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How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

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jambalady
Is it summer yet?

Member since 8/06

7392 total posts

Name:
Holly

How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

I started a really bad habit of letting DS eat in his highchair while watching a DVD or TV.

He's always been difficult with eating. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that noone else is eating with him.

My babysitter got in the habit of doing this too.

Now, he won't eat unless we put a show on and he's a terror when we are out eating or over someone else's for dinner.

How do we undo this and teach him that meal times do NOT mean putting a show on?

Thanks!

Posted 2/9/10 10:08 AM
 
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Smileyd17
kids

Member since 5/05

20997 total posts

Name:
Mommy

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Dont put it on anymore.

You may get a tantrum but it needs to start somewhere.

Posted 2/9/10 10:12 AM
 

eddiesmommy
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Member since 5/09

11524 total posts

Name:
Melissa

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Posted by Smileyd17

Dont put it on anymore.

You may get a tantrum but it needs to start somewhere.



shes right, youre just going to have to be tough about it, suffer through some tantrums until he unlearns it.Chat Icon

Posted 2/9/10 10:13 AM
 

chikita315
Love

Member since 8/06

7945 total posts

Name:
M-lo

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Posted by Smileyd17

Dont put it on anymore.

You may get a tantrum but it needs to start somewhere.



ITA
Maybe you can sit and have your coffee while he has breakfast, as a starter, so he's preoccupied.

Posted 2/9/10 10:15 AM
 

Marcie
Complete Happiness :)

Member since 5/05

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LOVE being a Mommy!

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Is the TV in the kitchen?
If so, I think I would take it out for now...you can say it is broken.

If you are putting the highchair in the LR for your DS to watch the tv...I wouldn't do that anymore.
You are going to have tantrums for a while...but they will eventually go away Chat Icon

I mean I hate lying but sometimes you have to...I would tell him the TV is broken. Also does he eat at different times as you? I would try and adjust your schedules so that you can both eat together. If not, I would probably sit there with him while he eats.

Good Luck! Chat Icon

Posted 2/9/10 10:49 AM
 

pinkandblue
Our family is complete, maybe

Member since 9/05

32436 total posts

Name:
Stephanie

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

I have no idea, miki eats in the living room on the coffee table with spongebob on

I pick my battles, if she is eating, I am happy

she does not freak out if she needs to eat at the kitchen table at the sitters or at a friends house

Posted 2/9/10 10:51 AM
 

sunflowerjesss
Mommy to 3!

Member since 10/05

20369 total posts

Name:
Jesss, duh.

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

I don't really make a big deal of it with breakfast. More so because I try to prepare for the day while he eats breakfast so I'm not really there to "keep him company".

Dinner we always eat with the tv off...always have and I suppose always will.

And if I don't have the tv on, he doesn't ask for it. I am sure I am on borrowed time though.

Posted 2/9/10 10:55 AM
 

CrankyPants
I'm cranky

Member since 7/06

18178 total posts

Name:
Mama Cranky

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Posted by eddiesmommy

Posted by Smileyd17

Dont put it on anymore.

You may get a tantrum but it needs to start somewhere.



shes right, youre just going to have to be tough about it, suffer through some tantrums until he unlearns it.Chat Icon



I agree too. He'll probably miss a meal or two but eventually, when he is hungry enough he'll eat at the table.

I know this isn't always practical, but I find it also helps if we are sitting at the table with her, either eating or drinking our coffee or just to keep her company if we are eating at different times for some reason.

Posted 2/9/10 10:55 AM
 

Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it

Member since 5/05

30683 total posts

Name:
D

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Posted by pinkandblue

I have no idea, miki eats in the living room on the coffee table with spongebob on

I pick my battles, if she is eating, I am happy

she does not freak out if she needs to eat at the kitchen table at the sitters or at a friends house




same here with my boys

Posted 2/9/10 11:13 AM
 

CrankyPants
I'm cranky

Member since 7/06

18178 total posts

Name:
Mama Cranky

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Posted by pinkandblue

I have no idea, miki eats in the living room on the coffee table with spongebob on




When Claire finds this our she will want you toadopt herChat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon

Posted 2/9/10 11:14 AM
 

pinkandblue
Our family is complete, maybe

Member since 9/05

32436 total posts

Name:
Stephanie

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Posted by CrankyPants

Posted by pinkandblue

I have no idea, miki eats in the living room on the coffee table with spongebob on




When Claire finds this our she will want you toadopt herChat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon



Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon

Posted 2/9/10 11:16 AM
 

KateDevine
*

Member since 6/06

24950 total posts

Name:

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Posted by Diane

Posted by pinkandblue

I have no idea, miki eats in the living room on the coffee table with spongebob on

I pick my battles, if she is eating, I am happy

she does not freak out if she needs to eat at the kitchen table at the sitters or at a friends house




same here with my boys



Same here. Minus Spongebob if I can help itChat Icon Chat Icon

Posted 2/9/10 11:17 AM
 

nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.

Member since 7/05

57538 total posts

Name:

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Posted by Smileyd17

Dont put it on anymore.

You may get a tantrum but it needs to start somewhere.



ITA.

I had a problem with getting the kids out the dressed & out early in the am. They would watch TV while they get dressed. Finally I said no tv in the mornings anymore. They whined, complained but in the end dealt with it.

As my son would say "So you get to just make random rules because YOU are the PARENT?" My answer "yup."Chat Icon

Posted 2/9/10 11:29 AM
 

MST9106
My life:)

Member since 6/06

9589 total posts

Name:

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Honestly, these days, it is more important to me that he EATS and it doesn't matter where. But I agree, it is a bad habit and if you want to break it you just need to do it cold turkey.

Posted 2/9/10 11:32 AM
 

jambalady
Is it summer yet?

Member since 8/06

7392 total posts

Name:
Holly

Re: How do I break this bad habit? Toddlers & eating in front of the TV

Posted by MST9106

Honestly, these days, it is more important to me that he EATS and it doesn't matter where. But I agree, it is a bad habit and if you want to break it you just need to do it cold turkey.



See, that's where I waiver. I want him to eat, so I give in. Then I realize that I'm creating a bad habit.

We can't eat with him. We get home from work too late and he wants breakfast too early for us to eat the same time as him. Plus, I need to get ready in the morning for work.

We have a computer in the kitchen, so we turn the highchair to face it when he eats.

I guess I'll try cold turkey for a week or 2 and see how it goes.

I just hate that he doesn't eat!!Chat Icon Chat Icon

Posted 2/9/10 11:48 AM
 
 

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