Teatime battles - help

[wanderingwillows]

My 3yo is turning every teatime into a complete nightmare. We’ve recently let her ‘out’ of her highchair because frankly she is a bit old for it now and she also started to really resist it. But now we have issues:

1. getting her to sit still in a normal chair
2. not put her feet on the table
3. actually eat some food!! Rather than just faffing around

Whenever we’re firm with her over these things she just screams (literally). The screaming is driving me a bit insane. If she stops screaming, she’ll be off her chair or laying back etc. I tell her to sit up, she does, starts screaming again though. Round and round we go.
Any ideas of what to do? I say all the usual stuff like sit still and eat some food or there’ll be no games after tea, you’re going back in your high chair etc. eventually she is coaxed into doing what we need her to but not without a huge battle

We had a large sturdy wooden high chair and my son was in this until the Christmas after he joined school so we 4 and a bit. Tried him to eat at the table and it was a nightmare. My only suggestion is to get the chair back.

It sounds like mealtimes have become quite stressful! Maybe making her eating space feel a little more comfortable and enjoyable could help. I’ve come across some lovely dining and home furniture ideas from Dream Home Store that might be worth a look for inspiration. Sometimes a small change in the setup can make mealtimes feel a bit more inviting. Hope things get easier soon!

I think if she's not sitting properly maybe she's not comfortable, is she high enough? Are her feet dangling? Id make sure she's comfortable first then if she is ignore the screaming and put her food out and carry on. Are you eating with her? I just eat my own dinner and chat normally and my kids eventually copy and eat as much as the appetite allows. No consequences for 'bad behaviour' at the table because refusing food isn't necessarily bad per se, but once they get down and say they're finished I do remove their plate.

Is she in Pre-School @wanderingwillowsand if so, how does she behave at times when she has to sit there?