I have this ... child..who is sooooo NAUGHTY!!!

[LG Gone Wild]

Not just terrible twos but just flat out onery (gee, I guess that is how you spell it :confused:). He was the sweetest, cuddliest, more adorable baby. The funny thing is I have actually had a very difficult toddler before but this latest one over the top.

Spitting, temper tantrums, flat out screeching, sassing, dirty looks, pouting, resisting parental arrest, sneaking into "child-proof" cupboards for food, sneaking food out the trashcan :ack2:, stealing food from the older two...on and on. No wonder I am behind in our curriculum.

Oh, and he is constantly hungry. This tiny person can chow down two whole slices of pizza without batting an eyelash. No, he isn't overweight or large for his size. All day long, "I hungry!", "I tursty !", "I hungry!", " I tursty!", "I wan som foo, Mama!"

:banghead:

[Ohio12]

does he eat enough protein? I have a dd that eats a lot too. protein helps. what do you usually do when he misbehaves?

[TraceyS/FL]

I have his female almost 4 version here.

I've been worried about her blood sugar, but every time they check it at the doctors it's fine. I need to buy a monitor and check it myself when she's particularly really bad about the "hungry and can't wait" thing.

I have low blood sugar and I know how i get when i'm hungry, which is why i worry about hers.

BUT, other than digging out of the trash (she's obviously still a girly-girl! LOL!!!) we have twins!

:hug:

[nmoira]

does he eat enough protein? I have a dd that eats a lot too. protein helps.This was my though too. Also, if food is an issue, it might be a good idea to have food and drink always available: grapes, cheese cubes (cheese is OK for long periods of time at room temperature), etc. Mine both went through growth spurts during which they would eat inconceivable amounts of food.

[LG Gone Wild]

does he eat enough protein? I have a dd that eats a lot too. protein helps. what do you usually do when he misbehaves?


I do various things but I am powerless. Check out the attachment. What can I do?

[Andie]

I do various things but I am powerless. Check out the attachment. What can I do?


Isn't that the kid with the exciting birth story? WHADDID YOU EXPECT?! :lol:

[Mandamom]

his twin including the food stealing from his the trashcan and everyone else. If anyone eats at a separate time he's right there begging. I have become strict on mealtimes around here.

But yes, everything else applies, too. Mine is also very very affectionate so he just wants to be in everyone's face which can be exhausting, too.

Just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone.

[LG Gone Wild]

Isn't that the kid with the exciting birth story? WHADDID YOU EXPECT?! :lol:


My dh refers to the screeching as a parrot that has gone bad.

[Chris in VA]

Oh. MY. just want to eat him up! What a cutie!!!

But seriously, see if you can stop that behaviour now. What's cute at 2 is atrocious and sometimes even dangerous at 4.
Just don't even try reasoning with him. And try not to crack up laughing, either!

[LG Gone Wild]

This was my though too. Also, if food is an issue, it might be a good idea to have food and drink always available: grapes, cheese cubes (cheese is OK for long periods of time at room temperature), etc. Mine both went through growth spurts during which they would eat inconceivable amounts of food.

so he has lots of cracker type snacks like cheerios, baby puff things (I don't know what the real name is right now), Cheezits, Wheat Thins, yogurt, bananas (when are these coming back to Costco?), PB&J sandwiches, snack bars, oatmeal, macaroni and cheese...in a typical day.

[LG Gone Wild]

[quote=Mandamom;232750 If anyone eats at a separate time he's right there begging. I have become strict on mealtimes around here.

But yes, everything else applies, too. Mine is also very very affectionate so he just wants to be in everyone's face which can be exhausting, too.

[/quote]

I forgot to add the constant begging/pestering while someone else is eating. What sort of strict things are you doing at mealtimes, anyhow? I v. curious.

[LG Gone Wild]

Oh. MY. just want to eat him up! What a cutie!!!

But seriously, see if you can stop that behaviour now. What's cute at 2 is atrocious and sometimes even dangerous at 4.
Just don't even try reasoning with him. And try not to crack up laughing, either!

in all seriousness, I am not a lax mom. I am not even a nice mom. Things I do are giving him a smack on the hand or bottom (that's for eating out of the trash :eek:), stern ,"No!" and removing him from whatever mischief he is doing, sending him outside to play (sounds like a reward but the guy just needs to play), giving him food (he gets particularly naughty if he is hungry), naps..I am not sure what else...mostly a lot of "No" and confiscation.

[Ohio12]

so he has lots of cracker type snacks like cheerios, baby puff things (I don't know what the real name is right now), Cheezits, Wheat Thins, yogurt, bananas (when are these coming back to Costco?), PB&J sandwiches, snack bars, oatmeal, macaroni and cheese...in a typical day.


this won't solve everything, but I don't think that is enough protien. Do you eat meat at your house? try starting off the day with a protein smoothie or scrambled eggs and giving him a good round meal or snack with protein every 3 hours at regular times. (also he IS SUPER CUTE!)

[clwcain]

Sounds like he needs meats and fats. Our boys (and me, even as an adult) have terrible mood swings when they're hungry. I've watched my two year old son eat more than my nearly-five-year old for weeks on end.

There are days when one of the boys will put down 5 bananas, half (yes, half) of a loaded pizza from Costco, and a half-pound of beef and rice. All with about 16 oz of whole milk fortified with "instant breakfast" powder. And that's just the 2 year old.

Usually when my wife calls me and complains of similar behavior, my first question is, "how much meat has he eaten today?" Usually her response is little or none.

From my POV, this doesn't sound like naughtiness. It sounds like he's trying to signal malnutrition, not just hunger, the only way he knows how.

