Getting baby to eat!!

[KarenE]

Help! I need some advice as to how to get my 19month old to want to sit in his chair or booster seat and to want to self feed again. He has been throwing awful tantrums whenever i try to get him to sit in his chair and eat at the table with us. We`ve resorted to him sat on my lap whilst i feed him but he wont sit for more than a few minutes before he wants to be off doing his own thing. Is this a phase? Should i be strict and not offer food unless he sits in the chair? What can i do to make his meals fun?

Karen, my ds is a bit like this. I'm not at all strict really and let him wander off, come back, nibble a bit more, or leave his food on a small table so he can go and eat as he feels like it.

i would be strict. sit him in his chair and strap him in. If he refuses to eat then get him down and IGNORE him.

he'll soon learn that if he wants to eat then he sits at the table

Thanks Dinny. Im a soft touch so shall have a go at your approach and see how things work out. He went thru a phase of being such a good feeder and has now regressed somewhat. Its good to be able to read these differant approaches.Hes my first child so i often wander if im doing something wrong.Its so easy to get stressed by someone so small!

but surely then he'll just learn that it's ok to wander around and eat what he wants when he wants?

think it's best to not let it become a battle of wills. plenty of time for table manners, IMO though dh doesn't agree with my approach, I have to say!