My DD is nearly 3 and a half years old, and is on the 5th percentile for height and between the 50th and 75th for weight. She eats all the time and is always asking for food (she probably asks for something every hour), we have to keep a lock on the fridge and now she is even getting one of her little chairs to put in the pantry so she can reach for more food. We give her only healthy food, with the odd treat but she always seems hungry. How should we handle this, do we restrict her food, or should we change her diet. Should we only give food at certain times etc. She attends daycare 3 days a week and I don't think she asks for food there, but as soon as we pick her up, all she wants to do is eat. We try to encourage her for exercise everyday, we have a trampoline and bike and play equipment etc, but she will only do it if mum or dad take her.

With her being only short her weight seems to stand out, she looks rather solid. The thing we have noticed though is that when she wakes up, her belly looks solid but not huge, but not long after she has a drink of milk in the morning she looks really bloated. Her stomach really fills out and becomes quite noticeable in her clothes. Finding it hard to find clothes that suit her height and weight and also her belly.

She also becomes quite gassy during the day also, if she is playing it will just slip out!!! Could the bloating and gas be related to a milk intolerance?

Thanks for your help

I'd look into A2 milk. I put the whole family on it and it has really helped DD1s bloating. your DD sounds a bit like mine, always hungry. My girl also has some sensory issues and I think is very oral so maybe look at some things she can do with her mouth in between meals, eg blowing, sucking games, you can buy chew toys from sensory processing sites. As long as it's a healthy diet and she is active and she isn't going up weight percentiles try not to worry too much (I know it;s hard with societies focus on obece kids and bad diets), it will come off. My daughter was very solid and kind of pudgy and has recently shot up and is very trim, still solid and always will be but leaner.
RE eating after daycare all kids are like that so offer healthy foods (watch hidden sugar contents though eg too much fruit)