not swallowing food

[molk]

Just got very cross with my nearly 3 year old because she was eating her lunch really slowly but not swallowing her food. She is not poorly and doesn't have a sore throat. She kept putting more food in then gagging because her mouth was so full. I told her off, then she went on the naughty step but as this made no difference i took it away and put it in the bin and didn't give her anything else. I feel bad because i got cross, how would you have handled this?

The same. Don't feel bad. If she's asking for food between now and dinner time, I'd make the point about her lunch going in the bin and see if she knows why you got cross. Keep calm with her, explain her behaviour was different to how she normally eats her lunch and that she can have somethng to eat if she is going to eat it properly or how she did yesterday. I wouldn't not feed her as punishment for not eating her lunch IYSWIM, maybe sit at the table with her, give her a little snack to tide her over. You're not "giving in" as long as you explain your actions. Hope that helps

has she done it before?

nothing wrong with eating slowly ... actually better for digestion

i wouldn't put her on the naughty step for it

i would have taken the plate away and told her to leave the table if she wasn't hungry

It wasn't that she was eating slowly, she wasn't swallowing food between mouthfuls. Sorry that wasn't very clear.
Good advice about getting her to leave table before i got cross.

normally a good eater and usually finishes quickish.

in that case sounds like typical "lets push the boundaries" behaviour from a toddler

Yes i think so. i think i will just get her to leave the table if she messes about again because i do think i made a too big a deal about it. Thanks