If your toddler keeps demanding food, do you just keep feeding them?

[FasterPussyCatGrrrl]

DS1 has been eating insane levels of food- he eats 3 good sized meals a day, with a morning / afternoon snack- he's currently demanding snacks between snacks.

Is it a growth spurt type thing i just go with, or should i refuse him the extra snacks? (i usually give fruit tbh, or rice cakes)

He's driving me mad going 'more, more' and pointing to his mouth.

My 18 month old has been doing exactly the same recently, so I measured him on his wall chart last week and he's grown 1 inch in a week!!!! He isn't a fat baby, infact there isn't an ounch of fat on him, and he's not pooing anymore than normaal, he just runs around like a nutter and never keeps still from morning to night, so I guess he needs it!

I'd only start worrying if he starts to put on loads of weight and keep the snacks healthy! (well healthy ish!!!)

yes, my ds goes through this too. to counter balance there will be days in-between that he does not eat much at all, then the next he'll ask for 3 weetabix in the morning, on top of 200ml milk. Insane, but I'm a firm believer that they know what their bodies need.

yes, my ds goes through this too. to counter balance there will be days in-between that he does not eat much at all, then the next he'll ask for 3 weetabix in the morning, on top of 200ml milk. Insane, but I'm a firm believer that they know what their bodies need.

I think if he is asking for it, then give it to him.
But maybe try giving him food that will last a bit longer in his tummy. So instead of rice cakes maybe oatcakes, instead of always fruit, maybe a chunk of cheese? Also I'd try and give porridge or readybrek or something really good and filling for breakfast. He is obviously really growing. My just 2 year old goes through days of just not being able to eat fast enough. And it isn't a case of giving them more at mealtimes because there is only so much they can eat at once - they just burn it up incredibly fast sometimes.

cat64 I did try bigger portions at mealtimes, and filling stuff like rice pasta potatoes etc, but he just ate his normal amount and left the rest.... spacepuppy there are days when DS doesn't eat much either...

I understand about worrying about habit forming, but I would hate to see him hungry, I know I'm a monster when I'm hungry!

well, his meals are well balanced, and he doesn't always clear his plate, so i don't think they're too small.

he's already eaten 2 bananas, toast, rice cakes, some of my cereal and half a bagette today

little piggy.

Ds dopes this - The problem with boosting what they eat at mealtimes is that it is great in theory but at this age they often get bored at mealtimes and ds will eat very well but stops as soon as he has assuaged some of his hunger. Then 1-2 hours later he's hungry again.

I personally would try and give three good meals and make the two snacks more substantial for a while - maybe even have a cake occasioanlly for a snack instead of fruit or give two bananas instead of 1 etc.!. Ds tends to do this for a while then will have a period of eating very little.

I find the 'eating a lot' phase quite wearing actually as it involves carrying copious numbers of bananas in my handbag and also often having to stop and buy something if we are out for a long time.

my 3 year old has been gowing through a growth spurt and eating none stop but ive also found in the past that children can ask for food just because they are bored.

if he keeps asking for more food after a snack, try distracting him with something exciting if he is easily distracted then he cant be that hungary

Sorry Cat but I don't believe that. I know that if I eat massive meals then I feel hungrier sooner perhaps my stomach has stretched I don't know I'm a grazer. Little and often. I often eat something every hour of the morning but then very little / nothing in the afternoon. It's not habitual because I don't do it every day and I generally only eat when I'm hungry. I think if they're demanding more food then it's probably because they're hungry.

That's a VERY carb heavy diet, FasterPussyCatGrrrl, and it will be causing big blood sugar fluctuations in his body, making him feel very hungry when the insulin kicks in! A high carb diet isn't very satisfying.

Try giving him some ham, or cheese. Rice cakes are a nutritionally void diet food, and I actually think they are inappropriate food for a growing active child. Fruit is nice, but it sounds like he needs some more fat and protein in his diet.

I'd keep feeding, make sure he has a small drink, a few raisins, a rice cake. If he starts refusing meals, then cut them back.

If he's still eating well at mealtimes, then yes, go ahead and increase the snacks. As long as it's good stuff, of course, and he's not getting outrageously fat on it. My dd was like that - she ate about twice as much as her brother, and he's two years older!

he gets plenty of protein- the bagette was full of chicken for a start. last night he ate ham and egg with avocado salad. this morning's food isn't representative of his whole diet.

he can't eat dairy, so he can't have any cheese.