Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

How long does it typically take your child to eat? Like sit down at the table and eat. Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?

Im at my wits end with my dd. Its taking her over an hour to eat. Ive put a stop to toys at the table; videos; tv because all of that was causing a distraction from eating... Its just getting to a point that its ridiculous she is distracted by ANY and EVERYTHING. I cant deal with it anymore. I see other kids sit and eat quick then get up and play. She will find any excuse to get up and then take forever to come back to the table.

And worse yet because it takes her so long to eat she never really gets full and is constantly telling me Im hungry I want a snack. Yesterday I wouldnt give her a snack after lunch. I told her if she would have ate her lunch she wouldnt be hungry and asking for a snack.
Ive started trying to bribe her, but even that isnt working.
Ive taken toys away from her for the whole day, that isnt working.

Im done I have no idea what to do and I need suggestions!

Message edited 2/10/2016 2:04:27 PM.

Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

Wait.. do we have the same kid?

Sorry I cant be of more help!

Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

My DD usually eats within 10-15 mins. On the rare occassion when she doesn't finish her lunch, I save it and give it to her when she asks for a snack later on. If she doesn't eat all her dinner, she doesn't get dessert. If you're not hungry enough to eat your lunch/dinner, then you're not hungry enough for a snack/dessert.

Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

DD will sit still for maybe 5-10 minutes but then she grazes on her meal for an hour. Last night we had pasta and meatballs. I think it took her an hour to finish and that with her coming back every 5 minutes to stick another bite in her mouth.

She doesn't care if its ice cold she just grazes. Bad mom I am I just gave up when we are at home as long as she is eating.

Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

Sounds like me speaking.... Dd will be 4 in may. You literally have to follow her around with a fork to get her to eat... I won't do that. Dh and grandma do... And it's why she's constantly complaining she's hungry with me. I yell every single meal. It's exhausting. If you find a solution, let me know!

Re: Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

My DS is 6 and it takes him like 35 minutes to eat a bowl of cereal in the morning. Dinner...forget it! DH and I are finished with our second helping and have cleared off the table and done the dishes and DS is still only half way through his meal. It drives me crazy.

DS is ADHD though so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I can barely get him to plant his butt in the chair properly.

Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

We have every end of the spectrum depending on the phase she's in. We've had meals take hours bc she suddenly forgot how to swallow for a few weeks. She'd chew the same bit forever and complain she wasn't done when I'd say enough, time is up. We have phases where she sits for two seconds, eats a green bean or two, and then says she's full. We have nights where she yaps and wiggles and eats a little here and there. She is good with breakfast and lunch for the most part although sometimes she'll just have yogurt in a reusable pouch which takes her two seconds or a few dry waffles or granola bars while she's playing. With dinner, I try not to get worked up and just let her eat or not eat. I have learned though not to clear her plate until she's sleeping for the night bc she'll sometimes not eat and then complain she's hungry at bedtime.

Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

Depends on the day but never more than 30 mins and even then its rare. 15 maybe is the norm

Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

Oooo its so nice to know im not alone... and yes the last few days every meal is me yelling at her... which makes me feel guilty... but then im just so frustrated with the vicious cycle were in...

But at least its not just her lol

If anyone ever figures it out let me know haha

Re: Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

Dd is a slow eater but eats next to nothing, so time-wise it all evens out.

I have defined meal and snack times. If she leaves the table, the meal is over. And she doesn't get a snack until the designated snack time. I'm not having her snack all day long. After a few times of this routine, she's gotten the hint (she's home with me instead of at her daycare during my 12-week maternity leave).

Re: Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

Re: Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

Yes.
Taking away all distractions, eating together at dining room table is a great start.
No more yelling.... I heard from a teacher to do a timer. This is easy to do.
Take away food at end of time. 20-30 minutes per meal.
No snacks.
Kid won't starve to death & they learn meal time is protected & finite.

Re: Sitting Down to Eat 3.5 Years old

sounds like she isn't that hungry. my LO definitely eats slower and entertains more distractions as he gets full or if he isn't that hungry. Try sticking to a strict meal and snack schedule. if she's grazing all day, she isn't going to be really revved up to sit down to a meal. we pretty much only serve LO food while in the high chair, 3 meals a day and usually a snack between each meal time. there is no getting down from the high chair but then reaching up and grabbing more food off the tray. if you're out of the high chair, the meal is over. and very rarely do we allow snacking anywhere else.