3yo STILL always hungry. I need ideas. *POST 15* please help.

[WindyCityMom]

I posted a month or two ago about this.  It has been going on several months.  My just turned 3yo is always hungry, and VERY hungry.  She will eat whatever I give her.  Doctor says growth spurt.  I'm not convinced.

I've tried giving her things that will fill her up and lots of protien but she ends up being constipated (even if it is balanced out with a lot of fiber- she has weird constipation issues as it is and the excess protien makes it worse I find).  I also am not made of money and am having issues feeding her with her eating habits.  She is just constantly eating.  Meat, eggs, nuts, nut butters, whoe grain this and that.  Lots of brown rice to fill in gaps.  Large quantities of soup.  Pasta.  Lots of veggies in between (which she is losing preference for because they don't satisfy her hunger).  She will eat whatever I give her.  She will eat constantly.  She is eating now. 

Help :(  I need to have higher protien snacks on hand in the house as I'm still nursing and have found myself to have some blood sugar issues, so I need the protien in my body too.

What do I do, oh what do I do...

[pbjmama]

I would press the issue with your dr and/or ask for a referal to a specialist. Sounds abnormal to me and if you are concerned, it should be looked into. 

[WindyCityMom]

Thank you.  I am actually going to put together a food journal for the doctor to see.  She thought it was totally normal but I don't know how it could be.  She's had growth spurts in the past and has never eaten like this before.  I've never seen a child eat like this before. EVER.

[One_Girl]

How much water is she getting?  When my dd is hungry very quickly after eating a meal I give her a cup of water and have her wait ten minutes to see if that helps because sometimes thirst is misinterpreted as hunger.  Making sure to offer milk or a milk substitute with the meal may help her stay full longer.  I used to give my dd straws to drink with so the milk was exciting and got finished.  Is she eating fruit to or just veggies?  There may be a vitamin that her body is missing so I suggest vitamins or making sure she has at least two servings of fruit and three of veggies a day.   She may be truly growing also.  My dd has gone through many growth spurts and during these phases she just eats almost all day long.  She easily eats double what I can eat.  If your child has a low metabolism you can expect her to need a lot of food to get energy to meet her needs.  I had to carry snacks in my purse for my dd until she was 7 because she would get hungry quickly then melt down completely if she didn't have something to give her more energy.

Something else to consider though is how engaged she is in activities.  Some kids eat just because they are bored and want something to do.  A walk and some fun outings to parks may help distract her from her hunger.  If you have a YMCA in your area I suggest filling out the scholarship form so you can go swimming or do some of the kid activities there if you feel like boredom is playing a role.

[WindyCityMom]

Thanks so much! Unfortunately, we've covered all of that.  She is outside almost daily and goes to activities (playgroup and gymnastics).  She isn't the most energetic kid and prefers to sit quietly and play.  She gets a multivitamin (her diet does cover everything though, and she does eat fruit, just not a ton of it unless we have clementines) and drinks a TON of water.  She is big on water too, lol. 

Maybe she is growing.  She has gained 2lbs in the past couple of months, and got a little taller.  However, the eating continued even after she stopped the growth.

[WindyCityMom]

Bump.  10:31pm.  Four bowls of soup + crackers and hummus and she is still refusing to sleep because "She's starving".  I don't know who taught her that word but she's using it to express her hunger and I feel terrible :( 

Could it by psychological?

[Lucy Alden]

If I remember correctly your DH is overweight.  Could she be mirroring his behavior?

[WindyCityMom]

He's overweight but he doesn't eat constantly and the majority of it is done while he's at work and after she's in bed.  She really only sees him eat dinner.  He has a portion control issue for the most part.  She's just constant eating.  Her habits actually mimic mine, as I do graze throughout the day.  However, I do get full and am not constantly eating.  We would always have our snacks and meals together (still do) but she just started getting hungry in between snacks & meals.  Very good (and interesting!) point though,

[ElliesMomma]

i'm going to vote "stress" or some other factor, based on your other previous posts about other issues. she is also a skin picker? and your MIL issues, surely she is picking up on... and didn't you say there is lead in your apartment? have you had her lead level tested?

[WindyCityMom]

Hmm.. could be.  Yes, she's also a skin picker.  Oddly enough that is slowing down (I've upped the oatmeal baths and moisturizer use so she's less itchy).

