Danger of overfeeding at 14 months?

[Gypsymom]

I am feeding according to DS's appetite, but he can eat so much! At 14 months, he can eat an adult size bowl of cereal, plus still insist he needs fruit and/or toast. Of course he's a carb maniac (but alas no pasta/noodles of any type or size). He loves white rice (so messy!) and apples. The only veg he eats consistently (not counting puree which he still takes happily) is cucumber! ;-)

A typical day might be:

        B: full bowl of low-sugar cereal like Cheerios, some of each of water sippy and milk sippy each meal handful blueberries   
        S: half or all of a peeled, cut-up apple
        L: chicken noodle soup (minus the noodles!) 1-1.5 pieces of toast with cream cheese
            watermelon
        S: 6 crackers with hummus, more dry cereal, a few frozen peas, high-fat yogurt with applesauce
         D: adult size pancake, a bit of sausage, pureed squash mixed with baby rice
         S: rice cake

He has been a 'big eater' since he was born and is 75th percentile for weight and 92nd percentile for length/height. Maybe once he stops growing he'll eat less? The thing is though that although he demands a lot of quantity, he's still pretty fussy about what he actually wants to eat. He pleads "peaz, peaz" (while doing the sign language for please) and begs for cookies, etc.

Do I keep feeding until he doesn't want anymore each time?

[ark]

That's what we did.  My DS is in the 25th percentile, and he went through phases where he would eat more than me.  (like 5 pancakes for breakfast)  Now that my DS is closer to two he's starting to eat less.  I personally wouldn't worry about it.  My DS also goes through phases where he will hardly eat.

[Gypsymom]

Thanks for the encouragement, Andrea!

[Mashi]

I also say feed him as much as he wants, making sure that they are healthy choices.  He's a big boy and he knows how much he needs.  He could be growing lots at the moment and need the extra calories.

[UlrikaandOlle]

We have the same "problem", and are seriously worried that there is something wrong. Our DS, 16 months (btw 91st-98th percentile), is always hungry and eats more than any of us ... well, we don't offer him as much as he wants because there is no end. His food and snack is super-healthy and well balanced:
wake up bottle
breakfast: porridge with mashed banana
snack: fruit, toast, water
lunch: chicken/salmon, potato/whole grain rice/quinoa, broccoli/cauli flower/peas
snack: as above
dinner: as above
bedtime bottle

We try to eat all meals together because he freaks out when he sees other eat without getting anything himself. (he even go begging for food at strangers in a restaurant). He was breastfed until 8 months of age. What shall I do with this never-satisfied hungry toddler??? Can he get obese later in life?

[Gypsymom]

Good to hear others are thinking about this too. With all the posts regarding portion sizes, I get nervous - I feel like my tendency would be to underfeed if DS weren't so clear in his cues. I grew up heavy (slim now) and want to help DS to be healthy from the start!

[babybarr]

Just wanted to say know how you feel!! DS knows the sign for food too and this means he very very often asks for food.  He has reflux and milk protein intolerance so finding healthy foods and snacks is quite a lot harder, also variety is a problem.  He does go through days of eating loads and then other days when he eats less though.  I try not to worry but get offended when people call him chunky etc - they wouldn't say it to an adult so why so they think it's ok to say it about a baby - and from complete strangers sometimes!

[lilac83]

DD is about the same age as all of your LO's and she's still a big eater as well. Just this morning she ate almost an entire adult portion of oatmeal and about 6oz of milk! However, I've definitely been noticing some days when she's been slowing down. Also, even though she still seems to be eating a lot, she now seems to be losing some of the baby fat. She's running around so much that I'm sure she's burning off most of what she eats. Someone once told me that it seems when her kids go through a growth spurt, first they eat tons and get sort of chunky and then one morning they wake up and their pants are 2 inches too short!

[Gypsymom]

I don't feed DS whenever he asks (he's a little beggar too) but I do offer 3 meals and 2 or 3 snacks (in his high chair). Sometimes he just needs water. However, his appetite can be stunning. Today he refused Cheerios (usually a fave) because his mouth was too sore (yup, we're in the fun of cutting canines at the moment) but he proceeded to drink a big sippy of whole milk and ate 3 muffins with some applesauce! Granted, he ate very little dinner last night. My brother calls him 'tank' which isn't exactly complimentary. It would be even harder if I had a DD the same size, I think. He doesn't look that chubby though as he's got more than enough height to carry himself.

My motto is: keep it healthy (limit sugar esp.), keep it active (I'm anti-TV!), and don't try to force it (either eating or not eating).

[~*Nicole*~]

Gypsymom-I just wanted to share that although DD's appetite is dropping a bit she still wants whatever food items she SEES and I have a "peaz" "peaz" er, too. She just keeps repeating that until someone offers her what she wants. And yes, even strangers. I think it is more to see what it is that we/people have rather than always being hungry if that makes sense. I think your DS will be fine as long as you keep up your mottos

[mum101]

Hi, I reckon his diet looks great. He's eating some protein in his big meals and his afternoon snack. (I've got a thing for having protein in the afternoon snack too, I reckon it fills me up  ). He's eating well. 

I agree to continue to offer to appetite. If he suddenly jumped up in weight you would know he's probably taken more than he needs, but if he's continuing along the same path on the weight/height charts he's eating what his body needs.

The only thing I thought of is trying something different for breakfast.  I find that eggs or porridge are much more filling for me.  We mostly have weetbix too.

I saw a nutritionist about DD who has always been a big eater (and is off the charts for most measurements including head circumference!).  She has slowed and lost her 'toddler belly' in the last few months.  But certainly her appetite comes in waves. 
The nutritionist checked her over, looked at what DD is eating and concluded that as she was continuing along the charts in the same pattern that she was just doing as her body was meant to do.

 

[Gypsymom]

Thanks for the encouragement gals!

I've not yet given straight eggs (obviously he's eaten things with egg in it like pancakes) or peanut butter yet. I used to give him hot cereal all the time, but now that he's so into self-feeding, he prefers box cereals. I'd love for him to eat cottage cheese but he is very fussy about texture.

I guess we shouldn't really be surprised when they want what they see. Don't you just get a craving if you walk by someone eating cinnamon rolls!? :-) One trick that works for me is that if I eat standing up in the kitchen, DS thinks I'm cooking and will leave me be, but if I sit down at the table, he comes running for his "share"!

[babybarr]

One thing I try to do is offer a drink first if DS asks for food, doesn't always work but I know I've read somewhere that sometimes hunger can be confused with thirst.  I agree with pps if they're following that same line maybe we should worry less?!

[lilac83]

I do what babybarr just suggested (give water first) a lot with DD. She will usually drink about 24oz of water per day.

[mum101]

Ah good point about the water, if DD has had a big meal I tell her to have some water, and come back in 10 minutes to let me know if she's still hungry. She rarely comes back, but she trusts if she does she'll get more food.