I’ve written about E eating everything before but now it’s really starting to get over the top. It’s not random things he’s trying to eat, it’s just more, more, more of everything. Here’s what I mean…

His new favourite activity is to “help” in the kitchen. He drags his wee chair through and stands up while we’re preparing meals- hoping to snatch a piece of whatever foodstuff we are chopping/ mixing or cooking.

My Mum and Dad were up visiting today and they kindly brought lunch with them for us- soup, bread, cheese, humous and we added some bits- salad, olives, gherkins, last nights’ left over pizza… This kind of lunch is the most challenging for E. While shovelling what’s on his plate into his mouth, he can’t resist requesting (shouting for) more of the same or for something else- making sure he has a bit of everything on offer.

At dinner time, he guzzled his stir fry but once he’d finished, he was leaning across to try and scoop more up off S and R’s plate on the other side of the table. As is a daily occurrence in our house just now, he soon jumped down and started scrabbling around on the floor and eating any bits that he, or his brothers had dropped! (There is always plenty there thanks to S’s current desire to decorate the floor with his portion.)

We’re really struggling with this one. Attempts to disallow excessive eating, to take no notice of pleas for more and more and to discourage scoffing off the floor are met with screaming and wailing. Are we not feeding him enough? Is he actually hungry? We’d find that hard to believe as he has three good meals and snacks in between. He always has plenty of energy, doesn’t wake up in the night hungry and is a ‘chunky’ wee (big) boy!

It’s all R and I seem to discuss these days and we can’t work out what to do about it. R even resorted to dousing the floor left overs in Sriracha hot sauce last week but even that didn’t do much to put him off!

Short of restraining him in his chair with reins for the whole mealtime, we’re fast running out of ideas to break this cycle.

We decided today that we’re going to try and let him gorge one day to see whether he’ll stop when he’s full or whether he’ll just keep going and going until he makes himself sick!

Watch this space…

I know it’s a common complaint that children are fussy eaters or don’t eat enough. Should I just be grateful that he has such a healthy appetite?!

Answers on a postcard please!