Shut off valve???

[Wonderwiper]

Just wondering if you think kids have a shut off valve???

I have a new 12 month old who never turns down food. I start everyone with the same amounts and offer more of veggies but wonder if this kid would just keep going if I kept putting more and more out. He doesn't seem ever seem full! I don't want to over feed him, I think it's possible to teach kids to eat too much or eat just because it's there.

p.s. He is a big guy to start off with

[torontokids]

I think kids have a pretty good sense of when they are full. It depends what they are eating though whether they are to get full. Is he getting enough protein and drinking tons of water? I know my kids could eat crackers, muffins etc until they barfed but I limit this because it's not healthy.

[sunnydays]

I have one like this too! And I sometimes wonder, like you, whether I should limit him a bit because he is quite chunky (not that this is a bad thing in a toddler). He eats really healthy foods though, both at home and for me...so I tend to think he just knows what he needs and he will slow down at some point ;)

[Wonderwiper]

I agree...I offer veg or meat for seconds. Doesn't matter what kind of food,it's inhaled. Almost 12 months but only has 2 teeth so never has crackers anyway. This kids drinks at least 3 times as much as anyone else and pees through a diaper in an hour. He is happiest when sitting in the high chair and wonder if parents feed him to keep him happy.

p.s. He is almost 12 months and easily 35lbs

[Wonderwiper]

Thanks sunny...I agree, nobody wants a skinny baby,really bad if they get sick and have no spare weight!!!

[Wonderwiper]

Oh,forgot that he does not move. At all. No crawling. Maybe reach out a bit for a toy but really just sits.

[Artsand crafts]

I have had kids like that. That eat almost the same amount than me! I let them eat as much as they want. They do not get overweight when healthy foods are being provided. They can get hook on sugary or salty processed food (same as adults), though. I always serve as much or as little as they want.

[monkeymama]

My ds is like this...Hes 20 months and eats twice as much as my oldest dcb. Hes always been a big eater, even as an infant...He is also extremely active, never stops running outside and playing inside...I don't think its right to limit a child if they are hungry...An adults emotional connection to food is not the same as a child....Obviously you do not use it as a reward or way to quiet a child, but at meal time if a dck asks for more, I happily oblige....Theres so many posts complaining about kids not eating at daycare, a healthy appetite is a good thing

[Wonderwiper]

Monkey mama...I never said I would limit food!!!!!!

I am simply asking if he could be eating even if he was not hungry. He does not communicate and never shows the usual signs of hunger nor does he ever seem full.

[playfelt]

I am on the opposite side of the spectrum in that yes a child can be overfed if it starts at the beginning with too much milk and gradually the stomach expands to accept the extra food and then requires more to fill it up and the vicious weight circle begins. There is a reason that there are serving sizes and suggested limits set with the Healthy Eating Food Guide. Yes some days a child is extra hungry but generally they should not be eating more than double a regular serving. Their body needs to relearn what it means to be hungry.

It does sound like the child does a lot of sitting in the high chair and likely is fed his meal and then given additional food while parents eat, then some cheerios while they clean up from supper... crying does not always mean hunger and they may have missed those cues at the beginning.

[monkeymama]

Monkey mama...I never said I would limit food!!!!!!

I am simply asking if he could be eating even if he was not hungry. He does not communicate and never shows the usual signs of hunger nor does he ever seem full.

Ive never see a child, even at that age, who was unable to communicate in some way that they are still hungry or full...

You said you don't want to teach him to eat too much...I consider this an adults emotional association with food, not a childs...

[Wonderwiper]

""Ive never see a child, even at that age, who was unable to communicate in some way that they are still hungry or full""

He does not cry, whine, reach for things, eye up food, push food away or make any other indications that he is hungry/full. I'm talking all day....never gets that hungry whine before meals etc. If I set him on the floor and never moved him anywhere he would stay there the entire day, unless a toy is within arms length he doesn't even try reaching for things. His eyes just start closing when he is tired.

[Wonderwiper]

Playfelt...that's what I think too. Athough he never gives hunger cues, I think he just spends a lot of time sitting grazing on whatever is put on his tray to keep him entertained.

[Momof4]

I serve what I figure is a child's serving and will give seconds or thirds if they eat it up quickly and seem really hungry at a meal. But I cut them off when it seems reasonable too. Common sense prevails.

[monkeymama]

""Ive never see a child, even at that age, who was unable to communicate in some way that they are still hungry or full""

He does not cry, whine, reach for things, eye up food, push food away or make any other indications that he is hungry/full. I'm talking all day....never gets that hungry whine before meals etc. If I set him on the floor and never moved him anywhere he would stay there the entire day, unless a toy is within arms length he doesn't even try reaching for things. His eyes just start closing when he is tired.

Ok so this doesn't seem like a food issue, but perhaps a developmental one..

[SongSparrow]

I had the same question arise over whether or not to limit food when one of my DCK was 1-2 years old. She would easily eat 3-4 times the amount of the other kids (and I had all good eaters) and I was very reluctant to limit her food. She is now 4.5 yrs and overweight....starti ng school this year and I worry for her being teased by the other kids. I'm really not sure if her eating is the reason or if it is some combination of genetics/body type as well.
I have a DCK starting in September who is 7mo now and his mum has said he would not stop eating(drinking) so they do limit his bottles to a reasonable amount.

[mom-in-alberta]

I just wanted to hop in here and say that although rare, it is possible that children do not know when they are full. There are lots of reasons for it, too.

I recently provided care temporarily for a boy who is currently in foster care. He had been starved as a child, and as a result, he will eat himself sick if allowed to. Sweet kid, sad story.

Most of the time, though, it is because of the situations discussed above. Mom and Dad assume fussiness is hunger and practically force feed the kid. Or they just shove food at him all day long. He never gets to actually feel hungry, or full.

There are rare disorders in which the brain is always telling you that you are hungry, even when you are not. That doesn't sound like the problem though.
Given that he is one and not even crawling/scooting, I think that this is part of a larger developmental delay?