Her lead level is fine though.. last checked it was under 2. 

[Polliwog]

Could you give us an idea of the quantity of food she's actually eating on a typical day? 

[WindyCityMom]

Today she woke up at 9am.

For breakfast, she ate four eggs, a piece of whole wheat toast (she opted to leave her crust behind) with butter on it, and some cheerios  Maybe 1/4c?.  Half a glass of milk (if i had filled it up whole she'd have finished that too).  Two of the eggs were mine, she asked if she could have them because she was "starving".  I had already decided I wasn't going to eat them.. I've been having odd morning sickness things going on but oddly enough am not pregnant... 

She'd been snacking on cheerios and apples the entire morning, still telling me that she was starving.  She had an additional 1/2c of cheerios (a few given to her little sister), and 1.5 apples (cored and peeled).  Oh, she had about 1/4c of cubed cheese.  This is all given in a muffin tray, it's the easiest way to continue to respond to her food requests.  The entire morning (until lunchtime) she requested (begged) for peanut butter.  She got a few crackers with pb on them.  That helped her pb craving I guess.  She also drank her entire sigg water bottle (of water, lol) during this time.  I don't know how much it holds.. it was on clearance at target and is one of the kids ones with the little twist spout and jungle/safari print on the side.  Maybe 10oz?

Lunchtime was around 12:30pm.  She requested more peanut butter.  I gave her a sandwich for that.. pb and fruit spread on the same whole wheat bread (2 slices).   Again, she left the crust (most of it).  She also ate a bowl of soup that was made for dinner yesterday.  She finished all of the vegetables except for the chayote and she drank her broth.  More soup was requested but it was all gone.  I had woked up an appetite by then!  I made myself a smoothie and she had about 1/2c of it.  It had yogurt, milk, strawberries, blueberries, banana, and spinach in it.  She drank almost another full Sigg bottle (had been refilled at the beginning of the meal).

After lunch (which is currently) she has been eating crackers and hummus with me.  She really loves hummus.  She's been begging for more food telling me that she's starving.  She has finished her water from lunch and it has since been refilled, I don't know how much she has drank so far though.

So, to recap, in 4.5hrs:

4 eggs

toast and butter

3/4c cheerios

1/2c milk

1.5 apples

1/4c cubed cheese

3 crackers with pb spread on them

peanut butter and jelly sandwich

bowl of soup (adult sized portion)

1/2c of smoothie

crackers + hummus spread on them (more than 5 crackers, they're 3" in diameter)

2+ sigg bottles of water

I know that it doesn't seem very excessive BUT keep in mind that this is in a less than 5hr span, and she has been begging for more food than she can eat.  She has literally been eating since she woke up.

[pupsnelda]

Four eggs!! Holy cow....

 

Originally Posted by WindyCityMom 

Today she woke up at 9am.

For breakfast, she ate four eggs, a piece of whole wheat toast (she opted to leave her crust behind) with butter on it, and some cheerios  Maybe 1/4c?.  Half a glass of milk (if i had filled it up whole she'd have finished that too).  Two of the eggs were mine, she asked if she could have them because she was "starving".  I had already decided I wasn't going to eat them.. I've been having odd morning sickness things going on but oddly enough am not pregnant... 

She'd been snacking on cheerios and apples the entire morning, still telling me that she was starving.  She had an additional 1/2c of cheerios (a few given to her little sister), and 1.5 apples (cored and peeled).  Oh, she had about 1/4c of cubed cheese.  This is all given in a muffin tray, it's the easiest way to continue to respond to her food requests.  The entire morning (until lunchtime) she requested (begged) for peanut butter.  She got a few crackers with pb on them.  That helped her pb craving I guess.  She also drank her entire sigg water bottle (of water, lol) during this time.  I don't know how much it holds.. it was on clearance at target and is one of the kids ones with the little twist spout and jungle/safari print on the side.  Maybe 10oz?

