I have 4 wonderful children: 10, 4, 4, 2. This request is in regards to one of the twins. (They did not have any difficulties as infants and they were born full term.) Since the beginning of the year one of them has been sneaking food. Whether the food was in the cabinet or the refrigerator. We put a child safety lock on the fridge to keep him out. There was one week that I had found 3 apple cores hidden in their room. I have caught him sneaking and eating. He goes into his older brother's room and takes any candy or gum that he can find. Last night I found him eating his older brother's toothpaste. My question is: is this a behavior or could there be something medically that needs to be checked out? Have any of you experienced something like this? The other 3 children do not show this behavior. He appears to be maintaining his weight. He eats good at meal time and I do give the kids an afternoon snack to get them to supper. He drinks liquids (milk, juice and water.) He also takes a multi vitamin. His color is good and currently has no medical problems. His energy level is also good.
J.,
I agree with the others...I would see the doc on this one. It could be a number of things. Is he thirsty all the time also? Is he losing weight? I am not a doctor at all but he could have developed diabetes if that is the case.
B.
Hello J.,
Hum... how strange... Sounds like to me he's needing to be seen by his doctor.
How does he eat at meals? Is he gaining weight or losing? If he's gaining, that's understandable. If he's staying the same or losing, that could be a sign that something else is going on and he's needing to be seen soon.
I'm sorry, I just don't have any suggestions as to why he's acting this way. The eating toothpaste is especially an off-the-wall behavior.
I guess my advice is get him to his doctor... the sooner, the better.
Let us know what happens!! Good luck! ls
See your doctor, I've read about kids who eat strange things because of a vitamin deficiency. As for the eating all the time, you have to remember that kids have tiny stomach's and they are more active than us adults, if they do eat several small meals each day they will keep their metabolism going and stay thin, it's when they start eating bigger meals less often that they start gaining weight. Three apples for a snack does seem excessive, so see the doctor to see if there is a problem. Good Luck!!
Yes, it definitely could be something medically. See his doctor and rule that out before you assume it is behavior. Your doctor can even help with suggestions if it turns out to be a behavior issue. When you said he was eating toothpaste is what clued me that this is something more than behavior.
It sounds like he could be missing something in his diet. Toothpaste should not be swallowed. I do think you should take him to the doctor. Does he eat well at meal time?
Good Morning J., I am not sure what to say as it was very upsetting for me to think about. I saw a clip on Mystery Diagnosis the other day about a child who couldn't stop eating. Had something to do with adrenal glands and absorption of nutrition. Bottom line that worried me so much was if the child didn't eat continuously he could die.
I am NOT saying this is your child, this is just what I saw, was frightening.
I would take him to your Ped or a specialist in child eating disorders. Tell them exactly what you have shared with us. Hopefully your child is just being a little sneaky stinker. Corbin has breakfast around 7-8 Oatmeal of pancakes. in less then an hour he wants a snack. Which I refuse him as it seems it's out of habit. His dad ( our son )is big man over 6' about 250,and snacks some also.
He has finally stopped drinking soda pop and is trying to control his snacking habits.
God Bless you and yours Have a Wonderful Easter SONday
K. Nana of 5
Why does he "sneak" food? That concerns me a little. Is his weight fluxuating at all? Does he do it only with food or does he sneak liquids also? Does he gorge himself or just eat normal sized servings? Is he exhibiting any unusual behaviors-other than eating toothpaste? Have you asked him why he sneaks food rather than just asking for it? I think it's better to be safe than sorry so I would definately mention this to his pediatrician and possibly get a referral to a child psychologist. Good luck and God bless.
I have a 2 yr daughter who likes to get into the fridge as well and the snack cabinet regardless of the child safety lock on it she has figured out how to open it.She does this to show her independence I don't think there is anything medically wrong with her.Now we have a newborn her sister and as for me breastfeeding her now my other 2 kiddos think they can eat at the same time I don't think so and have tried to explain this to them but they don't quit understand yet.
I would definately talk to his doctor about your concerns. Ask him/her if this could be Pica? The desire to eat things that are not food. Maybe he is binge eating? It doesn't hurt to ask, voice your concerns.
Take care and God Bless :)
