Terrible Table Manners

[Squidgybumbum]

My 21 month old DS doesn't seem to like sitting down to eat meals at the table/high chair. Dinner gets flung everywhere and we end up chasing him round shoving food in his mouth which if it's not exactly what DS wants, ends up being spat out all over the floor. This is not condusive to eating out. He eats perfectly well at the table in nursery. My mother constantly berates. Any ideas welcomed!

All I could suggest is that he might be seeing the chasing around and all that attention as a big game. I would try not to let it turn into a game. If he throws food or doesn't want it, then just take it away without comment or fuss. Give him the attention for eating it nicely.

Could you give him a toddler sized table and chair for him to eat at? That might help.

He's still very young and it probably just seems like a game to him. It doesn't mean that you'll never be able to take him to a restaurant.

Hi Squidgy!
I am no expert - my ds is 19mo and have recently been on here to ask questions about mealtimes too Anyway what I reckon is definitely don't chase him around - he might think that is a great game. Offer him his dinner and when he decides to get down tell him it will go in the bin and then when he gets down chuck it in the bin. Meanwhile you all have a ball at the table ignoring his daft behaviour.
Also we now give ds a grown up plate and grown up fork as well as his smaller cutlery. He eats so much better at the table than he did in his highchair.
All the best! Will be watching this thread for handy tips for myself too - things rarely go well for long before you have to tweak

Oh yes - agree with Merry - lots of attention for eating nicely!

I would be tempted to serve his meal at then table, sit down yourself to have yours, and ignore the running off etc.

Eventually he will get hungry and come to eat at the table. If he doesn't then there is always the next snack / mealtime.

Definitely don't chase him around while trying to feed him! I think he is having great fun having you run around and having so much power!

You cannot expect good table manners from such a small person. They are not very civilised at this age
My advice is ignore him. Let him throw food at you and run around (dont run after him though). Be relaxed and show him that mealtimes are relaxed, fun and social. He will soon calm down.

Do you eat with him every evening? IME babies are not able to sit and eat dinner like adults, therefore the children eat at 5.30ish at the table and we eat later. Much more relaxed dinner for us!

Don't chase, don't feed. he won't starve and will almost certainly come to the table and eat if he is completely ifnored and other people are sitting at the table eating and having a nice time.

The thing people find really hard to remember is that it doen;t matter if children miss a meal or two!

Thanks everyone, sensible advice, I will try to be strong!

Goodness I thought this post was about a school-aged child...but 21 months?!

What Fairymum says.