will not stop eating

Michelle - posted on 06/15/2012

mine is the different she is 7 she used to eat everything and 2 days ago she stopped she eats breakfast not all of it but a bit picks at lunch but nothing at dinner she tries everything to get out of it she says she has a tummy ache she is full up everything i dont know what to do she will sit there and she just starts crying

Jenn - posted on 03/25/2011

That's what kids do when they are going through a growth spurt. My 4 year old eats all day long so I just make sure we have lots of fresh fruit and cut up veggies around. She has her own healthy snack shelf in the pantry, low enough to where she can get what she wants. As long as your little one is also staying hydrated and has healthy bowel movements, she is fine! Kids graze. It is actually the healthiest way to eat!

Lisa - posted on 03/25/2011

I went through the same thing with my son, now 20. He would eat all the time and because the doctor told me he needed to gain some weight, I let him. Well, a bad habit seed had been planted, and at age 7, he had become overweight. By the time he was a teenager, he was very heavy, as he is now, and is very self-conscious about his weight. I also have two other sons, ages 7 and 13, who, because of past experience, I learned to control their snacking habits, and are now, not skinny, but at healthy weights. If I knew then, what I know now.....Please set eating boundaries with your daughter, now, while she is still young. Let her have the snack, but try and keep it healthy. I am not saying that you should never give her cookies or ice cream, I know that I sure couldn't totally deprive my kids of that, but make the majority of her snacks things like fruit or yogurt. Find a healthy snack that she really likes and stick with that. She will still get to enjoy the occasional snack, but it won't affect her weight as much as the cookies. And start a routine with eating only a set times, including snack time. Its hard, I know. And even though she may not be gaining weight from the constant eating now, the habit will still be there and she may gain weight later on, which trust me, is a lot harder to deal with than keeping it under control when they are young......good luck:)

Cristy - posted on 03/25/2011

thanks krissy

Teresa - posted on 03/08/2011

My girls (9 year old twins) are the same way. Most days they start eating as soon as they get home from school and don't stop til it's time to get ready for bed. They are extremely active and skinny and always eat their meal food. I should probably cut down on their 'junk' snacks a bit, but they will also snack on baby carrots, apples, hard boiled eggs, etc.... just as willingly as the junk stuff.

Krissy - posted on 03/08/2011

If her weight is fine, always have healthy snacks on hand. Maybe start a policy of ONE "junk" snack per day... maybe after lunch or something... and everything else has to be healthy.

Also, start paying attention is she eating enough at meals? They say it's healthier to eat smaller portions more often anyway,... but if you are not going to home school her, she'll need to learn to eat more at meal times for school. Might just start encouraging a few more bites at meals and a few less snacks.

Also, be sure she's getting water...

Otherwise, I think you don't have anything to worry about.