19m climbing on the table at meal times help needed

[lucy01]

DD2 is obsessed with climbing on the table. She will eat a little bit and then climb out of her tripp trapp (with baby front) onto the table to do a little dance. We have tried:

(1) reins but she either screams the house down or if you put them on tight she can't reach forward to eat

(2) ignoring her - not the best idea when every one elses food goes all over the place

(3) putting her on the floor - she just tries to climb up again

(4) using dd's little table and chairs to eat - climbs on that as well

(5) putting her on the naughty step (I know she's too little to understand but it stopped me from shouting at her)

(6) alternative highchairs (old high chair, booster seat, etc) but she still gets up onto the chair/table

Take her out to lunch though and she as good as gold (little madame)!

Any ideas or experience of this. It is driving us, nursery, the nanny crazy.

keep putting her back in, but with no comments. She's doing it for attention, and if she doesn't get any she will eventually get bored (may take about 10 years though )

My 15 month old DS is doing the same sort of thing...

If she's climbing on table she's not interested in eating/she's not hungry. I'd take that as my cue to end her meal, put her on floor.

We don't insist that the children stay at the table while everybody else finishes their food, though, no idea how you make them do that.

quiet simply use reins they dont have to be that tight.... let him scream if he likes

they are there to keep him safe and quite simply climbing out of his chair onto the dangerouse needs to be stopped before he falls and hurst himself...

you wouldnt let a child ride in the car without being strapped into his / her car seat (even IF they scream) and if thats how he behanves he needs to be strapped for his own safety

Totally agree with NannyL. Just strap her in. Most people use straps on a highchair anyway. The screaming will stop eventually.

i totally agree with fqueenzebra - as soon as she starts climbing on the table take her food away. The first couple of times explain she can have it back if she sits nicely. Once you're sure she understands, take the food away and end the meal. Trust me - it won't take long for her to get the hint.

I know all kids go through phases where they throw food on the floor and did this with both of my two. Their food-throwing phases lasted less than a week.

I meant to say "Once you're sure she understands, take the food away and end the meal ... if she does it again."

My 18 mo was exactly the same less than 2 weeks ago. I got fed up and followed the 'thats it, either you sit down or Mummy takes it away' route. I made myself throw her food straight in the bin if she didn't sit down, so I wasn't tempted to give in, and didn't give her a snack until at least an hour later, and only if SHE initiated it, rather than offering food regularly, as I had been doing previously. It has worked a treat. I think at this age they start eating less anyway, so I was probably still expecting her to eat a bigger meal than she actually wanted, thats why she started playing up.

PS. As regards using the 'naughty step' in relation to mealtimes, be careful. You don't want food to become some sort of disciplinary area, food should be a pleasure, not a chore!

My 18 mo was exactly the same less than 2 weeks ago. I got fed up and followed the 'thats it, either you sit down or Mummy takes it away' route. I made myself throw her food straight in the bin if she didn't sit down, so I wasn't tempted to give in, and didn't give her a snack until at least an hour later, and only if SHE initiated it, rather than offering food regularly, as I had been doing previously. It has worked a treat. I think at this age they start eating less anyway, so I was probably still expecting her to eat a bigger meal than she actually wanted, thats why she started playing up.

strap her in and let her scream for a bit. Do it with very popular food like puds first, then will she will associate the straps with yummies.

I agree - use the straps, thats what they are there for!

straps definitely - unless you've got a DS like DS2 who can climb out even with the straps on and