I have 2 DS very nearly 3 - next week and 19mths - today! MY DS1 has refuse to sit in a highchair for about a year and for that year has been a nightmare getting down from the table after 1 mouthful - have big melt downs when put back at table and told to sit back down and eat so I probably handled this all wrong - just let him go and not have any food - IMO i just felt i'd offered it and presented it nicely and he doesn't want it - if he was hungry he would it. Anyway -now he is about 70% better but DS2 has just started refusing to sit in highchair and having a screaming fit when put in so I let him sit at table - Guess what - he gets down and starts playing with the magnets on the fridge and not interested in the meal. DH doesn't get in until 7pm so I do their meal at 5pm and me and DH eat later, so we are not sitting at the table eating with them - sometimes I sit there but usually i am cleaning up, chopping fruit or veg, unstacking dishwasher etc. Even if I sit with them DS2 still gets down. My mum says I have parented my DS1 badly so that is why DS2 has copied him and is trying his luck I seriously couldn't deal with forcing DS1 to sit down and eat as screaming and tantruming doesn't make for someone to want to eat or a pleasant mealtime. Have I been a really bad mummy and does anyone have any ideas - she thinks even if they don't want to eat anything I should make them sit for 20 mins at the table with them screaming- my nerves would be frayed!?