[LG Gone Wild]

this won't solve everything, but I don't think that is enough protien. Do you eat meat at your house? try starting off the day with a protein smoothie or scrambled eggs and giving him a good round meal or snack with protein every 3 hours at regular times. (also he IS SUPER CUTE!)

We do eat meat but I just worry about him choking on it which is why he has a lot of soft foods. I am going to start having eggs for breakfast again.

[Jami]

Sounds like he needs meats and fats. Our boys (and me, even as an adult) have terrible mood swings when they're hungry. I've watched my two year old son eat more than my nearly-five-year old for weeks on end.

There are days when one of the boys will put down 5 bananas, half (yes, half) of a loaded pizza from Costco, and a half-pound of beef and rice. All with about 16 oz of whole milk fortified with "instant breakfast" powder. And that's just the 2 year old.

Usually when my wife calls me and complains of similar behavior, my first question is, "how much meat has he eaten today?" Usually her response is little or none.

From my POV, this doesn't sound like naughtiness. It sounds like he's trying to signal malnutrition, not just hunger, the only way he knows how.

Agreed. One of the children in this house is Jekyl and Hyde when hungry. He's just completely unreasonable till I toss a chunk of cheese at him or make him eat a bowl of almonds. Then he's a new child. A spoonful of pb will do in a pinch too. Nuts are seriously our emergency friends here I don't know what we'd do with allergies!

[nmoira]

so he has lots of cracker type snacks like cheerios, baby puff things (I don't know what the real name is right now), Cheezits, Wheat Thins, yogurt, bananas (when are these coming back to Costco?), PB&J sandwiches, snack bars, oatmeal, macaroni and cheese...in a typical day.With the exception of the peanut butter, yogurt (which if it's flavored will be loaded with sugar and could add to your difficulties) and Mac and cheese, those aren't protein foods. I'd also think twice about giving a particularly energetic toddler more sugar and food additives than can be helped. I'm not saying don't give him fruits and whole grains, but rather to make sure there are good protein foods available during the day, or that starchy foods are spiked with protein. For example, it's easy to mix nut butter into yogurt or oatmeal, and hummus and crackers are a good combination.

[clwcain]

With the exception of the peanut butter, yogurt (which if it's flavored will be loaded with sugar and could add to your difficulties) and Mac and cheese, those aren't protein foods. I'd also think twice about giving a particularly energetic toddler more sugar and food additives than can be helped. I'm not saying don't give him fruits and whole grains, but rather to make sure there are good protein foods available during the day, or that starchy foods are spiked with protein. For example, it's easy to mix nut butter into yogurt or oatmeal, and hummus and crackers are a good combination.

:iagree:
I'll add a plug for one of our house favorites: raw veggies with tzatziki sauce.

Rule of thumb in our house, fwiw, always pair a starch with a saturated fat (bread and real butter, for example).

Also, we found a cod liver oil supplement that we've added to the boys diet. It's not cheap, but it makes all the difference in the world. I can tell the day's they've taken it from the day's they haven't. There, again, it's an issue of essential fatty acids needed by growing bodies. :)

[Kisa in CA]

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time! I agree about the protein. Here are a few more suggestions:
PEANUT BUTTER, on crackers, rice cakes, bread, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, eggs in lots of different ways. My little ones loved hard boiled eggs or egg 'boats' with shrimp in them, tuna in sandwiches or on crackers. For quick snacks you can get those cheese/pretzels packages where they dip the pretzels in the cheese or peanutbutter.

Also, I would schedule meals and snacks and give him a set amount to finish. MAKE him full at breakfast. He can't get out of the chair until everything is gone. It may take a while to figure out how much he needs, but pretty quickly you should be able to determine the correct portions. Then sit him down 2 hours later for a snack. He again is expected to eat everything. Then lunch, the same thing. If you do this and always give him a reasonable amount of protein it should really help. No cereal for breakfast unless it is high in protein! That's at least what I have learned.

I have a high metabolism and so do my kids, so this is how we live. There is NO snacking in between snacks! But they do eat every 2 hours. Wish it was different, but alas, that's the way I am! I can't ask them to be any different.

HTH! Hang in there...
Kisa

[Tammyla]

I'm sorry...but he looks like an angel, and I find your story hard to believe.

However, having my own angel has taught me to look deeper. Some people are born grazers when it comes to food and water. I'd lock up the trash can, and give him access to good options. Oh, and invest in ear plugs.

I do various things but I am powerless. Check out the attachment. What can I do?

[LG Gone Wild]

Also, we found a cod liver oil supplement that we've added to the boys diet. It's not cheap, but it makes all the difference in the world. I can tell the day's they've taken it from the day's they haven't. There, again, it's an issue of essential fatty acids needed by growing bodies. :)


I thought that was way in the past, like petticoats or something. Anyway, something to consider. Thanks.

[Stacia]

If you're having to provide constant snacks/protein sources, here's a tip I read a long time ago that I thought was neat... get a cupcake/muffin pan & fill each section w/ different snacks. You could have one you keep in the bottom shelf of the fridge (so he or sibs could get it) & fill it at the beginning of the day. Maybe for him, put in cheese, rolled/sliced sections of turkey or ham or roast beef, diced chicken pieces, tuna salad to eat w/ a spoon, slices of boiled egg, etc.... You can do another tray w/ dry/room-temp items like crackers, fruit, etc....

That way, you could gather food snacks once a day rather than about 30 times a day, lol. Maybe you better fill up a few trays for your cutie! ;)

I don't have your problem, but I'm constantly amazed at how much my dc eat. Dh & I cook 2x as much food for the dc than we do for ourselves. And, they definitely go through growth periods where they will eat even more than that!!! :blink: