how to get 2 yo to sit at table

[poppy2133]

My 2 yo will only sit at the table for approx 2 mins. He's then up & away and there's no chance of him eating his food. I've tried ignoring it ( he just carries on playing ), taking the food away so he becomes aware of what " hunger " feels like ( still carries on playing ). He will eat it if I follow him around and spoon feed him but this is just teaching him " if I go & play mummy will come & feed me ". His weight has been static for several months as he can go days on almost nothing. He then has days where he can't get enough. He doesn't have a food problem - he has a " I want to play all day " problem. Any suggestions as t how to get him to stay at the table till his food is gone ?

Definitely don't follow him around and feed him. My 2 year old is crap at sitting at the table but she knows that if she gets down that is it - nothing else. At the moment, all I ask of her is to come to the table for the start of the meal and eat something (even if it is just a mouthful). All I can say is decide on a rule and stick to it - little bit at a time. Come to the table and eat a bit ... then let him go. As DD is getting older (she will be 3 in Feb) she is staying longer and longer at the table. At just 2 it was a shocker.

ah I've always been evil, its table or naughty step here, she rapidly decided table was better. (yes even at two, but then we have older ss in tow also)

The best I can think of is try and make meals as interesting as possible, tell him what food he's eating, involve him in the conversation, try and make sitting at the table fun.

I use a high chair at that age
If they object to a high chair then I use it for painting or playdoh (get them meal ready) then move the activity and put the food down in front of them.

If he gets down (or is acting so dangerously that you get hime down)I would put him in a travel cot/playpen for a few minutes before trying again

Do you eat with him?

how about a booster seat? My ds was still strapped into a booster seat at this age; it just seemed to be a psychological thing more than anything - he didn't feel as free as he would without a booster so it probably gave us a couple more minutes at the table!

I really wouldn't worry to be honest, this is SO normal for a two year old, specially an active boy. Certainly don't follow him around and feed him otherwise you are undermining your own actions in getting him to the table at all.

With my ds I always pointed out that if he left the table, he must be finished. Food is taken away and not returned. Kids eat what they want and need so don't feel bad about doing this. One thing that I found kept ds at the table was saying that if he had one more bit of so-and-so then he could have his pudding. This usually worked. And pudding can be really good filling stuff can't it, if your ds likes it.

As with so many things with 2 year olds it's about consistency and NOT undermining yourself, even if it worries you about how much he is eating. My ds has very very rarely sat at table till his food is GONE - he has some, not all.

Your ds sounds absolutely fine btw, it's VERY normal for them to exist on air for a while then to stuff themselves - I would chill out about this. Just make sure the rules are clear and consistent, and he WILL get there in the end. But adjust your expectations; I don't know ANY 2 yr old who would always sit at the table till their food is gone.

I agree with sunnysideup. Also, are you sitting and eating at the table with him? Learning by example is extremely effective. If you make sure that dinner is ready and served so that during the meal you (and your partner) are sitting eating dinner at the table with your ds, he will also learn from your example.
We eat dinner every night together as a family. My ds and dd have eaten with us since they started solids. I kept them strapped into a booster seat at 2 because it helps with the wiggling and ability to leave the table. We include them in the dinner conversation. They eat what we eat and are NEVER given an alternate choice. Being firm about what is expected at the dinner table really does pay off after awhile. My ds (5.5) and my dd (3.5) are very well mannered at the table and I now can take them just about anywhere (fance restaurants) without worrying. I expect them to finish what is on their plate, but I am also very careful not to put too much. Don't forget that little children go through growing spurts and corresponding eating spurts. I find that particularly with my ds, he will eat tons and tons for a few weeks or months, and then start growing, but then he might spend another few weeks eating far less. Definitely don't follow your ds around with food. He will never learn to sit at the table that way. Make a rule and stick to it and you will get there eventually.
Good luck.

I agree it is perfectly norma behaviour, at 2 they are very single minded and playing is what they have in mind.
I think give him a set rule like have "some" (however much you decide) dinner then you can go.
I also think it is a bit too much to ask a 2yo to wait for you to finish as they really do have short attention so let him go.
They are good at deciding themselves what they need and DD does the same survives on next to othing for a few days then eats like she is starved so do not worry about that.

And TOTALLY OT NewTermAtMaloryTowers boy that name brings back memories of the books saw them in a book club the other day and nearly bought them to read again lol.