It's awful.

Also why my sock drawer is now full of protein and cereal bars.

This so so easy with a 5 year old. Just put it where he can't find it. A cupboard, the garage, a locked box. Dole is out as and when you see fit

Tell him he can help himself to the fruit bowl if he's hungry

Then don’t buy it. These things are designed to be addictive. It is not his fault that he wants them.

But maybe feed him something else when you find him looking because he might also be hungry or be eating that stuff instead of his meals.

They are in my sock drawer at the moment. But I just feel like a shit parent that I have to resort to that.

Sugar is highly addictive .

I would start with we are having a few healthy weeks . Stock up on fruit - make fruit Kebabs, strawberries and squirty cream .

it won’t do anyone any harm

Buy a petty cash tin , lock goodies in it.
Or take him dentist or doctor or nurse or his teacher to get them to explain too much is not healthy so only 1 thing a day.

Assume he has free access to fruit /healthy food.

Stop buying it or put the treats up high or somewhere out the way !! Also I wouldn’t refer to it as ‘stealing’ as u may create a whole issue of secretive sneaky esting. I always say no one in this house can steak food as it’s OUR food for everyone. However I would put choc etc out the way to avoid piss taking x

Baby proof the cupboards 🤷🏻‍♀️

We have magnetic locks on our snack cupboard in the kitchen and we keep the magnet to unlock it high up on the fridge where DC5 can't reach even with a stool. We put them on when they were a baby amongst the other low down kitchen cupboards and we have just kept them on and never had this issue. She always asks if she wants a snack even if it's something she can get herself from fridge e.g. fruit, yoghurt, dairylea dunkers, cheese string/babybell/cheese packets, jelly etc.

"Yes but, no but" 🤣🤣🤣 Are you Vicky Pollard's protein obsessed cousin? Either hide the treat food or don't buy it. Also, taking food out of a cupboard is not stealing. If he started taking yoghurt or fruit instead would you still call it stealing.

What happens when you ask why he took food that he knows he shouldn't? Does he say he will/won't do it again?

Keep the treats in a locked box - my aunt used to use her car boot! - because he is not yet understanding the problem, it seems. I don't think he's naughty or you're a bad mum, I think maybe he just doesn't get it yet?

I would call it stealing if he's taking stuff without permission. Fruit is fine as it's on the side and I've said he can help himself.

He doesn't know why he took it. Promises he won't do it again. But then does.

Do what my mam did. Emptied a box of really crap muesli, an old box of Daz, a couple of those old Homepride flour tins. Hid all the good scran in the boxes, on the top shelf with the other gross "adult" food and gubbins. We never cottoned on to it.

He has no impulse control, which is why he is taking it at the very moment he wants it.

So you have to lock things away so that hopefully he eventually learns impulse control.

Get all your DC some lockable treat boxes, divide up the treats and let them have it whenever they want it. Then if your DS finished his on day 1 (which he will quite likely do by the sound of it) he has no more until the next shopping trip and allocation of treats.

He will be beside himself and trying to break into the treat boxes after awhile so make sure they are strong ones with secure keys/combination codes.

Oh and make sure you get a spare one for the fridge too....

That's actually a great idea. Now just to hide the Nutella and marshmallows and I'm set!

Have you tested him for diabetes? My friend would often steal sugary food and she had type1. This could be one reason.

Another from experience is that you have either been to hard on him with food, you haven't let him have the treats and now he's anxious and feels he needs to steal it and he has no access to food when he wants it within reason.

My children will be content taking 1 biscuit and leaving, I would have had to steal loads and lied about it as I was scared of being punished.

My advice is test him for diabetes, in the mean time creat a snack box for him with plenty of fruit and vegetables and snacks for him. Include at least 1 chocolate bar or treat and put it where he can access it. Enforce it is for when he's hungry and this is the only snacks he will be able to have today so ensure it is well balanced and do it everyday.

Hiya lovely,

I first want to say you’re doing a great job!

I can’t offer any advice as my 5 year old has been stealing food since he could walk. Of course not buying treats isn’t an option and neither is putting in a high up place. My son climbs to get them and seems to find any snacks I hide.

I’ve been to the doctors multiple times, been referred to different programs and also spoke to dietitian's. I’m still without answers or solid advice. I have been fighting to see if it’s medical related but no one is entertaining me.

I’m just hoping one day he will just grow out of it as no one seems interested in really helping.

I hope you and your son are doing well.