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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that 3 year olds shouldn't need to be spoon fed?

16 replies

MumblingRagDoll · 16/07/2011 18:29

DD2 is three and doesn't eat much. Shes fine though...very healthy and not a skinny one or anything.

Wdont' worry much at all....I do think that we need to get her to eat more though as at school she's going to need to eat her lunch etc....she WILL eat if DH spoon feeds her....she likes to regress in many things...enjoys being a "baby".

dh thinks it's fine to spoon feed her sometimes as "at least she eats"

My thinking is that she'll eat when she's hungry and he shouldn't be encouraging her to be fed by us.

AIBU to tel DH not to do it?

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 16/07/2011 18:35

I wouldn't be too bothered with occasionally in the scheme of things, sometimes babying them a bit makes them feel secure.

I can remember my brother ripping the shit out of me before I started school because I couldn't use my knife and fork properly, I'm quite competent with them now Wink

AgentZigzag · 16/07/2011 18:36

I've also found I'm much more 'at least she eats' with my 18 MO DD2 than I was with DD1.

iMemoo · 16/07/2011 18:37

Chillax Wink

AgentZigzag · 16/07/2011 18:39

hahaha imem, I just wasted loads of words didn't I? Grin

Flisspaps · 16/07/2011 18:40

YANBU :)

Marne · 16/07/2011 18:42

I used to spoon feed my dd's at that age with things like yoghurt and cereal or most of it would end up on the floor or they wouldn't eat it. They both eat fine now Smile.

neepsntatties · 16/07/2011 18:42

My Ds is the same, drives me nuts. If we don't do it he is quite happy not to eat though. I am hoping it will pass soon!

charleneanne · 16/07/2011 18:46

to old to be spoonfed especially if she will be going to nursery they certainly wont pander to her wanting to be spoon fed its ridiculous

alewVera · 16/07/2011 19:04

My DH was the same with dd2, I just sit her down with a fork and leave her to get on with it. She will feed herself.

DoNotDisturb · 16/07/2011 19:07

My nearly three year old has been a bad eater too and will happily eat nothing if we don't help him. He is capable of doing it himself though so when he goes to nursery I'm sure he'll manage..

Lovemy2babies · 16/07/2011 19:07

I agree with you op!

My 3 year old dd loves to spoon feed and Dh obliges Hmm

We have had many battles with her feeding herself as I don't want her to be thenonly 5 year old who can't use cutlery!

So Yanbu

TiggyD · 16/07/2011 19:16

She does not need to be spoon fed. She might like to be spoon fed. If giving her what she wants stops her gaining the skills to eat or gives her 'food issues', it's going to be a problem.
Schools don't mind if children don't have reading/writing/counting skills when they start school. They do rather like children to have social skills, like being able to put on their shoes and coats, use the toilets, and be able to feed themselves.

Glitterknickaz · 16/07/2011 19:19

She won't be doing it when she's 18, try to chill a bit.
My 6 year old doesn't feed himself (apart from fingers) but then he has SN.

Glitterknickaz · 16/07/2011 19:19

If she has the ability but chooses not to I mean, not knowing how to is a different matter.

pigletmania · 16/07/2011 19:23

My dd 4.5 years (possible ASD) is spoon fed as she will quite happily eat nothing all day and if she doesent like what's on offer she will not eat, unless I spoon it in. She can eat independently if she wants, but I feel happy knowing that she has a full tummy. Believe it or not she is an independent eater at pre school. I was spoon fed occasionally by my mum until I was 7 Shock, I certainly do not want to be spoon fed now or when I was a teen thanks very much. Chill.!

AgentZigzag · 16/07/2011 19:25

It's not that I don't agree with the OP, it's just that if you're too inflexible with eating you're setting yourself up for a lot of extra hassle.

It's OK for the OPs DH to 'pamper' his little girl sometimes.

When little children come out of the bath it's alright to baby them and have a cuddle with them wrapped up in a towel, I see it as a similar thing.

She won't want to be spoon fed at school anyway.

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