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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a 7 year old shouldn't need constant reminding to eat with his mouth closed?

59 replies

LittleMissGerardLouiseButler · 01/10/2013 13:58

It's really grating on my nerves now, every mealtime I keep asking him/reminding him.

I can't stand the noise, I've asked him nicely, explained why its not nice, told him off, and it makes no difference.

I've suggested he put less in his mouth, so he can close it.

Maybe I just need ear plugs? I struggle to sit at the table with the slurping chewing noises.

Is there anything I can do, or do I just accept he is 7 and isn't going to remember?

OP posts:
merlin · 01/10/2013 13:59

I have a nearly 13 yr old DS who does this - sorry!

I shall watch the thread with interest!

RegTheMonkey · 01/10/2013 14:00

You have to keep on reminding him. Otherwise imagine him as an adult eating with his mouth open in a restaurant and disgusting everyone around him. I knew about keeping my mouth closed by the time I started school and was really surprised by some other pupils who ate their school dinners with their mouth open. Some of them had sinus/adenoid/other medical things though that meant they couldn't breathe properly. Keep at it!

Jinty64 · 01/10/2013 14:04

Yes, I was going to say does he need to mouth breathe. I have great difficulty breathing through my nose and have to eat very small mouthfuls at a time.

squoosh · 01/10/2013 14:13

Keep nagging OP, and nagging, and nagging, and nagging

There are plenty of adults that eat this way, they weren't nagged enough. Irritating in a child, unforgiveable in an adult, on a par with being cruel to small animals.

SugarMiceInTheRain · 01/10/2013 14:23

I think he shouldn't. But I have to remind my 7 year old every meal time, several times. It's so frustrating.

ananikifo · 01/10/2013 14:24

My 29 year old husband needs constant reminding so you shouldn't feel bad about your 7 year old. Break that habit early!

silverangel · 01/10/2013 14:33

My 36 year old husband still does it and I blame his mum. Nag him and nag him, he'll thank you for it one day!

newfavouritething · 01/10/2013 14:37

YANBU - my boys 6&8 have started to do this recently, I assumed it's a school thing. They've managed to eat with their mouth closed perfectly well for the first few years of their lives, why start now? And I've threatened (and will) remove their meal on the third time of reminding.

RegTheMonkey · 01/10/2013 14:37

It's part of the civilising process you have to put them through as part of your job! :)

vtechjazz · 01/10/2013 14:43

Remember, animals don't eat pudding because they are uncivilized.....is HE uncivilized too? Ergo, no pudding for those who eat like animals.

valiumredhead · 01/10/2013 14:46

What jinty said and keep on with the reminding OP.

Tailtwister · 01/10/2013 14:48

We have phases of having to do this with DS1 (5). He'll go for months and be fine, but suddenly he starts doing it again. It's infuriating, but the only thing you can do is to keep reminding him.

pigsinmud · 01/10/2013 14:51

My dc3 who is 9 is a nightmare for this. The other 3 don't do it! We have to nag a lot. I have wondered if it has something to do with her mouth & teeth. Dentist has already flagged her for needing orthodontic work in a few years time. Older 2 have no problems with their teeth. Probably just a coincidence.

Famzilla · 01/10/2013 14:53

No advice, but chewy slurpy noises make me want to rip my face off. I used to eat dinner with my Walkman plugged in as a child or I'd get the rage.

stowsettler · 01/10/2013 14:53

Nag, nag, nag. DSS still does this aged 16 and it's deeply repulsive.

MrsWedgeAntilles · 01/10/2013 15:00

Does he eat with some one who does this?
A friend of ours sounds like a hyena at a dead zebra when he eats and when DS has been with him we have days of foul noises afterwards.

digerd · 01/10/2013 15:15

I was never a chatterbox while young and eating, as was always ravenous and was too busy stuffing myself .
Now I am much older, I find it annoying to be asked a question by another adult family member when they can see my mouth < by my hamster cheeks> is full of food.
The only way to stop children talking with their mouth full is to say "No talking at the dinner table until you have finished eating".

I can imagine at school, with so many children at the table, they are talking to each other while eating. Or is it silence at the dinner table in schools?

ananikifo · 01/10/2013 15:30

digerd I think the solution for my DH is more socialising during meals, not less. If he is allowed to stay silent while eating he gets into a rhythm of shoving too much food in his mouth and chewing it with his mouth open. If I make him talk to me (which can be hard work) he takes smaller bites and is a bit more conscious of what he's doing. If he's watching tv when he's eating he sometimes takes a few bites and stares at the tv open-mouthed with food still in his mouth.

valiumredhead · 01/10/2013 15:33

Ana-Goff, my Dh is like that too, very obvious there was no dining Ron conversation in his house when he was growing up. It's alien to me.

valiumredhead · 01/10/2013 15:33

Smaller mouthfuls are the way forwardGrin

superlambanana · 01/10/2013 15:35

My FIL does this, gets food all round his mouth, and talks with his mouth full. I have to not look at him at all during the meal or I feel sick. Hmm

valiumredhead · 01/10/2013 15:36

God, not GoffGrin

valiumredhead · 01/10/2013 15:36

Room not Ron. Excuse my phoneHmm

PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline · 01/10/2013 15:37

DS1 does this but it only started since he had school dinners at junior school.

I nag at him constantly with no success.

AhoyAhoy · 01/10/2013 15:37

I was unfortunate enough to spend a couple of weeks with some of my partner's family with the most appalling table manners. I didn't want to say anything thinking I was just being a bit precious and pregnant, but after about a week he started apologising profusely and thanking me for putting up with it.

Sort them out now before they are let out into the wider world to embarrass you.

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