Ahhhhh I need some advice!!?

Question

Ok, I can't take this anymore.. My son who just turned four is stashing food in his bedroom. Under the beds, in his drawers, in his toybox. How do I get him to stop doing this??? My hubby and I have told him about bugs and spiders and such (which he is afraid of), but it doesn't seem to work. He does this all the time. Like for example, this morning about 7am, I heard him scuffling around and went in his room to check on him. He had an entire loaf of bread scattered all over his room and a whole box of malt o meal dumped all over his rug. So I took his bed off the frame and cleaned underneath (finding more trash). And then I put his bed directly on the floor so he can't hide anything underneath it anymore. I cleaned out all of his things and rearranged everything. Then a few minutes ago, I realized that I had forgot to look in his nightstand cause I was trying to find some toys that were missing. When I opened it, I found a whole package of hamburger buns. Advice please!

Answer 1

Not to be an alarmist but these behaviors maybe indicating a more serious problem such as a Bipolar mood disorder. May not be a bad idea to make an appointment with your family Doctor.

Answer 2

I know it's not funny, but I think it's cute.. he's like a little hamster storing stuff away...

Seriously though, my nephew has a food thing too. He's 5 and gets up in the middle of the night and fixes all kinds of stuff to eat.

My sister's solution was to take things out of his reach that could be dangerous or make a huge mess, but leave healthy things available (like apples, etc)

That stopped the messes and the wasted food.

For your situation, maybe you could childproof your cabinets and store things where your son can't get to them.

Answer 3

Stay with him till he finishes eating or cook him something he likes but healthier

Answer 4

Lock the cabinets he can reach, until he learns that having ANY food in his room isn't acceptable.

Answer 5

Well, either you have a very large house or you're away by yourself alot somewhere in the house.  How could you not see your kid taking food without permission?  That is ALOT of food he's been taking and no one saw him do it?  I don't care how well you *think* you supervise your kid, but really that is not supervising him very well.  I think there lies the first problem.  How about putting the food up high and putting a child lock on it?  If you are really concerned and it doesn't stop, you can even put a lock on the cabinets.  I know it seems inconvenient, but try to put all the food he's taking into one cabinet and lock it up.  If it's all in a pantry, then lock the pantry when you leave the room (which seems to me to be alot).

Answer 6

OHHH  well..

If I were sarcastic, I would proclaim..."he's horting the food because he thinks the "next war" is breaking out..." - but: it seems though, your son has an obvious fear of "not having enough "supplies" for some reason ??? This my dear seems like a psychological problem he's experiencing & should be taken seriously!!! My suggestion would be : You sit down with him & ask him in a calm manner what his "reason" is for horting the food??? Tell him, that you will give him what he needs -or- what he wishes... Depending what his "justification" is...you can agree to compromise with him & offer him let say... a small plate of "crackers/cookies" he can take with him to put on his nightstand in case he may wake up & want to eat something. See, if that offer resolves the hortening - and- if NOT, you really should consider consulting a child-psychologist in the future! That's the best advice I can give you. Hope, it will resolve in  the future!!!

Wish you all the best... Greetings from Germany... Annette***