How often does your toddler eat?

DS2 has been really really ratty this past week at childcare. He's started with the biting and pushing again.

I know it's not what he's eating because I've cut out "added" sugars in his diet. No sugar on his cereal, no dried fruits, no juice, no cakes, no biscuits (unless they are homemade and I know exactly what's gone into them).

Yesterday we (his carer and I) hit on a new strategy. Feed him more.

He seems to get cranky/naughty if he goes longer than 2 hours without food.

He's constantly on the go and will conk out around 12 for a 2 hour nap before being recharged and back on the go again.

I had discussed my concerns about behavioural issues with his carer (and the director of the centre - both of whom have experience in this area) and they both agreed that he didn't exhibit classic "signs". For example, he can sit quiety by himself for half hour or more and read a book or play with a toy.

Anyway, apparently yesterday he was a completely different child. On top of the normal morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea at childcare he had an extra serve of crackers and cheese and then in the afternoon ab extra serve of weetbix.

As soon as we got home last night I gave him his dinner. He had a treat of yoghurt for desert and managed to sleep through the night without waking.

Fingers' crossed we are onto something.

So my question is..... how much does your toddler (mine's 2.5yrs) eat and, how often?

As an aside, he's not a large child by any means - he's only 13kg and the smallest in his childcare group. But then again DH and I aren't particularly tall people either!

DD is 22 months and some days pretty much eats non stop. On an average day she has brekkie at 5.30 (ouch I know but thanks to DS we've all been up an hour by then) then she shares my toast usually about 7. Morning tea at 9, lunch 11-11.30, nap 12-2. I stopped afternoon tea because she eats dinner early and wouldn't eat properly but if she's ratty she gets fruit at 2. Dinner 4pm, usually eats a fair bit for dinner. Bed 5,30-6pm

Mega food days she eats between as well, usually fruit or oat bikkies.

Mine eats all day! Breakfast , snack, morning tea, snack, lunch, snack lol.
Both boys eat a lot though. I have found weetbix and rice to be very helpful to fill them up! They eat a lot of fruit but thy doesn't really fill them up.

I am constantly fighting them off the fridge and cupboard! They even snapped the lock on the cupboard trying to get in!

My family in law ALL get grumpy if they don't eat! They get very irritable and cannot concentrate.
So I think it's quite common. He must be having a growth spurt Hun!

My power weapon is porridge for brekkie. Gives me a little longer before she's manic!! I think it's the age, they're non stop. DD eats all day but is a tiny thing at 11 kgs.

Pretty similar to Glenny. My kids are early risers, and are eating alllll day. My bigger kids don't nap any more either.

Breaky (weetbix) is at about 5.30, 2nd breaky (toast) 7ish, morning tea (muesli bar or homemade muffin/biscuits/cake) at about 9.30, lunch (cheese/crackers/fruit or sandwich or tinned baked beans or egg and toast...) at 11.30, (baby naps at about 11.30-.100/30 and has lunch/afternoon tea when he wakes) afternoon tea (fruit plate) at around 1.00, late afternoon tea at 3pm (rice crackers/corn thins/plain bicuits and a cup of milk) and then dinner. More fruit or a yogurt if they eat most of their dinner at 5pm. Bed time at 7pm.

DD is just over 2 & she eats every 2 or so hours. Since weaning she sometimes wakes for food during the night too.

DD is a hard kid to feed through the day though. She's not a snacker. She wants cooked foods. Scrambled eggs, pasta's, noodles etc. She doesn't do bikkies, sandwiches, meusli bars or any type of snack foods. Good, but difficult :lol: She's also pretty small. Unlike the rest of us!

I totally agree. Mine would eat non stop if I let them. I'm trying to stretch my bigger girl out a bit but it's hard when she's used to having it on tap.

I follow the HALT principle when there's a 'moment from one of them. Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired?

Hooray!!!! He's completely normal....

I've bought a big box of weetbix and dropped it off to the childcare centre. Yesterday afternoon he (finally) went up to his carer and said Sharon I'm hungry - I want weetbix!. Some of the other kids seem to eat so little.

DH also has to eat every two hours or he gets grumpy too. I can't believe it took me this long to realise ....horrid mother! Starving my wee baby boy! He was a two-hour BFeeder too. Gawd, I feel like an idiot!

My three year old eats non stop!!! Seriously!!! All day everyday right up until tea.

My 2-year-old eats like a sparrow. Rare that she would eat three proper meals per day. Then she seems to make up for it every few days and have a pig out. But she doesn't use up much energy, she potters about and tinkers with things.

She's tall but skinny. I could worry about it but really, it runs in the family so it's in her genes.

Glad that you've worked out what works for him though. Sounds like you're on to something!

My crazy, charismatic, dominant, defiant, moody, always loving DD seems to survive on sunshine and sand most days, with a regular big binge of good food every so often. Meals, as you can see in my BB album are catered right for her, made with her, and yet, nope, won't eat it usually. I continue to persevere, and see small progressive changes in her eating habits.
My trick is to tap into what her interest is, fairies, tomatoes, spiders or trucks.....and make it my best friend ;)

mine used to eat all day, and about as much as me, but has dropped back now, so I think it was just a growth spurt.
I try to get her to eat 5 times a day (breakfast around 8, morning tea 10ish, lunch 12-1ish, afternoon tea 3-4ish and dinner around 7) but shes not been very interested

Hooray for finding a solution!! FWIW - my DD is a grazer but at kindy she doesn't eat alot because she's just so excited to be there and play.

DS (3) is the same. It took me awhile to figure it out too. Now when ever he is grumpy or being destructive Ill ask him if hes hungry. The answer is almost always yes.

DS just turned 2, he eats all day!!He's a snacker and i suppose gets it from me, i often wonder how he lasts at child care the 2 days he goes as they have their structured eating times. I usually try to limit what he eats after about 3.30pm as he has dinner at 5, but if he demands more food i often just give him dinner earlier and then he will have a yoghurt and banana after just beefore bed if needed.
But otherwise breakfast anytime from 6am (usually up to 3 bowls of special k or the like, small kid bowls though!), then shares my breakfast at about 7am, then it starts all day...sultanas,apples, bananas, saos, vita wheats, sandwiches etc etc the list goes on, but just a sample of what he can eat in a day! :)