17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

Any advice, my 17 month old does not want to sit in his chair much and eat,he likes to walk around and eat. Its frustrating. Sometimes he will sit and eat but not for long. Sometime we can get him to sit on the couch or in a new chair we got him to eat but other wise its a challenge, any advice or tips...

17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

No advice - my DD does the same thing!

Re: 17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

DD eats her best when she is running around. Plop on her highchair, most of the time the food will be on the floor.

Re: 17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

My twins are the same exact way. I usually turn on their favorite show and sit them on their little chairs, sometimes it works, but other times not so much, but as the above poster they eat better running around.

Re: 17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

i was def using the high chair at this age still to avoid this

Re: 17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

My twins do this too and they are 27 months. I dont want to get them into bad habits but I also want them to eat so Im always torn.

17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

my DD is 18m and does the same thing. i know many will frown on this, but she does well when i give her an ipod with PBS kids app on it. she will sit in her high chair and eat and watch. i dont do it every meal but it absolutely helps when we need it (esp if shes cranky or sick or teething). i dont do it when we are having family meals but if she is eating breakfast or lunch and we aren't for whatever reason, sometimes she'll get the ipod.

Message edited 12/11/2012 5:58:21 PM.

17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

My DD does this too and she'll be 17 months next week. She mainly does it with breakfast. She would do it with lunch and dinner too but I don't allow it. I end up putting the rest of her breakfast in a bowl and she munches on it while playing and watching tv, but she finishes all of it.

Re: 17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

1) high chair/booster seat
2) food is only available at the table and when seated.
3) Do not offer food/snacks in any other chair other than the one you want them to eat their meals in. So not snacks on the sofa.
4) Everyone sits together during meal times when possible. Major meals are eaten together at the table.

I think this adds structure to meals times, they will be more likely to eat, provides a good model for meal time behavior, and reduces choking risk.

Stick with it and dont back down. After a few days you will be good. Kids usually will not starve themselves, so if the only way they will get food is in the chair and they are hungry, guess they will sit and eat.

ETA: PP's have mentioned some good reinforcement techniques that are being used during the meals to occupy them. How about saving it for afterwards when they have done good sitting and eating as a reinforcer?

Message edited 12/11/2012 10:22:39 PM.

Re: 17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

I agree with littleblue bug. We have a cousin that is 4 & only eats in front of TV...I think it will surely start a problem that you will regret later on. Structure, structure.

If you allow them to do this, you are showing that they are controlling the house

Re: 17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

Re: 17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

Re: 17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

ok thanks, I will try it and hope it works.

Re: 17 month old does not want to eat sitting down

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by ar1stbaby

Posted by LittleBlueBug

1) high chair/booster seat
2) food is only available at the table and when seated.
3) Do not offer food/snacks in any other chair other than the one you want them to eat their meals in. So not snacks on the sofa.
4) Everyone sits together during meal times when possible. Major meals are eaten together at the table.

I think this adds structure to meals times, they will be more likely to eat, provides a good model for meal time behavior, and reduces choking risk.

Stick with it and dont back down. After a few days you will be good. Kids usually will not starve themselves, so if the only way they will get food is in the chair and they are hungry, guess they will sit and eat.

ETA: PP's have mentioned some good reinforcement techniques that are being used during the meals to occupy them. How about saving it for afterwards when they have done good sitting and eating as a reinforcer?

These are great tips thanks, but my concern is if he has a fit which he has he wont eat and that is concerning to me.

Honestly, so then he doesn't eat. Kids won't let themselves starve and he's pitching the fit to get his way. You have to stay firm and consistent and he will learn fast that if he wants to eat then he needs to follow your rules, end of story. If you give in and let him wander around you're going to create a problem for yourself that won't get better as he gets older. Just set the foundation and the rules and he'll "get it".......even if it means he misses a few meals in the meantime.

And you might be surprised, he will probably come around faster than you think. If he's hungry enough he will fall in line fast. Good luck!