Is this a "normal" 3yo belly?

[WindyCityMom]

DD has been having issues lately (and for awhile actually) with eating all day long and being constantly hungry.  I mentioned in my other thread about it (somewhere in this subforum!) that she has a pooched out belly and someone said that could be a sign of Celiac.  I need input from someone who doesn't see her every day.  Is it larger than "normal" (and I know there is a wide variation to normal).  Today her grandpa's jaw hit the floor when he saw her in a leotard.. so I'm curious, WDYT?

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It's SUPER adorable!  

My daughter had a "snoopy belly" when she was a toddler, but, I think for age three, I'd be concerned too.  It does look very distended.  Is she uncomfortable?  Occasionally if I eat too much sugar, i'll get a stomach ache, and for some reason, instead of NOT eating, I want to keep eating because I feel like It'll make it feel better.  I'm an adult, and I know that it won't work, but I do it anyway.  Maybe she's trying to make herself feel better by eating constantly.  It might not hurt enough for her to be able to explain it, but she just naturally is trying to eat away the discomfort.

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http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-symptoms  Here are the symptoms of celiacs.  If you can't see a doctor for all the testing.  (I bet it's not just a one visit thing either) Maybe you could research it and try eliminating foods with gluten???  Again, I know nothing of Celiac... so, if you plan to take her for testing, the doctor's may not want you to eliminate certain foods... they may want to test her while she eats her regular diet.

[WindyCityMom]

Originally Posted by nextcommercial 

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-symptoms  Here are the symptoms of celiacs.  If you can't see a doctor for all the testing.  (I bet it's not just a one visit thing either) Maybe you could research it and try eliminating foods with gluten???  Again, I know nothing of Celiac... so, if you plan to take her for testing, the doctor's may not want you to eliminate certain foods... they may want to test her while she eats her regular diet.

Yep, true.  She has to be eating gluten to test positive. 

I just feel really bad for my DD.  She spends the entire day eating.  For dinner today she ate about 1.5 chicken breasts for dinner plus veggies (stir fry).  Three plates!

DD doesn't eat a lot of sugar either.  I just don't get it. 

[MusicianDad]

I would talk to a doctor, and get her tested for celiac disease. Her belly does look out of proportion to the rest of her.

[lilmom]

I think it is pretty distended looking too, and that there is probably something going on. BTW, she is soooo cute!

I would probably look into celiac too..not sure what else it could be but I would definitely take her to the doc and see what they can find out. Good luck mama!

[meemee]

mama when you look at the profile, it looks pretty normal - pretty proportional with her wrists and thighs. photo 1. she reminds me of dd. 

but when you look at it head on - woah it DOES look super distended. the second photo. 

awwww mama she is sooo cute and sooo full of life. she has her personality just shine out of those pictures. 

[Llyra]

I guess I'm in the minority-- I just don't see it. OP I know the issues you're dealing with-- I've seen the other threads-- and I totally agree that looking for medical advice is the right thing to do. But the belly looks okay to me-- my kids before about five have all had little pooched-out potbellies. What I see in those pics looks like what my kids look(ed) like at three, so it doesn't ring any alarm bells for me.

I'm wondering about parasitic infection, as well as celiac.

[sweetcheeks]

It definitely looks distended to me and I would take her to the doctor and ask to have a celiac workup done on her and also check for parasites. Does she complain about her belly hurting constantly? Does she seem easily fatigued or irritable? My DD was recently diagnosed celiac in October and she had the pooched out/distended belly going on, was constantly tired and irritable, and she complained about her belly hurting all the time. Since being GF, her belly is no longer distended (you can really see the difference when you compare before/after diagnosis pics of her in her gymnastics bodysuit) and she's feeling a lot better.

[pianojazzgirl]

It does look pretty distended to me, though of course there is such a wide range of normal, and I have just my 2 kids to compare with so it's hard to say.  That aside, from reading your other thread, I think there's no question that some investigation into her appetite needs to be done.  TBH my first thought was tapeworm or another parasite.

BTW - she is super cute.  Love that last pic!  :)

[Amylcd]

My DD takes ballet with a group of  3 year olds and the first picture is what most of their bellies look like in the leotards.  It wouldn't hurt to get it checked out though, if you are concerned.

