[brashtan]

Our son, age 2, has been home now for 4 months, and would still eat anything and everything if we didn't cut him off at some point. He is getting plenty but we still have to tell him "all done" after every meal. He is much better now regarding whining and crying waiting for food, and slowing down, but it's still a daily battle. Anyone else going through/has gone through the same thing?

[cac_li]

My son is 15 months and has been home for 3 months and will also eat anything and everything. People cannot believe what he will eat. I also have to just cut him off. It is funny you mentioned about the whining/crying while waiting for food--mine is the same way--cannot wait for the food to be prepared. I try to prepare things ahead of time, so he only has to wait for it to be heated up. I just assumed that he had a healthy appetite. Would love to hear what others say.

[momofMikhail]

My ds was the same why when he came home at 17 months. It took a long time, but eventually he did stop and realized that it takes time to prepare the food. I would give him a nonfilling snack while I prepared meals. I never stopped him from eating though. He always told me when he was finished, even if it meant eating as much or more than dad would.

These kids haven't always had food available to them when they were hungry. They were only allowed to eat when and what was available to them at the time. I know with our son there would be times he didn't like what was given to him while he was in the baby home, so he wouldn't eat at all. If they didn't eat what was made at the time of feedings they got nothing.

I would suggest having snacks within their reach at all times. Whether you realize it or not they will stop eating when they are full. It might not seem like it, but they will.

[Kasey]

My youngest was like this, he had a HUGE appetite, still can pack it in. We also just would give him a little snack (cheerios) to munch on while I was getting a meal ready. We always joke this kid can hear a pretzel bag russle from a mile away.
While he still loves his food and meals and eats great, he is not as food driven as he was in the beginning. He had issues at day care of stealing other kids food as well!
We let him eat whenever he needed to first home and then just kept him on a consistent schedule of meals and snacks, same thing at school.
The crying and whining over food and needing it immediately went away after around 6 months. He has been home 3 years, he still loves his food and snacks, but he knows his schedule now and I always make sure we have fruit or yogurt handy as a quick snack for him. And he also stops when he is full, when before he woulld just keep shoveling it in.

[TweetyMom04]

We were told by agency, people we traveled with, others told:

The food put out for the children, sometimes they will or won't eat it. The children 'that have learned how it works' learn survival. To eat whatever is put in front of them, when it is in front of them. Further, if a child at the table isn't eating, they will steal the food for themselves. Also, they are given a set a time to eat. If the food is not eaten by the time, the caregivers will remove it and sometimes eat it in front of the children. It is a basic survival instinct, to get food.

Sounds like a case of hoarding food in (the child's mind) a set time. Even though you are using no timer or clock to eat, the rushing through each meal is all they have known. Over time, they will learn that food is available, time to eat it and that 'full' feeling doesn't have to hurt after each meal.

On a similar subject, but with our dog, we had a Golden Retriver we rescued. We were her 7th home and she was less than a year old. She would eat so fast and so much, that she would make herself sick. She had only known limited amounts of food, if any and limited amount to eat. Over time, she loosened up, but it was ....over time.

Give it time and reassure your child, that food is available and they will be fed. Reinforce meal times, so that grazing, aka snacking, doesn't become an all day food-a-thon. Encourage slowing down, chew each bite, drink a bit and then repeat. Do set a time limit for meals. Eating should be longer than 5 minutes, but shorter than 1 - 1.5 hour(s).

Good Luck

[kretzklan]

Just wanted to add that although 'most' kids will learn to know when they are full, it's not true that all children will. There is a chemical that some children create too much of that can keep them from ever knowing a full feeling. My DD has that. At her age, she would still eat until she threw up if we let her. If you find this is true, you may have to change your approach to food. We can't 'make it available' all the time...she would be ill. So, if it persists more than 6 months or a year...check with your pediatrician.

[TweetyMom04]

Originally Posted by kretzklan

Just wanted to add that although 'most' kids will learn to know when they are full, it's not true that all children will. There is a chemical that some children create too much of that can keep them from ever knowing a full feeling. My DD has that. At her age, she would still eat until she threw up if we let her. If you find this is true, you may have to change your approach to food. We can't 'make it available' all the time...she would be ill. So, if it persists more than 6 months or a year...check with your pediatrician.

Excellent point!

[brashtan]

Thanks for everyone's stories....it helps to know he is definitley not the only one, it just seems this is not a topic that is talked about My son would eat until it made him sick, he does not yet know when he is full. He does get a few healthy snacks through out the day, but I'm afraid if I would set anything out for him, he'd eat everything that was there and not stop 'til it was gone. But maybe I'll give it a shot and see. I'm hoping it will get better and he'll eventually know when he's full. He has a doctor's appt. coming up this Jan. so I will bring it up during that time as well.

[JustBarbara]

Hopping over from Guatemalan forum - originally in line to adopt from Russia but they closed for many months. Anyway, there has been quite a bit on this forum about eating issues and hording also, especially Russian adoptees. Since the kiddos only had set times/ amounts/ types of food they either ate it in the prescribed time or they went hungry. You might want to do a search on other threads about eating disorders. Good luck

[angelkisses0102]

Honestly this is quite normal and at this point home...I would allow him all the (healthy) food he wants. To this day my kids are allowed access to healthy food and water 24/7. They both were adopted as infants and are now home 7 and 5.5 years...both are thin and healthy.

DD was 11 months old while we were in Russia and drank 80 ounces of formula a day as well as finger foods and baby foods. Yes 80 ounces a formula! Once home I mixed her formula with whole milk just to help fill her up...and she stayed on formula mixed with full fat milk until she was 22 months old. She ate and ate and ate. DS was 8 months old and I did the same thing...it was amazing what he could eat!!! After a while they just naturally slowed down...DS slowed down too much but that's another story.

I would simply allow him a food box, shelf, or drawer in the frig for access 24/7. I would not limit food now...he is still learning that he can count on you for it. Even my well adjusted DD (age 8 and home over 7 years) will revert to hoarding at very stressful times.

I have also been told, by adults, that one never ever forgets the feeling of being truly starved...and I agree. My daughter has never been without food since she was adopted...but deep down she still remembers going hungry. If I ask her...she will admit she still doesn't trust in her soul that there will be food...even though she trusts me...

Good luck and hang in there...perfectly normal!

[lakimnafite]

Oh yes, very normal. I asked the same questions - seems like only yesterday. Here is my original post if you are interested in a little of our family food history!
Food issues - hers and mine....

[waitinginnj]

Thinking the same thing Karen - they need to food box, to gain trust that food will be provided.