Ask Our Experts:
Abnormally Big Appetite?
 Raisingkids.co.uk's
paediatric dietitian, David Swain, reassures a concerned parent about how much
food a 1 yr-old needs.
Raisingkids
member's query
I am concerned about my 1
yr-old because he has no bottom when it comes to eating! He seems to be always
hungry and will not eat baby food for me anymore - he will only eat 'table food'
like the rest of the family. He has a bigger appetite
than my 3½ year old daughter. When should I stop his food intake at dinner
time? How much can one little stomach possibly handle? Please help! I don't want
an obese child! David's advice
Unfortunately, you don't say whether your son is actually
overweight or not at present. This is important as most babies who are allowed
to eat according to their appetite usually eat what they need and no more. Toddlers'
appetites vary tremendously and some toddlers will start to eat more if their
milk intake is reduced or when they go through a growth spurt or begin to walk.
Although monitoring of your child's height and weight is essentially the responsibility
of a health care professional, the height and weight growth charts found in your
child's Personal Health Care Records (issued to you at his birth) should act as
a guide for you. If you are unsure how to interpret these growth charts then contact
your local surgery who will be happy to explain this to you. The
fact that your son doesn't want baby foods anymore is not a problem and the way
that he is eating adult foodstuffs should be seen as a positive thing. Assuming
your son is not already overweight, I should let him eat as much as he wants but
to remember the principles of healthy eating and apply this to his diet. - Avoid
giving sugary drinks
- Give water
and milk (aim for no more than a pint of milk/day)
- Avoid
adding extra sugar to drinks and food
- Use
only a small amount of butter and margarine
- Avoid
cooking methods such as frying and roasting that use
a lot of fat
- Avoid
giving too many fatty foods such as crisps, chocolate, fatty meat etc.
- Offer
your son a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables at mealtimes and as snacks
- Provide
your son with plenty of opportunities to be active
Finally,
if you feel that your son is already very overweight then you should ask your
GP to refer him to a State Registered Dietitian who can help you to regulate his
diet.
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