Any advice will help...

Jennifer - posted on 12/11/2010

I agree taht this doesn't sound normal. I have a very active 4yr old, pretty strong for his age, but he doesn't seem to sompair to your 2yr old. He does have his own health issues (he was preemie) and I have found I have to push, push, push to get Drs to really stop and listen. Always follow you mother's instinct! Something that might help??? My 1yr old is a big eater (still not compairable) and I was having a hard time keeping him satiated. I read something about always pairing a protien with a carb in order to feel full longer. I have been doing that and it seems to be working. Things like putting a bit of peanut butter on his pancake, or giving him cheese with his crackers for snack.

Phyllis - posted on 11/26/2010

I would certainly get a second opinion, you need a doctor that will listen. Here we have a center that specializes in special needs kids. They are a bugger to get in to, but in the facility they are equipped to record and evaluate children for a full day. They deal mainly with Autism etc, but maybe there is a children's hospital near you that would do an in- patient evaluation?

Jannelle - posted on 11/25/2010

Thanks for your advice. I wanted to do a food diary but the doctor said it wasn't good enough. I suspect they think my husband and I could just lie/exaggerate on paper. I'll start searching for a video camera after the holidays. I may even change his pediatrician. She is the same doctor who was trying to convince me he wasn't sick last spring and I made her test him for everything and he came back with a positive flu result.
He eats relatively healthy, don't get me wrong he loves it when he gets a dessert but his snacks throughout the day are mostly fruits/veggies. I however never thought about trying to give him a meal replacement drink. I'll try that and see if there are any changes that day with his eating habits. Again, thank you for responding to my post.

Phyllis - posted on 11/25/2010

This does not sound like a normal thing to me. I would continue to talk to your doctor until you find out what is going in. If you cannot film him eating, you should keep a diary of what he eats.



If he really needs the extra calories he is eating, rather than just wanting them, then there are things that can help, but you want them to be GOOD calories, not junk. You can try to supplement his regular meals with meal replacement drinks (Ensure, Boost, Pediasure) and I think there are drinks out there for his age that are made like infant formula, only flavored, so he gets the right kind of nutrition. I suggest lots of smoothies with fruit, veggies and even tofu. I also suggest that you keep him on an eating schedule so that he is not eating all day long. Even if his scheduled meals/snacks are huge, eating on a schedule can help his body to regulate his appetite somewhat. If he is getting into the cupboards, keep the snacks etc up high and invest in padlocks. Check if there is any way to put the hinges on the inside.



I would try to borrow a video camera or check Cragslist or other sites for one. Obviously the doctors want to see for themselves whats going on, and it may be the only way they will listen to you without assuming you are exaggerating the issue. Good luck.