Toddler moms: Mealtimes

Christopher used to be the best eater, plop him in the high chair, give him food, he ate and that is that.

Now, not so much. He hates the high chair, hates the booster seat. Actually, he doesn't hate them, he just doesn't want to eat in them. He will sit there for an hour drinking, but not eating!!

Once I take him down, he wants to eat, he will walk around with a chicken nugget for 20 minutes, but he finishes it (except for when the dog bogarts it)

So, how do I change this behavior? We only have family meals like 2 or 3x week because of DH's schedule, so I sit with him and chat with him, but it doesn't really seem to make a difference.

Also, he does great in restuarants

TIA!

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

I could have written this WORD FOR WORD.

Jack used to be great at eating.

Now, instead of fighting him - every breakfast he sits on his little Backyardigans couch, watches Sesame Street, and I feed him oatmeal.

Lunch is pretty much a battle - I start in the highchair - then move to the couch.

Dinner he will always in in the HC for some reason (writing that now means tomorrow night will be a battle lol)

I don't know what to do - or how to change it.

Two times today he got the tupperware with muffins I made and brought it over to me. I def. don't think he's eating enough but wants no part of it even when he's on the couch.

Oh - and at restaurants - the kid will lick his plate clean!

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

I totally know what your going through.

Aly rarely eats meals at the table. She sits on her little couch in the living room watching tv and eating, Its the only way I can get food in her. She hates her booster....we retired her high chair months and months ago because she refused to sit in it...I dont know what to do.
ETA..I know its a terrible habit Ive started but she literally wouldnt eat much of anything all day if i didnt let her eat away from the table.

Message edited 11/13/2008 7:45:28 PM.

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

Bella only eats her dinner in the highchair Otherwise, she's on the move, or standing at the coffee table. She's ALWAYS hated being in the highchair, since day one, so I just didn't want to fight. I'd rather her eat than not, that was my feeling. She will scarf down SO much food when she's not in it, so...

Of course when we're out no matter what she's in the highchair.

Sometimes lunch will be in the highchair.

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

DS is 14.5 mos. He is a big nudge in the high chair as well but, is also great in restaurants! I have to bribe him to get in the high chair or he refuses to sit in it - i put something he likes on the tray b/f even attempting - like puffs or cut up fruit - then he will feed himself for a little bit until he is bored at which point he starts throwing the food piece by piece onto the floor waiting for me to react Sometimes, if I am lucky though he will feed himself for a good while - less for me to have to feed him! Then the dog and pony show begins...I have to keep him constantly entertained to feed him his meal. Sometimes books, sometimes the shape sorting box thing sometimes the tube with the stacking donuts....I let him play while I feed him. It drives me nuts! Sometimes I let him attempt to feed himself and that is good for a few bites but SO messy! Anyway, I feel your pain I don't want to start the tv thing b/c ds gets very used to things and then demands them.

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

No help here....DS eats anywhere from 1 -3 meals a day in his highchair, but infront of the TV. I try to limit to 1 meal a day, but sometimes if he is having a moody day it can be all 3. He use to eat ANYTHING and now forget it. He wont try anything new and can one day just decide he doesn't like something he has been eating for months. Dinner is by far the most limited as far as choices go. I know I have to limit the eating infront of TV so when I can I just say no. He will usually put up a bit of a fight but eventually gives in.


eta Oh and he is also SO GOOD in restaurants

Message edited 11/13/2008 8:35:20 PM.

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

And I thought I was the only one having this problem. I am so glad this was brought up because I am constantly feeding him infront of the computer while he watches videos on youtube.com.

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

since DD became a toddler i HATE HATE HATE mealtimes! did i mention i hate mealtimes?
she is the pickiest pain in the butt lately. basically throws everything over to the dog. if i feed her outside the h.chair she will eat anything. she loves cheerios in a cup while walking around-but if i give them to her on her tray-forget it! i have also started the habit of the tv on b/c she eats more with it on!
i just pray that this will change eventually with time and as she gets older, but that seem unlikely.
she is good in restaurants too though.

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

Posted by cdunn

And I thought I was the only one having this problem. I am so glad this was brought up because I am constantly feeding him infront of the computer while he watches videos on youtube.com.

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

I am so glad to hear I am not the only one dealing with this!! It makes my DH crazy that he won't sit in his highchair and eat, but I would rather he eat then sit in his chair and throw everything on the floor.

He eats breakfast on the go - I have a placemat that I put on my kitchen chair and put his pancakes and fruit on there and he eats it all.

Lunch is hit or miss...some days he eats great others not so good.

If we go out to eat he eats like a champ!

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

DD is 15 months and wants to walk around while eating, however that was getting messy so I started a new "rule". She eats in the high chair. When she is hungry or if it is mealtime, I put her in. When she starts throwing food, the meal is over and we try again later. Eventually she eats but it can take a while, but I don't know what else to do.

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

DS is the same way--always wants to be doing something else

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

as you know josh has feeding issues. he hates eating (we've made progress with some foods but it's still a 3 x a day battle.) he doesn't have a problem with sitting but i have to entertain him at all times or he is lock jawed. so i do fingerplays, read books, or he plays with small toys or stickers. maybe you can try to keep him busy by distracting him and he'll eat. gl!

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

I am so happy there are so many of you in the same boat as we are here!

Megan is an AWFUL eater. So to get her to eat, even the things she does like, I literally have to stand on my head. I do anything and everything to distract her. I admit, breakfast is served while shes in her highchair but while watching tv. Lunch is in front of the computer usually watching noggin.com or youtube videos of whatever she wants. Dinner is at the table but she needs a distraction. A toy, a book, a puzzle, anything.

I always said BEFORE I had kids, that I wouldnt start these habits. But as well all know, once the kid gets here, everything changes. I have tried not to let her run around while she eats because once that starts, forget about it, I will NEVER get her back to the table and we already started these bad habits as it is. My mom always says, you kids never watched tv while eating, especially at this age...well we were all good eaters. I need her to eat ANYTHING and I will continue to do what I am doing as long as shes getting some food in her mouth.

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

I am so glad that I'm not the only one!!!

DD hates being confined in her high chair for more than about 7 minutes...she has breakfast wandering around watching Noggin / Sesame Street....somehow for lunch my mom gets her in the high chair...and she'll eat a late afternoon snack when I get home in the highchair, but dinner is a struggle...I have often resorted to plopping us all in front of the tv and trying it that way....

Funny thing is once she gets down, she wants to pull food off the tray and eat while she plays....I'm trying to get her back in the high chair for meals, but she was such a terrible eater (wouldn't eat anything) for so long, that I'm still in the 'just get food into her' mode....

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

Add me to the "I'm glad I'm not the only one" list. DS used to be a FANTASTIC eater and now forget it. He will NOT sit in his highchair to finish an entire meal. He stands up and climbs over the tray to get out. Just this week he has pretty much refused to eat dinner at all, no matter what. He is eating breakfast and lunch just fine apparently (he goes to a babysitter during the day) but not a bite for dinner before he decides he wants out of the chair....

Seems like there's always some new battle that comes up every other week....

Re: Toddler moms: Mealtimes

Posted by mommy2devin

Add me to the "I'm glad I'm not the only one" list. DS used to be a FANTASTIC eater and now forget it. He will NOT sit in his highchair to finish an entire meal. He stands up and climbs over the tray to get out. Just this week he has pretty much refused to eat dinner at all, no matter what. He is eating breakfast and lunch just fine apparently (he goes to a babysitter during the day) but not a bite for dinner before he decides he wants out of the chair....

Seems like there's always some new battle that comes up every other week....