Confused about eating habits after ped visit

[Rubber Ducky]

The the ped and I were talking about DS eating habits. It was a spin-off from me telling him that he still wakes up hungry in the night. He was said that I should only let him have 3 square meals a day at set times and 2 snacks in between. DS is a grazer. He would eat a bit, not finish his food and continue later as he likes. I just leave the food there on his little table so he can help himself. A "meal" can take up to an hour to finish. The ped said that because he's eating all the time during the day, he wants to do the same during the night which is why he's waking up hungry and not STTN. It makes sense to me but with all this research about eating smaller portions in shorter intervals, and breastfeeding on demand so that baby learns to take charge of his own intake (though we have nightweaned now and he's sleeping on average in 5 hour blocks)... I'm now thoroughly confused. What do you other mamas think? Any experiences?

Thanks in advance!

[AFWife]

Personally, I think what you're doing is fine. As long as he's at an okay weight and okay nutritionally I don't think you should change anything. He's still at a point where he's learning to listen to his body. I think forcing him to sit and eat everything in a single sitting can encourage that "overeating" habit that so many people have.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by AFWife

Personally, I think what you're doing is fine. As long as he's at an okay weight and okay nutritionally I don't think you should change anything. He's still at a point where he's learning to listen to his body. I think forcing him to sit and eat everything in a single sitting can encourage that "overeating" habit that so many people have.

Nutritionists recommend eating small meals throughout the day. Your son is eating when he's hungry rather than waiting until a specified time, which is healthy! Letting him graze on nutritious foods is the best way for him to establish healthy eating habits for life.

From your sig, your son is 14 months old? That is far too young for him to understand that he needs to wait until an arbitrary time to eat a ton of food, and then wait again. And really, don't most ADULTS get hungry in the middle of the night? We just don't act on it (though we've probably all indulged in the occasional midnight snack or middle-of-the-night trip to Denny's!).

With all due respect, your son's pediatrician is wrong.

[425lisamarie]

Typical ped's go by the book. It's easier to dish out the same info to everyone rather than treat people of all ages as individuals. Just smile and nod and keep doing what you're doing, that's what I do LOL....although I never took them for all the recommended visits, though I did have a decent ped, and now we have a great family doc

[KatWrangler]

Originally Posted by Bokonon

Nutritionists recommend eating small meals throughout the day. Your son is eating when he's hungry rather than waiting until a specified time, which is healthy! Letting him graze on nutritious foods is the best way for him to establish healthy eating habits for life.

From your sig, your son is 14 months old? That is far too young for him to understand that he needs to wait until an arbitrary time to eat a ton of food, and then wait again. And really, don't most ADULTS get hungry in the middle of the night? We just don't act on it (though we've probably all indulged in the occasional midnight snack or middle-of-the-night trip to Denny's!).

With all due respect, your son's pediatrician is wrong.

Bolding mine.

That is not exactly true. My daughter is in the less than 5% for weight. The Nutritionists I have spoke with at a Children's Hospital we use to go to recommend in order to GAIN weight just like the OP Ped's said. If the person/child eats 3 meals/2 snacks they will gain weight. If you want to LOSE weight you want to graze. By eating 3 meals/2 snacks you will actually eat more calories.

[425lisamarie]

I think it's also a matter of kids tend to be grazers. DS eats bigger meals, but DD is 3.5 and STILL can't eat a whole meals worth at a time. Maybe once a day she'll eat a good portion, and the rest are more snack sizes.

I eat every couple hours. MOst the time I finish a meal over two periods, I just cannot stomach a large amount of food and my digestion is SO much better than if I eat a lot at a time.

[Rubber Ducky]

Yeah I was thinking the same. Thanks ladies for your replies. It's so easy to be swayed by what someone else says and start wondering if I'm the only weirdo letting my son eat like that.

[deditus]

Part of the reason your ped said this, is that some children will graze all day, but never be hungry enough to eat a whole meal. Sometimes "meals" are preferable because they tend to have more nutrient dense food, versus snack tray stuff which is often just that -snacky type foods. And IRL, grazing "worked" for us until dd got to be more preschool age when she was not eating enough because she would snack too much and not eat enough at meals. Ellyn Satter's book was recommended to me and I read it and implemented that type of meal plan, which includes scheduled snacks and meals, so dd is never starving but she is not free to eat whenever she wants and she is hungry at meal time and eats then. I was skeptical, but honestly I am amazed at how much better it works for her. So just be aware that your child's needs may change in the future.

https://ellynsatter.com/default.jsp