Shut off valve???

[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?