Meal time expectations for a 21 month old

[Clareypoo]

The above really.
What do you do that works? I need some help.
DS has a small table and chair and generally used to eat with the small table pushed up to ours with the expectation of 5 mins of getting up and down but also eating.
It seems to have slipped to small table and chair in front of TV but will only eat if one of us is sat with him and he eats reaalllllllly slowly, which is fine but this is meaning we now don't t have family meals sat together. DP is finding this stressful and indicative of bad parenting....
Am I expecting too much that he should sit with us for 5/10 mins at the table?

[TheTeenageYears]

At 21 months mine were both still in high chairs pulled up to the table. We had a trip trap style one you could take the tray off so they could sit at the right height for the table as they grew. Eating in front of the tv is not great for many reasons. Eating should be active rather than passive so you are aware of what's going in and learn when you're full.

[GrumpyHoonMain]

Eating in front of the TV causes so many issues - if you have a picky eater they get distracted and eat far too little. If you have a hog like mine they get distracted and eat far too much. That’s why I don’t do it - dinner is around the table with all of us together. Pace yourselves and by watching you he will eventually eat but it takes practice and effort at all meal times not just one.

[NC4Now]

We had a high chair up to the table at that age and ate as a family. I think it’s important to teach them table manners, even if they are a bit fussy.

[Abouttimemum]

DS 20 months is in his high chair at the table too. He’ll spend 10 minutes eating and interacting with us, and then tends to faff about so he has a couple of toys he likes to play with but he still eats his food.
We rarely eat together though just because we don’t eat at his times, we have weekend lunches together and that’s about it.
I wouldn’t sit him in front of the tv to eat.

[Clareypoo]

Thank you guys.
I think the TV is out and the high chair is in.

[Bert2e]

High chair at the table here too. So important to teach children basic table manners.

[Ihaveoflate]

High chair or booster seat at the table (strapped in) while eating together. She can get down and play in the kitchen when she's finished while we continue eating. We have a 'no toys while eating' rule but will give her something to play with on her tray once she's finished to keep her at the table a little longer.

Our daughter is only 16 months but I can't see this set up changing for a long while. Even then it will be still be sitting at the table together and allowed down when finished eating.

[Squiffy01]

Our DS is now just over two but since the summer so just you get than yours we started family meals. Him in his high chair up at the table with us all eating same thing.
Before that it was him and I sitting together at table and me feeding him.