Do young children really regulate how much they eat?

Somewhere amongst the mass of baby-related lit I’ve digested, I’m sure I read that young children, up until ??? age are capable of regulating how much they eat.

Can anyone tell me if this is fact or fiction? And if it is fact, for how long it applies?

I always saw truth in the theory, in that when LLC is feeding herself she will start to play with her food when she is full. When offered food on a spoon, she’ll take it and then spit it out on her tongue (charming) to signify that meal-time is over.

Lately, however, LLC is eating A LOT. She’s still a little lady, only weighing in at 17lbs on my folks’ scales in NY over Christmas. (We don’t own scales and I hadn’t had her weighed since that last fateful trip to the health visitor). But she seriously packs in the food and I don’t know where it goes.

Here’s a snapshot of what she ate today:

Breakfast: 1 Weetabix, 1 tangerine, 1 banana (half on its own, half in the Weetabix)
Lunch: Entire 10 month Plum pot plus a handful of roasted carrots, green beans & a few scoops of mashed potato
Snack: Piece of wheat bread and pack of Plum spelt biscuits
Dinner: Several fish fingers, handful of peas, spear of asparagus, yogurt

Does this sound like a lot or just the fuel of a growing girl?

I’d also like to say a thank you to Plum, who I met last year at Cybermummy and who sent LLC a very generous selection of Stage 3 food to try over the Christmas period at my request. This is not a sponsored post, but I was really surprised by their generosity and LLC particularly loved the Chickpea & Chicken Tagine meal.  I mainly prepare food for LLC but when we need some quick meals to go, we can always count on Plum!