to send my child to bed hungry?

[ladyfirenze]

dts 7 was offered snacks after school of raisins, apple and carrots with a glass of milk. He ate some raisins and turned down everything else. At five thirty he was served a roast dinner consisting of chicken, roast carrots and sweet potatoes, steamed mange tout and gravy. He sloped off for a poo during dinner and left his carrots and potatoes. I didn't push him to finish them, but I did say I thought he should. He's just got out of bed to tell me his tummy is rumbling and he's hungry. I've said he can have a drink of water and have sent him back to bed...... That's right isn't it.....

YABU. It's not a crime not to be hungry at certain times. And perhaps he wasn't hungry at snack time or around dinner. Eating when you've little appetite isn't a good idea either. And he did eat some of his dinner. He didn't ignore it completely.

I'd give him cereal,milk and an apple,or milk and a plain biscuit as others have suggested.

YABU. Make the poor lad a piece of toast and some hot chocolate.

Even I don't understand the connection between a snack after school and being hungry at bedtime. And I am 39 years old.

He wasn't hungry then. He is hungry now. Do you lot never get peckish 3 hours after you have eaten?

he's had his tea

and hes got out of bed saying he's hungry

yanbu. tell him to go to sleep

Can't believe the tosh I'm reading. 5.30 is a standard time for dinner - it's not early at all. And as for the criticisms re offering healthy snacks, that's just absurd.

I honestly dont get this.

He wasnt hungry after school.. fair enough.

He ate most of his dinner.. fair enough

He is now hungry... give him something to eat for gods sakes..

If you are hungry do you eat? so why shouldnt your child?

As a parent, it's also your responsibility to ensure that your child doesn't overeat.

I wouldn't give him a snack. DD2 is a total pain about leaving spuds and veg. She did tonight, grabbed an ice cream and shot out for scouts.
Ok we should all sit round the table having civilised family meals, but the DDs were watching TV and I was fighting with the computer.

5.30 is perfectly normal time for child's dinner! Mine never get snacks after dinner if they haven't eaten it all, or at least a good effort. They'd never eat dinner if I did that. It's not like he hasn't eaten at all.

5.30 standard time for dinner?!

Not if you work it isn't & you eat as a family

6.30pm yes 5.30 no

I work and we eat at 5.30

But if he wanted a big poo, he wouldnt have wanted to eat at that time. I think suggested he have some pudding half an hour after the poo, knowing he hadnt eaten much might have been an idea.
I agree witb your stance, but all depends how things usually are. If hes a bugger for not eating then he needs to learn, but if he usually eats nicely, at the table, what hes given, then there has to be times to be a nit soft.
My DD confessed recently that she used to say she was hungry just because she wanted the company at bedtime. She says she still remembers the banana sandwiches she was always offered! Lol. She hates being on her own. Awww. Shes 18 now.

As a child of 7 we had tea (dinner to you suvverners) at about 5.30.. supper, which was toast or crackers with cheese, or a bowl of cereal at about 8.30pm then bed at about 9pm.

I would have been starving if I had gone from 5.30pm until breakfast the next day without food.. that would have been 14 hours, which is a bloody long time!

Bit not nit!

Bathtime starts at 6.30 here for my 4 yr old. He couldn't eat that late he'd be exhausted. We eat separately at 8 because dh doesn't get home until 7.30.

5.30 is really early for dinner. I would have to eat again at 9pm if I ate that early. We normally eat at about 6.30 or 7pm.

And what on earth are you on about - overeating?

The OP served healthy snacks after school then a wholesome meal at 5.30pm. He has not been stuffing his face with Fish Suppers and deep fried mars bars.

Giving him a biscuit is not going to make him obese.

5.30pm is early. It could be 13/14+ hours after that, before the child eats again. No, he won't die of starvation, but it's a pretty mean and shitty thing to deny food where there is genuine hunger, because he didn't want all of his snacks at 3.30ish and didn't eat all of his dinner-from the sounds of it, he ate a fair bit.

I'd offer some milk and perhaps a snack. But something boring like crackers or toast.

If its not a regular thing then I would assume he is genuinely hungry, and shouldn't be punished for not finishing his vegetables.

9pm sounds like a very late bedtime for a 7 yr old. I remember bedtime being 7.30 when I was 8.

Raisins, carrots and apple after school? Surely an after school snack should be a donut, tea cake with nutella, or naice peice of cake. Give these kids some joy!

I didnt need more than eleven hours sleep when I was 7.. I didnt have to be up until 8am.

So basically people are saying it's ok for a seven year old to get out of bed at 8.30 on a school night and be pandered to be fed, even though I'm presuming he's brushed his teeth, because he did not want to eat all his dinner?

suebfg not sure what you mean over eating ????

raisins carrot and a bit of apple is what I would feed my hamster when I got in from school.... ..

I would have done the same as you - we eat as a family at 5.30, and we both work (but I do set off at 7.15 in the morning). If you are not used to eating at night, you don't get hungry then. I suppose the crux of the matter is if you believe him. If you truly believe he is hungry, then drink and toast and a warning to never do it again. If you think he is messing about then nothing but a flea in his ear.