I think my 3 yo has an eating disorder

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2003
I think my 3 yo has an eating disorder
4
Thu, 01-29-2004 - 12:53pm
Can someone help me. I know this sounds crazy. But something is so wrong with my daughter I don't think this is normal.

My daughter has always been a chunky baby and even a chunky girl shes very tall for her age. Shes 3'10" and weighs 60lbs. She eats 3 meals a day she eats normal helpings for her age occasionally she'll ask for seconds. she loves all vegetables in fact thers not much she WONT eat. I'm now realizing something is wrong. She loves food TO much. I admit i love food always have always will im overweight by about 60lbs. but i DO NOT snack all day long in fact i dont eat at all during the day and only drink water. Nighttime is my worst time. But back to Katie I dont think she has 'learned' this from anyone since everyone else in the house is UNDERweight. The last few weeks I've noticed her sneaking food into her bedroom and eating it under the covers things like crackers, puddings, fruit i've seen half eaten apples under her bed oranges. we dont keep junk food in the house at all. no sodas nothing. But i do have puddings and yogurts in the fridge for my Step sons school lunches. She has gotten up i the middle of the night and brought her little table into the kitchen climbed UP on the cabinent to get a half eaten box of girl scout cookies that I didnt even remember being up there from last summer and sat in the kitchen and ate the whole box..

She asks for food all day long. and i mean EVERY 5minutes it seems. I really don't know what to do i just need advice before i take her to the dr. bc the dr is prolly going to look at my like im crazy...

Am I?

She obviously doenst have any of these eating disorders Anorexia or Bullimia but maybe theres somethign that i dont know about? By the way while writing this msg she asked me for food 4 times in a 20 minute period :(


Amy

Edited 1/29/2004 12:55:36 PM ET by iheartcyrric


Edited 1/29/2004 12:56:12 PM ET by iheartcyrric

     

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Thu, 01-29-2004 - 1:36pm

You know what Amy? You are not crazy in any way, you are a concerned mother, you should pat yourself on the back. If I were in your situation I would take her to the pediatrition and tell them everything that you posted here, and let them know that you are concerned. Eating disorders in children that young could start from a variety of things.


Please check with your doctor.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 01-29-2004 - 3:43pm

I totally agree with Michelle. So many children these days are neglected or abused, it's nice to see a mother who notices when something is going on with her child. I would take her to a good doctor and not only that, I would keep finding new doctors until I find one that actually listens to me and shares my concern. I would not be satisfied with a brush off or being handed a prescription or sample med to curb appetite or something. It could be that she needs counseling even tho she is very young.


You say you have step sons...not trying to be nosy, but is this a recent change or did you already have stepsons when Katie was born? I am only asking because eating disorders (compulsive overeating is an eating disorder as well) are typically due to emotional problems. Food and our bodies are just ways of dealing with life. I was wondering if Katie was an only child and then you got married and she had instant brothers. A change like that, or any other big change, could make her turn to food. Just a thought.


Please let us know what the doctor says if you decide to take her. I hope all goes well and that it will be resolved fast.

Love & hugs, Kristina


The opinions I have expressed here are from my own experience and are not intended as medical advice or to take the place of your own physician's advice.

Love & hugs, Kristina

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
Thu, 01-29-2004 - 7:33pm
Amy,

Prayers for you and your daughter! That's a tough situation. I'm so glad you wrote about it.

It sounds like there is something going on in that little body and brain that needs to be addressed. Has she ever had a strep infection? It's not uncommon for a psych illness to be started by one (especially obsessive-compulsive disorders). Given the level of obsession (it's on her mind constantly), it's certainly a possibility. And if not OCD, there must be something there. It doesn't sound healthy, and it's probably hellish for her to have that need on her mind 24/7.

There is a lot of psych "garbage" lurking out there, so you really have to educate yourself on the possible causes-- medically and otherwise. There is also some good psych info out there. You just have to be careful, especially with doctors so eager to prescribe medication (which could very well help, but again, you really have to be careful).

I also worry about your eating habits and their influence on her. I would be a little nutty if I never saw my mommy eat during the day. What an awful thought-- my mom doesn't want to nurture herself. Maybe you already know, but that's so unhealthy, not just for your own body, but for her concept of you-- Mom. Your job is to nurture and protect, and it has to include you yourself. I worry, too, that you're keeping too tight a restriction on foods in your house. It's pretty natural for a kid who's being tethered so tight to try to sneak around it.

In any event, ya gotta get some professional help! Do your research, find a *good* and trustworthy doc, who can refer you to a *good* and trustworthy psychiatrist with eating disorder experience (or dietician, but with the possibility of psych illness, I'd start there). And also importantly, figure out what you need to do to be an even better Mom to ta petite, which means modeling health and love.

Love and prayers, and check back!!!

Starfish

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 01-31-2004 - 11:49pm
when i was younger i babysat a 3-4 year old girl who was severely UNDERweight. the pediatrician was so concerned he brought up calling DYFS to the mother. the problem was that the girl just refused to eat. i had instructions to use an emergancy code with the parents' pager if the little girl said, "i want ice cream" or "i want mcdonalds" or anything i couldn't find in the house. the parents were both overweight. i would definitely classify her as having an eating disorder.

when i was a child and a very very VERY picky eater, my pediatrician told my mom "not to make a battle out of meals." this may contribute to my food issues now, but it may not. like the woman i babysat for, my mom just fed me when i was hungry and if i wasn't hungry, she didn't push the issue.

i know this is the opposite of your daughter. what concerns me so much is that she's sneaking food in her room. ESPECIALLY when you're sleeping. that sounds so incredibly dangerous. you need to explain to her that there are certain times of day that she's allowed to eat (6? -- 3 meals and 2 snacks?). maybe this would be a good way to learn the clock if she doesn't know it already? i was also thinking you need to tell her how inappropriate it is for her to leave her bedroom after everyone else has gone to sleep. maybe you could rig up a bell or something or (ugh) put the child-safety locks on the cabinets. she ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY SHOULD NOT be climbing up on things unsupervised.

what does she do when you refuse her snacks?