Eating in front of the telly. How bad is it?

[Elizap]

My DD, 20 months, adores having her meals while watching the telly. I dont let her on a regular basis but on the weekends or if she is a bit under the weather I do. She has never been the best eater and have always found it hard to get her to try new things or eat grown up food. In front of the TV however she will eat pretty much anything I give her!! I think as she has always been on the skinny side I was so happy to see her eat everything on her plate I am often tempted to give her her meals where she will eat more. I am really worried though that I will set a precedent and soon she will only eat in front of the TV. How bad is it for her?

[Blondeshavemorefun]

personally i dont like children eating in front of tv and i dont allow it (but thats just me )

but i know many who do including my ex mb who allowed them, and as soon as i came in i turned it off

i find it a better incentive to say if you eat breakie up quickly then you might have time to watch tv before you go to nursery (but my dc are older)

sometimes they do watch 10mins , other days they dont as we leave for school and nursery at 8.30

if you want to stop it, then one day let her eat at the table with you and see what happens

[hazeyjane]

We eat most of our meals together (dd's nearly 3 and nearly 2), but sometimes as a treat we have a 'picnic' in the lounge, while watching a film. Also if the girls are poorly they might have toast or sandwiches in front of the telly. I don't think I'd want to make a habit of it though. Dd1 doesn't eat a great deal, but I think it is better that we all get to sit together and eat, and chat etc.

Maybe it would help if you had the radio on (you can listen to cbeebies on radio7 between 2 and 5), or a story tape.

[Galava]

My DS is similar to your DD. Survives on breakfast and fruit somehow.

I've tried everything too and like you found that watching TV seems to work.

I dont like it and the rest of the family have always been perfectly capable of sitting at the dinner table, so I think why should I start doing this with him.

Its a means to an end in my opinion. Not ideal but ....

[muggglewump]

We always, and have always eaten with the TV on. We do sit together still and eat the same food, DD has never been a fussy eater.
I know a lot of families like to talk round the table as a way of catching up but as the single parent to an only child I've never found this necessary.
Of course DD is only 7 and this may change as she gets older but for now the TV is staying on.

[solidgoldbullet4myvalentine]

When I was a kid we always ate in front of the telly - but that's because we ha a telly in the kitchen as well as one in the siting room. Though I grew up with non-stop television I am the least telly-minded person I know. However, I let DS eat in front of the telly and usually sit with him, because I'm inclined to think he will become as indifferent to telly as I am.

[Elizap]

She doesn't have every meal in front of the tv. It is normally just a few times a week or if she hasn't been eating alot or is unwell then maybe one meal of the day. I had a horrible time weaning her and have always been slightly neurotic about her eating so seeing her tuck into a large helping of spag bol and finishing it infront of Cbeebies makes me feel really happy! I do always try and do lunch at the table but by 6.30 and supper time am exhausted and just want her to eat well so she will sleep well!!

[2pt4kids]

We always eat main meals in the kitchen at the table, but I do let the kids eat toast at breakfast time on the sofa watching tv or any snacks like bowls of fruit or biscuits etc.
They always eat lots more when distracted by the tv too!
I dont think its a problem unless they eat most meals there or wont eat anywhere else imo

[Galava]

If my DS would put away a large helping of spag bol then we would have TV on at every meal.

[Elizap]

solidgoldbullet4myvalentine have been thinking of getting a small telly for the kitchen. That way she can sit at the table and feed herself but the telly is on in the background. She doesn't watch telly at any other time though as we spend lots of time out and about.

[Elizap]

thanks Galava! Is weird how she wont eat it at the table but will in front of the TV. toddlers are bizarre!!

[admylin]

I hate having the TV on when we eat. I like to have that time to talk to the dc. H would happily eat all meals on his sofa with TV on but then he can also sleep with it on and work with it on.

You could try to make the meal times at the table more intresting - try telling your dd stories. My 2 loved it when I told them funny things about my childhood or get her to sit her favourite doll/teddy at the table too. My ds always fed his panda at the table!

[CrushWithEyeliner]

I have to do this with DD who is now 2 - I don't like it but figure it won't last forever...don't worry about it

[Elizap]

Admylin I do try and make the mealtimes fun but she is still young, only just 20 months, and is very active. We do puzzles and sing songs at the table and I always try and eat sth with her but is just that she always eats a lot more when in front of the telly. I think I just need to stop worrying if she doesn't eat as much. She is very tall and a good weight for her age. I want her though to start eating more grwon up food and she just wont do that at the table. Still likes it up mashed up together.