Is this normal behavior re: eating habits

My 19 month old DD loves to eat, always has, and eats a well balanced diet and is about 25-26lbs. She has about 15-16 oz of 2% milk a day, 3 big meals and usually 1 snack. However she has food jealousy if that's a thing and it's driving me nuts. For instance she will have had her milk and breakfast already but if she sees a friend eating snack she goes over and helps herself or cries for something to eat, even right after she ate! She cries if she sees a plate on the counter with my food on it and god forbid I eat a cheese stick (or anything) in front her she freaks out and wants some so I literally have to hide when I have a snack! When I am getting her dinner ready if she see it she starts crying and doesn't understand it's hot and needs to cool. If we are at a party and everyone is eating chips and dips she points and cries for food. She will eat fallen chips or whatever food she can scavenge off the floor. These are just some examples but many more instances where she is acting like a lil piggy. If there is no food in sight then she just goes on her business and plays. It's not like she's hanging on the pantry door and crying for food, it's only if she sees it.

So how do I handle? DH thinks she needs to learn she can't just demand food whenever we are eating. Like we had a snack chips and salsa and DD stood there pointing and crying so I gave in and fed her some chips. DH said no we shouldn't give in and she needs to learn se can't eat all the time. He's also worried about her getting too chubby or getting used to these big meals we feed her. So do I just ignore the crying and tantrums??

Message edited 5/26/2014 11:49:30 PM.

Re: Is this normal behavior re: eating habits

Honestly, that sounds like normal baby/toddler behavior to me. That's what they do!! lol

My DD is 5 1/2 yo and still wants whatever we are eating..........even if she's not hungry. And my DS, 14 months, forget it.........you HAVE to share everything with him. I look at it this way, if someone was eating a delicious cupcake or a handful if Doritos right in front of you, wouldn't you all of a sudden want some too??........hunger aside.

When I'm making my son's meals and he's watching me he's yapping at me the whole time. He can't wait to eat, he's hungry and he doesn't understand that things need to be prepared, or cut up, or cooled. His belly is telling him he wants food and that is all he cares about.

Your LO isn't acting like a little piggy, a lot of it is instinct and the other part is she's 19 months old!! It's just a phase and over time she will learn better manners and food etiquette but I think you need to just remind yourself that for all intents and purposes, she's still a baby and really isn't capable of controlling her emotions, wants, and desires ALL the time. You can keep teaching her proper manners, not to take others food, etc. but at the same time, I see nothing wrong with giving her food if you and everyone else around her is eating.

ETA - I think most grown ups are like your DD...........most of us aren't thinking about food all day either but if someone puts a box of doughnuts in your face or sticks a candy jar full of goodies on your desk you're going to want to snack. It's human nature.

Message edited 5/27/2014 12:26:25 AM.

Is this normal behavior re: eating habits

I agree with the above poster... if theres no health or weight concerns why c why not let her eat what your eating if its kid appropriate (ie chips) i always share with my dd she loves saying shes eating like a big girl lol shes 2 and will always tell me "i try" when she wants to try what were eating... my dd is also a snacker so we give her more than 1 snack a day maybe try giving her a few more snacks. And by snacks i mean she gets fruits yogurt smoothies and once in a while a cookie... shes mostly a healthy snacker...

Re: Is this normal behavior re: eating habits

Mine do this too. I try to hide and eat breakfast b/c if I share with both I get half a breakfast lol. If I'm eating something they can have, I share.

Re: Is this normal behavior re: eating habits

My dd 23 months does the same thing. She will have her breakfast then what I call 2nd.breakfast. she needs to try everything and if I am eating it she wants it. I think it's more for taste than hunger for my dd.I thought it was normal but my dd is also a good eater.

Re: Is this normal behavior re: eating habits

I could cry. This is my kid to a tee (even the weight!)

I get so annoyed when people tell me to just feed her more if she's crying. No. My child is already at the high end of the weight spectrum. She needs to learn limits! Thankfully my ped agrees. He said to try more protein, less milk at meals.

Sometimes we just have to let her cry a bit. We try to change activities.

Going out to eat is a nightmare. We have to put her order in before we sit down and need to give her a snack before it comes or it's a total meltdown.

Didn't mean to hijack...this has just been a rough topic for us lately.

Re: Is this normal behavior re: eating habits

DS does this too. I have to hide my food because if he finishes his before mine he'll cry until I give him some. I do feed him whenever he asks for food. If it becomes a problem we can try and curb his food intake but for now the pediatrician said even though he's high on the percentage charts they're not concerned about his weight so I do feed him on demand.