can a toddler eat too much?

[Peanut1207]

Okay I know that some days toddlers can eat very little and the next day they can eat alot but seriously there are days whem my kiddo is a nonstop eater. He'll eat breakfast (oatmeal and fruit usually), a full cereal bar as a snack (I know it's crap i'm working on getting rid of them, DH is addicted), lunch is generally a piece of two of turkey or ham, bread or pasta, veggies and fruit and an entire cheese stick, then a fruit snack later and possible some animal crackers, and then dinner...whatever we are having (smaller portions of course). I just feel like there are days when all he wants to do is eat. I know this sounds stupid! He's 15 months and still nurses several times a day as well...no milk yet and I'm on the fence about when to introduce it. But full fat cheese and yogurt regularly for 3-4 months now.

[leosmommy]

My "guess" would be that kids will stop eating if they are full. Especially if the food being served is not candy and cake KWIM?? From what you describe your kiddo is getting a well rounded diet, I wouldn't worry too much.

[Tweet]

I would probably add more protein.

[Bohemian]

The food you described in the op seems to be pretty normal amount for a toddler with a good appetite. I would get some more protein in for the snacks and try to cut out the processed/empty calorie foods.

Instead of cheese stick, a slice of full fat hard cheese, a hard boiled egg, full fat yogurt instead of fruit snacks, Avocados...

I'm not sure why you're on the fence about the milk, but full fat is very rich in protein and something he needs at this age. My first was a good eater and she drank lots of milk at that age.

eta: When I said something he needs, I meant the protein...not the milk, although milk is a very good and easy source to provide that!

[3girls2luv]

My 2yo does this as well. I agree that you should add more protein to his diet. How is his weight?

[Camille]

I'm not sure why you're on the fence about the milk, but full fat is very rich in protein and something he needs at this age. My first was a good eater and she drank lots of milk at that age.


Why would he need milk if he's still nursing 3 - 4 times a day? There is just as much protein and fat in bm as whole milk... That might be why she's "on the fence".

DD2 is 13 months, and she doesn't get whole milk either. She nurses 5 - 8 times in a 24 hour period. It seems like she's attached the whole night because we co-sleep. "lol9"

[SingingMom]

That actually sounds like a pretty good day for a toddler eating-wise. But my kids eat a lot, too. Of course, they run around like madmen and burn a lot of calories. But IMO, that's exactly right.

A cheese stick is pretty high in protein. You could offer more protein, but you're offering lots of fruit, veggies, and whole grains. WTG, momma.

[Sputterduck]

Yes they can. My son didn't get normal eating/hungerrelief cycles until he was 15 months old so he didn't know what full was. He had a few sessions where he ate til he threw up, but he learned pretty quickly.

A normal toddler? It's unlikely. Kids can eat a lot relative to their size and even if they did eat too much, they'll generally learn to stop that because it doesn't feel good.

[Peanut1207]

His weight is totally fine, he just seems like a bottomless pit sometimes. On the protein front he always gets meat or eggs at dinner (a pretty decent amount of it too). I try really hard to limit empty calories but it doesn't always happen (actually the grandmas are really bad about this). The cheese stick he gets is an organic full fat mozzerella stick so it's the equivalent of a slice of cheese (we trade them with sliced cheese but he likes the stick). It's got a good amount of protein in it. We already do avocados 3-4 a week, he can eat 3/4 of an avocado in one sitting! I'm holding on the milk because we are still nursing...BM has more readily accepted fat than milk from what I understand. I in general think he's fine I just wonder sometimes because it seems like so much (there are days when he eats very, very little too...just a "normal" toddler I guess)!

[Tweet]

Honestly, it sounds like just like my kids. They often go through spurts where they eat a ton and then some days when they just don't.

If you start feeling worried, though, a call to a child nutritionist might help ease your concerns.

[KerryS]

Nothing jumps out at me as particularly bad in that diet. Maybe animal crackers, but since he's getting plenty of other good foods, I'm not going to criticize you for that (especially since rice chex and tortilla chips are one of the only foods my 13mo will eat).

As long as his weight's okay, I wouldn't worry.

Does he feed himself stuff like the oatmeal that requires a spoon?

[JudyJudyJudy]

Yes, a toddler can eat too much, but I agree with those who say that it doesn't sound like your son is. As others said, you can increase protein and lower snacks, but it really isn't that bad.

[Bohemian]

Why would he need milk if he's still nursing 3 - 4 times a day? There is just as much protein and fat in bm as whole milk... That might be why she's "on the fence".

DD2 is 13 months, and she doesn't get whole milk either. She nurses 5 - 8 times in a 24 hour period. It seems like she's attached the whole night because we co-sleep. "lol9"


To increase his protein in addition to the BM and what she is feeding him. My dd was nursing more than 3-4 times a day at that age(15 months) AND drinking 2-3 cups of whole milk a day.

[KerryS]

FWIW, I never fed any of my toddlers cow's milk either. I don't believe children need cow's milk as long as they're getting enough protein and calcium. Neither of my older two drank cow's milk until they were 3-4.