DS begging for food from adults plates?

[VickyandAlistair]

Has anyone has this problem? DS is 10mo, and has a VERY healthy appetite, he loves his food and does seem to eat a lot for a baby his age, but its all good healthy stuff, I dont give him any junk. However, recently he has started 'begging' for food from adults plates when they are eating, me and DP cant eat a meal in peace! Sometimes I crack and feed him a bit of what I'm eating, but if you ignore him he makes loud 'mmmmmmmmmmm' noises and sometimes grabs at the person eating, its very offputting! Whats best to do? :)

[RitaMorgan]

Er, why won't you let him eat with you?

[allhailtheaubergine]

He's not "begging" he's asking to share.

Personally I would share, or better still, get him a plate of his own and enjoy the meal together.

[MrsRhettButler]

Doesn't he eat with you?

[VickyandAlistair]

No, he has his mealtimes separately to us - he eats lunch at 12 and dinner at 4, those times arent convienient for us, we eat at sixish, so by the time we are eating, he has already eaten.

[CMOTdibbler]

Its a good habit - this way he'll try anything you are eating. Just share food with him

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

I don't see the "problem". Baby with healthy appetite, enjoy it while it lasts. You might have to improve your own meals, though :)

[VickyandAlistair]

So you dont think it will mean that he eats too much food? He is my first baby, and the light of my life, I wouldnt want him to get a tummy ache or anything

[colditz]

Don't be a nobber, he wants to eat with you, serve him a meal like you would any other human being who was in your house when you were serving dinner. He's not a dog, he doesn't need to be fed seperately.

[colditz]

He'll be fine. Don't give him honey or peanuts

[VickyandAlistair]

me and DP work full time, we're not even at home at 4, DS wants his dinner at 4, I dont think he'd take nicely to having to wait 2 hrs for his dinner. Theres no need to be rude.

[zorgmoid]

What Colditz said. Exactly what colditz said. of course he wants to eat when you do

[RitaMorgan]

Give him tea at 4, then he can have dinner with you at 6.

You wouldn't want to have to sit on your own while everyone else eats, would you?

[suzikettles]

Call it his supper. An extra few bites at 6 won't hurt him

[AllGoodNamesGone]

I would start giving him his dinner at 6 with you and give him pretty much the same as you or some of it alongside whatever he is having.

Give him a snack at 4 if you think he is hungry then.

Encourage him. It's great that he'll try anything - make the most of it

[AgentProvocateur]

Well, give him a snack at four then. Am
I missing something here?

[allhailtheaubergine]

If I were you I would let him have two dinners. One at 4 when he's hungry, and one at 6 with you and your husband. At 10 months food is as much about socialising and fun and feel and texture and colour and trying new things as it is about nutrition and filling them up. Presumably he still has bedtime milk? Give him some of what you have a 6 and let him join in the fun. Watch salt levels.

[RitaMorgan]

That's exactly what my baby does by the way.

3.30ish - light tea/big snack
6ish - dinner with us
7ish - milk
7.30 - bed

Yours could always have his main dinner at 4 and then a snack when you eat at 6.

[PogoBaby]

DD is the same, always wants what we are eating. She also has tea earlier - I work full days and she wouldn't survive until we eat - but we've started giving her a little snack (of what we're having) when we eat.

DD is also my first and I know what you mean about worrying they are eating to much!

[Demiwave]

Don't be so harsh - the OP is asking for advice! OP, I would do as Rita and Suzi suggest and give him a little something when you eat at 6. DS3 is 8 months and NEEDS his dinner at 4ish but we eat later so I always sit him at the table with us and either give him a little of what we are eating (if it is suitable) or something like some fruit or breadsticks etc. It doesn't have to be a huge amount but just enough that it keeps him occupied and he feels part of the 'occasion'. FWIW, I don't like children eating off other people's plates either but I do occasionally let him try something of mine if he shows an interest. Mainly though, he has his own food which, invariably, is the same anyway.

[exoticfruits]

I would just let him eat with you-I'm not sure that I would want to have to watch others eat every night! Just give him a snack earlier and then eat the same as you.

[colditz]

Go and speak to your health visitor.

[Octaviapink]

DS 8m has his 'supper' at 4 and then a bit of whatever we're having when we eat at 6.30. He likes to sit and chat to us while we're eating and it's good practice for all eating together. Your DS won't eat 'too much' - at this age most people are delighted to get whatever they can into them. Babies eat when they're hungry and stop (or throw up) when they're full - they're not greedy.

[activate]

he needs to eat with you - eating is social

[activate]

your stomach is about the size of your fist - look at your baby's fist - his stomach is tiny sodinner at 4pm will mean hungry at 6pm

[Iggly]

Sorry OP - I thought you were going to say your DS was 10 years old.

This is entirely normal - babies love to copy and will always want what you have. DS is still like this at 22 months and it's actually a good way to get him to eat different foods. You can teach him table manners by having him sit with you and have little bits and pieces of yours. Eating is also a social thing too.

Incidentally, why do you have tea so early?