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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Toddler wanting to sit on our laps at mealtimes

6 replies

GingerDoodle · 22/04/2014 10:56

Our 19 month old DD has decided she wants to sit on our laps at mealtimes; we've tried a booster and letting her sit on a chair but its hit and miss. Has anyone else experienced this?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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sausagesandplantsandgoldfish · 22/04/2014 11:35

yeah, we just go with it. DS is not a great eater, so we are happy to let him eat however he likes, just so we can get some bloody food down his cake hole! Whether he wants to sit on our lap, or the high chair, or sitting on the sofa / coffee table. If he manages a few bites, I am so utterly happy its ridiculous tries not to worry

notasausage · 22/04/2014 11:53

We have had this too. I think it is a giant pita! If you're happy with it then let them and they will eventually grow out of it. If you're not happy then you are in for a few meals of screaming tantrums which are best ignored and then normality will resume. It really is up to you.

Original poster

GingerDoodle · 22/04/2014 11:57

Thanks both - do you generally eat with your mini's? We've always, in the main, ate meals together but its become quite stressful and I'm now preferring to eat once she's in bed but I don't want to make matters worse.

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RunningOutOfIdeas · 22/04/2014 12:04

DD2 (18 mths) goes through phases of this. We do usually eat together and it is a pain trying to eat with her on my lap. Each meal always starts with her on her own chair. Now it tends to be tiredness that makes her want to sit with me and be fed. I don't make a big deal of it and hope the phase does not last long.

wishingforwillpower · 22/04/2014 12:20

DS (22m) does this sometimes. It doesn't really bother me, as long as he eats his meal! The main thing is he is getting in to the habit of sitting down for dinner. Recently we have been asking him to choose where he wants to sit (booster, "big chair" or mummy's knee) and generally he will choose a big chair as he likes being able to sit where the adults sit. If he gets on my knee he will usually get off again after a while. I don't think it is a battle worth fighting as I don't want to risk turning mealtimes in to a stress rather than something he currently enjoys.

sausagesandplantsandgoldfish · 22/04/2014 12:28

Generally we don't eat with DS...we prefer to wait until he's tucked up in bed, so we can enjoy our meal together. Its not worth the stress I feel when I am unable to eat due to dealing with him. Its not worth it!!

But sometimes he likes to sit at the big table, on my lap, and eat. Then he might get down and run off. I will then put the food on the coffee table and he can come and eat if he wants. I have tried "forcing" him to sit in high chair / stay at the table but its not worth the agro. He will eat if he's hungry, is the way I see it.

When I'm not working, we have lunch together (although he hardly eats anything at all, most of the time) I usually end up giving him snacks during the day (bread sticks / cheese / ham / crisps etc) just in order to get some food in him.

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