How do you get a toddler to stop saying she's hungry?!?

Question

I have a 3 year old daughter who says "Mommy I'm hungry!" all the time. Like it's her favorite phrase. She says it right after she's done eating and whenever she sees other people eating. I've had family babysitters tell me that she complains about being hungry constantly. I know this makes it seem like I don't feed her, but she has very healthy eating habits. I'm afraid if the wrong person hears her cry about being hungry all the time someone will report me. Does anyone know of a way I can get her to stop saying this all the time?!

She does not get junk food or sugar often, we all ear heathily and she has no problem eating. She's not losing any weight and seems otherwise healthy. She just insists that she's hungry all the time.

Answer 1

Chances are that she is bored. The kids I babysit do the same thing they will be in the middle of eating lunch or they will be done for like 10 minutes and tell me that they are hungry and they want a snack. When she does this try and distract her with coloring or a game. If this does not help then there might be something wrong with her, and I would take her to the doctor.

Answer 2

Since toddlers are really just beginning to speak and not any where near mastering language it may be that she is using this phrase for two purposes if not three. Saying that she is hungry gets her food; but, along with it comes attention - the right now kind. You mentioned that she has very healthy eating habits. Have you ever craved a particular food? Maybe she does. Ask what she wants and you may be surprised - my first granddaughter at 2 absolutely loved Brussels Sprouts cut in half!! It is still one of her favorite foods and she just turned 14.

Is there something that she only gets at mealtime that she really enjoys such as milk? If so, you might try giving her less at mealtime and allowing her a bit between meals.

Until she is better able to express herself trial and error is about the only way to solve this riddle. Be sure to keep cool water available to her also, we will all tend to think we are hungry when we are merely thirsty.

Good luck

Answer 3

my daughter does this constantly!!! She drives me batty and has done since she was about 3 and still does now at age 5!

It used to be that I though she had to be hungry because whatever I gave her she ate. I know she has a very high metabolism (her father does too) and so she does get hungrier quicker and she is also a very active kid so does need to eat more often but every 1/2 an hour, come on!!

I started to realise that she was doing it purely out of boredom and habit rather than hunger. So I started setting mealtimes; breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner with occasionally dessert if all her dinner is eaten. If she started with the 'im hungry' thing I would point to the clock the say when the big hand gets XXX then its meal time or set time timer on the oven and say when it beeps then its afternoon tea time or whatever. When it does come to that meal time I cut up the food or make her lunch or whatever and its that or nothing till the next mealtime. You have to stick to your guns about that. I try to vary the food I give her but always make sure that it is filling food not junk.

She still has times when she annoys the crap out of me about being hungry but she is a kid and they just get one thing in their head and its really hard to knock out of them, lol! Distraction is the other method to stretch her between mealtimes like saying, well first we are going to do the washing or vacumn and then I'll make you lunch or first I want you to draw mummy and beautiful picture before morning tea. Very often they forget about being 'hungry' for a while because of the distraction.

Good luck but don't be surprised if it is a phase that lasts for a while!

Answer 4

When our 25 month old does, I walk away and say "mommys sad, mommy got hit, mommy doesnt want to play anymore" or do the same if the victim is someone else - give the victim is the attention. He (2 year old) has been getting better, and also can say "sorry" and then gives a hug. Read this tip, in a Parents magazine, a few months ago, and not sure if it helps, or we just have less agressive kids then others. Plus I think it helps teach that kids wont want to play with you if you're the bully.

Answer 5

She could just be going through a phase in which she likes to say this because it was at first met with such a positive reaction -- most parents love to hear their kids say this, and she may have just latched on to that. You can talk to her about saying she's hungry only when she really is.

But you should also consult a doctor. There is a disorder called Prader Willi Syndrome, where people feel constantly hungry. There are other disabilities linked to this disorder. But a doctor will be able to tell you is this a serious thing or not.

Answer 6

My nearly three year old does this as well. I just tell her that she's not hungry as she has just eaten.
Ignore the phrase if you know it can't be true, and tell all who look after her to do the same. Don't fret about the wrong person hearing your daughter's words. If you know the truth, then it really doesn't matter what that stranger who you are never going to come across again in life thinks.

Answer 7

My son just turned three and does the same thing. I asked the doctor and she said that this is normal just to keep fruit and things like that around and give it to them when you know it's not time to eat. She said some of asking is out of habit but some is cause their body is growing so fast. If I know my son has just ate or there is no way he is really hungry I just say to him You just ate silly you can't be hungry. Then I say mommy ate so much she is so full. Now he is starting to realize that emotion and says he is full sometimes. They are learning how to express themselves.

Answer 8

It's not that she's actually in want of food, you know that already, and I'm not that experienced with toddlers but I assume by that age she has a understanding of language so ask her why she says that. If she replies I'm hungry or something like that explain what hungry is :O other than that, how did that habit come up O_o WHOA WHOA WHOA HOLD UP is she losing weight? A difference as little as 2-5 pounds may be nothing for you but for her, that could be as much as 1/4 of her body weight. If she has, take her to a doctor ASAP.

Answer 9

Maybe she is in a growth spurt and does need a few more calories. Does she eat snacks in between meals? Maybe she needs a little fruit cup or yogurt between meals. If she truly is hungry all the time and you know she gets lots of calories then I would talk to her doctor. Sometimes that can be a sign of a health issue.

Answer 10

Feed her. She might know better than you how much food she needs to be eating. Make sure she's eating super healthy & not just growing addicted to sweets or something unhealthy like that. If she says she's hungry, give her some veggies to snack on. It's possible she's just asking for attention, or she likes your reaction when she says it. Teach her some new phrases & their meanings. Ask her why she doesn't say, "Mommy, I'm happy" or "Mommy, I'm full" when she's done eating.