How do you get a 2 yr old to sit at the dinner table ?

[poppy2133]

My 2 year old will not sit at the dinner table for ay more than about a minute. He will eat "on the move". I think he is just too busy to sit still & waste time eating. It's good that he's always enjoying himself & playing but I think he needs some structure to his meal times. Any sugestions gratefully received.

Glue.

ours is nearly 3 and we can usually get about 5 minutes before he's off. Think its just down to practice and persistence

lol glue was thing i though of too. create meals that can be eaten in 5 mins before conentration has gone then slowly build it up. I try that and it does to a degree work

Is he eating alone when he starts wandering?
I find DD is fine at the table so long as everyone else is eating too. At lunchtime when she has her own table and is basically eating by herself, I find she tends to take ages as she gets up and down and does things inbetween mouthfuls. TBh I'm not that bothered by the wandering lunches, so long as she settles down for the more 'formal' meal. She sits in a normal chair now (she's 2.5) but until she was 2 she was stuck in one of those fabric and frame chairs that clamped to the table. It was pretty hard to get out of, although she could if she persevered.

agree that everyone else has to remain at the table too.
and be consistent in your approach - they won't start sitting there overnight.
And no pudding if they get down.

dgs has never had a highchair here so he sits on the sofa..it was a pain when he was under one trying to get him to sit still but persistence with not allowing him food unless he sat still means he is now very good..if he gets down then it gets taken away, but i always eat with him so he knows it's meal time

We're still struggling with our 4.5 year old. The 7 and 9 can sit though, and the baby has no choice. Some children just seem to have ants in their pants. And is it only really an issue because of what other people think? I know it's nicer if they will sit still, but it's just so EXHAUSTING getting a restless one to do it. And eat. I confess to giving up sometimes, and have been known to follow him around with hopeful forkfuls.

do you have mealtimes together ? kids learn by copying .. so always eat together even if it means you have a light snack when they eat food

Is in still in a high chair?

My ds loves his place mat - it is filled with liquid and goldfish - he can sit for a little while playing with it. I got it from www.culto.com.
or colouring in or little animals. Something to keep them occupied while sitting and you can shove a few mouthfuls in between.
But he still won't sit for very long - I have to have dinne ready immediately and not hang about in between courses.

I think tracyk's ideas are good re something to engage them with, but not a toy, something to do with the table like a placemat sounds good.

Maek sure your expectations are realistic - no two year old will sit for long. Do you use a booster seat? My ds loved this as he was so high up and the table was comfortable to use...he was also strapped in which gave him pause for thought...

I think persist with making him sit at the table to eat - if he gets down, he's finished so the food gets removed. If you are having a meal and then a pudding, I wouldn't mind if my DS got down in between, as I think sitting there waiting is too much for any 2 year old!