Lunchtime was around 12:30pm.  She requested more peanut butter.  I gave her a sandwich for that.. pb and fruit spread on the same whole wheat bread (2 slices).   Again, she left the crust (most of it).  She also ate a bowl of soup that was made for dinner yesterday.  She finished all of the vegetables except for the chayote and she drank her broth.  More soup was requested but it was all gone.  I had woked up an appetite by then!  I made myself a smoothie and she had about 1/2c of it.  It had yogurt, milk, strawberries, blueberries, banana, and spinach in it.  She drank almost another full Sigg bottle (had been refilled at the beginning of the meal).

After lunch (which is currently) she has been eating crackers and hummus with me.  She really loves hummus.  She's been begging for more food telling me that she's starving.  She has finished her water from lunch and it has since been refilled, I don't know how much she has drank so far though.

So, to recap, in 4.5hrs:

4 eggs

toast and butter

3/4c cheerios

1/2c milk

1.5 apples

1/4c cubed cheese

3 crackers with pb spread on them

peanut butter and jelly sandwich

bowl of soup (adult sized portion)

1/2c of smoothie

crackers + hummus spread on them (more than 5 crackers, they're 3" in diameter)

2+ sigg bottles of water

I know that it doesn't seem very excessive BUT keep in mind that this is in a less than 5hr span, and she has been begging for more food than she can eat.  She has literally been eating since she woke up.

[Asiago]

Thyroid perhaps(?) although constipation and dry skin would be symptomatic of 'hypo' and extreme hunger point to 'hyper'.

Still if all else fails perhaps something to look into. Hopefully it's neither and just a nice growth spurt!

[WindyCityMom]

I'm going to lose my mind.  She won't stop eating :(

I honestly want to run away with my 12mo.  That sounds so horrible as a mother.  I just can't stand her staring at me with a mouthful of food screaming that she's hungry and starving and she wants more :( :( :(  I'm so sick of waiting for her to poop because she's so constipated from her crazy eating habits and all of the protien I'm giving her in an attempt to fill the gaps.  I wait and wait and wait.  My 12m/o is suffering.  She has been trying to nap since a little after my last post but my 3yo won't let her because between the demands for food and the "I need to poop!" but no poop so back off the toilet then on 10 minutes later only to not poop again... it's just getting a little insane around here. 

I have such a horrid migraine and I want nothing more than to have a little peace and quite and nurse my baby and rest. 

My 3yo hasn't been napping because she's been eating!  I thought she had outgrown naps but that is totally not the case.. because she is nightwaking and demanding cheese!!  She's so tired from being up half the night eating, but she's not napping because she's still busy eating.  I mean, am I supposed to give in?  Put my foot down?  I don't want her to have a bad relationship with food and develop an eating disorder in her future but she's making ME develop bad associations with food and I fear that she's going to do the same to my 12mo (who wants to eat whenever she sees my 3yo eat, which is always!!).  We live in one gigantic room so it's not like I can separate her from us while she eats.  Not to mention that she won't sit down and eat if it's not a meal and I don't want to spend my day at the table.  And I don't have all this money to spend on food.  I really don't.  In a few months when we move and qualify for food stamps, maybe.  But not now.  I go through SO much food. 

When I make a pot of brown rice for dinner (only butter and a little sea salt added during cooking) I cook 2 cups of uncooked rice, which yeilds something like 6 cups, right?  Well, by the end of the night, I've had two helpings, DH has had one small one, and my 12mo has had about 2tbsp of it (she doesn't eat large portions).... my 3yo eats the rest by herself.  When I buy those bags from the grocery store of frozen chicken in the presealed bags, or fish (tilapia) in the same kind of presealed portions... we go through an entire bag for one dinner, with NO leftovers.  Guess who eats the leftovers?!

I'm trying to get my DH to stop buying lunch, and he used to eat the leftovers before I could pack them (he'd eat them late at night after DD was asleep though, she never saw this).  He can't do that anymore because she just eats plate after plate after plate of food!

I am so fed up and am sitting here nearly in tears and I don't know what to do!!!

[WindyCityMom]

Ack.  I've calmed down quite a bit since my last post.  Sorry for the rant

However, she really has been eating a lot.

Today's dinner was supposed to be something for DH and I because he works late on Sundays and comes home after dinnertime.  We were probably going to eat some food at/from his grandmother's house (generally spicy so DD can't eat it anyways.. yeah.. something she actually won't eat!) because she cooks on Sundays.  DH still might, but I'm not.  I'm all food-ed out for the day. 

