Are You An (Over) Feeder?

Having a child that seems to barely eat can be worrying, so mum-of-two Catherine Morgan investigates whether cajoling her eldest to take one more bite is really necessary

- Catherine Morgan

My friend’s toddler can put away three Weetabix in one sitting — and then want toast. I’m lucky if my eldest (aged three) will have more than a few mouthfuls before declaring “finished” and vanishing into a sea of brightly coloured plastic toys. My pleas of “just one more spoonful” usually go unheard (ignored) and I fight against a mother’s instinct to “feed him up”. My youngest (aged two), on the other hand, loves his grub; so much so that it isn’t unusual for his nursery food chart to read “eaten all, plus seconds” — and sometimes thirds if they have enough left over to satisfy his demands. Whilst both boys are within their normal weight ranges for their age, the eldest is much slighter and more delicate in appearance than the youngest, who has a strong, solid build — and a temperament to match. So naturally, my worry lies more with Child 1 when it comes to eating habits.

But, going back to the start, would I want him to devour three Weetabix for breakfast? Probably not. I wouldn’t even have that much myself. But I do want him to be eating enough. Which raises an obvious question: just how much is enough? What is an ideal portion size for children?