[craft_media_hero]

I second checking out for a parasite. That could be why she's hungry all the time. I have heard of people successfully treating worms with garlic and olive leaf oil just FYI.

I don't think it looks too out of proportion, but you gotta follow your instinct.

Also, is she constipated? That could contribute to her belly being extra poochy.

[WindyCityMom]

Originally Posted by craft_media_hero 

I second checking out for a parasite. That could be why she's hungry all the time. I have heard of people successfully treating worms with garlic and olive leaf oil just FYI.

I don't think it looks too out of proportion, but you gotta follow your instinct.

Also, is she constipated? That could contribute to her belly being extra poochy.

She has had chronic constipation since she started solids (and eating gluten).  However, though it's hard for her to poop and her BMs are massive and hard.. she's very regular and goes once per day.  She just has a horrible time with them. 

[lookatreestar]

i would work on digestion and getting her bowel movements normal. i bet it goes hand in hand w/ her belly. my dd has a big belly but it isn't all the time and it isn't quite as circular/bloated/tight looking. she is just super chubby before growth spurts.

[ElliesMomma]

her belly is totally out of proportion to the rest of her body. it might be adorable if you don't know all of the issues you are having with her over eating. in light of the issues, however, it is another concerning factor.

i, for one, have been following your story with her overeating for a few weeks now. and i can't wait to hear what the doctor has to say next week.

when you have seen doctors before, was her belly this big?

i have seen 3 year olds with pot bellies, but they are overall "fat" kids; fat all over. not just in the stomach -- like yours is.

no, that's not normal.

[One_Girl]

It looks very distended.  I think it is odd that she could be constipated despite eating so many veggies with her meals.  Are they doing a stool sample nest week?  If not I think you should ask them to.  She may have something there that isn't being digested properly and is causing problems.  I too am following your story with interest and hope you get good info next week.

[WindyCityMom]

Thank you all so much for the input. 

She's just always constipated.  She's had diarrhea ONCE in the past two years.  She went through a stomach virus and only vomited, no diarrhea.  The doctor was surprised and told us "give her benefiber".

Benefiber doesn't work.  An ADULT dose of Benefiber doesn't work :(  I ordered some flax to start putting in our smoothies... it should be here today. 

She loves her veggies.  She pigs out on broccoli.  She loves spinach.  She eats apples almost daily and the vast majority of the time they have their skins.  She gets fiber.  She still has issues with her bowel movements :( 

Her doctors appointments this past year have all been joint appts with her sister.  She kind of gets looked past.  Her abdomen hasn't been *this* big though.  I've noticed it getting out of hand.  Trying to dress her feels like trying to dress a pregnant 3yo.  It is so difficult, and I just really want to break down and cry.  This is so emotionally draining.

Last time the doctor said growth spurt, but this time I am more prepared (esp since the eating has gotten wayyy out of control) so let's hope for the best.  DD just woke up so I've got to get her something to eat... the food demand has already started. 

[SubliminalDarkness]

I agree with others. Doesn't look normal to me. I hope you are able to get some answers soon. 

[crunchy_mommy]

Wow, I really am not sure what to say, but *I* actually have all the same symptoms as your DD -- pregnant-looking bloated belly despite tons of fiber, been constipated for years (TMI, sorry), and insanely huge appetite. So I don't know that I'm any help, seeing as I haven't found a solution to my problem... but I did cut out all gluten ~6mos ago and got relief from other symptoms (i.e. chronic fatigue), it didn't affect my belly/digestion/appetite though, if anything my stomach is even more distended now so I'm not sure what's going on. Maybe it takes a long time for my body to go back to normal? I really hope you can figure out what's going on with her, something doesn't seem right.

[SubliminalDarkness]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy 

Wow, I really am not sure what to say, but *I* actually have all the same symptoms as your DD -- pregnant-looking bloated belly despite tons of fiber, been constipated for years (TMI, sorry), and insanely huge appetite. So I don't know that I'm any help, seeing as I haven't found a solution to my problem... but I did cut out all gluten ~6mos ago and got relief from other symptoms (i.e. chronic fatigue), it didn't affect my belly/digestion/appetite though, if anything my stomach is even more distended now so I'm not sure what's going on. Maybe it takes a long time for my body to go back to normal? I really hope you can figure out what's going on with her, something doesn't seem right.

Do you eat dairy? What you're describing sounds like a dairy intolerance to me.