Snacks: DD has been eating more crackers and hummus (or with a little pb), apples, cheese, another 1/2 cup of smoothie (just spinach and blueberries for additives this time)... um.. some Annie's snack mix (1/8c), 1/2c of yogurt, more water refills, just a bunch of stuff.  Like I said, she hasn't stopped.  She has a muffin tin on my desk right now (chokeables for baby) with grapes, clementine wedges, more Annie's snack mix, and some cheese cubes in it.  She keeps running up to it saying "ohhhh I'm so hungry, what should I eat now.." and chooses her pick and runs back to go play. 

For dinner for us I just did burritos.  Whole wheat tortillas with lettuce, tomato, and a little bit of cheese inside (seeing that she already had SO much cheese today... mine had more cheese than hers though).  I had some cans of tuna (yeah, not the healthiest but I need protien and I didn't want it to go to waste!) so I opened one and used the tuna as the filler for my burritos.  She only had one, and hers had a little bit of tuna in it.  She ate the entire burrito, the tortilla was 8" in diameter and filled up so not very small.  She had some more cut up tomato on the side that she practically inhaled.

As I typed that paragraph, all of the grapes and clementines were gobbled up from the muffin tin.

Why does she eat so much?!  Really.  I tried googling and I'm coming up with nothing.

Oh, I also gave her one of those "Honest Kids" organic capri sun pouch type things earlier as a treat.  There are few left over from her birthday party.

This is kind of cute but I thought I'd add it- her play is centered under the high chair- it's her "car".  Her and her sister are "driving" and DD keeps saying that she's going to "golden nugget" right before she comes and takes her pick of snacks from the muffin tin.  It's cute but should I be concerned that this is working its way into her play?

[Llyra]

i think that in your position I would be going back to the doctor. And if that doctor brushes you off, see another one. It really does sound like it's a huge problem. Even if it turns out she's healthy and this is normal for her, it's not okay because it's upsetting you and interrupting her sleep. I would be talking to the doctor about some tests-- metabolic problems, perhaps? A parasitic infestation? I really don't know what; this isn't something I know about. But a good pediatrician should be listening to you, and working with you on the issue. My three year old DD is a HUGE eater, but still it's nothing like what you're describing, and my DD sleeps soundly all night without asking for food.

[madskye]

DD might eat that much one or two days during a growth spurt, but not every day for four months.  Have you talked to your pediatrician about blood tests?  Or do you have any dr friends?  My ped is, I am sad to say, pretty useless.  I have a good gf who's a physicians assistant and I run most of my questions thru her.

[AnnieA]

Hugs mama! This sounds like a tough situation! I would press this issue with her doctor. There is a condition that makes it difficult or impossible for children to get the message that they are full. I can't remember what it's called right now (preggo brain!) but it sounds like with her constipation issues that she either has some sort of food allergy or her brain doesn't get the message that she's full. I'm also curious if she has ever had her blood sugar levels checked. That really is a lot of food. That's more food than I could get in to my 15 yr old when he was running cross country in the fall. And he was hungry a lot then because they ran almost 10 miles a day.

[WindyCityMom]

I actually called the doctor today and got the answering message because I totally forgot that it's sunday  I will be putting in another call first thing in the morning. 

Her doctor (a family doc) is usually so awesome.  She always has answers for us.  I really want to document everything (I tried today) but it is so overwhelming.  Maybe I should take pictures of DDs "meals" and snack trays before and after and show those to her doctor?  I don't have any doctor friends. 

I wonder if her brain is just missing the message. But wouldn't she be throwing up?  Maybe it is a parasite.  Her belly is really pooched out but I was like that as a kid and so was my DH so I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not.

I think I am going to request some bloodwork at the least... something's up.  I think I'll actually end up seeing a different doctor because her doctor is usually booked for a few months.  Should I see a ped?  I know that they're overly medical in most cases but that might be what we need.  Our fam doc takes a more holistic approach to things, which is generally what we want, but right now we need to figure this out and it is likely something medical.

Her medical history really is clear, except for a strange onset of hydrocephalus shortly after her 6 month immunizations.  It lasted 6 months and went away.  We don't vax anymore.

Maybe that damaged the "switch" in her brain that's supposed to turn on when you're full?  But she hasn't always eaten like this... I don't know