How do you get your kids to sit down and eat

[Beabea]

When I can't sit with DD who is 2 she follows me around instead. I can't sit with her all the time as I normally eat later with DH and sometimes I am feeding DS.

Any tips

put the telly on.

Tell her she sits and eats or she goes hungry. TV + dinner = bad news imo.

if I'm not eating I usually sit down at the table with a cup of tea and talk to her

I used to feed dd2 at the table while dd1 was eating in the same way; I think it's good for people to sit down in a friendly way to eat, even if you're eating later

How old is DS? It's not clear why you can't sit with DD just because you're not eating with her. I'm sure that my boys would think it most unfair that I expected them to sit down while I was up and about.

Telly is on and I often put it outside on the promise it will go in the bin. She says ok. So it does by the time she goes to bed. She will eat if DH comes in and sit with her. Its just attention seeking. I have just given her a note pad and pen to do a drawing while she eats. She is playing with the pencil not drawing and not eating.

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I think you're storing up trouble personally. Putting it outside and what-have-you means she does get a reaction - a nice stressed reaction from you

she'll come up with more devious ways to get you stressed later, and meanwhile you'll have a kid that doesn't eat anything

sit down fgs

I often sit with her and I was sitting with her. But she got down because she wanted a wee and has refused to go back.

I'd ban the toys and the telly, and sit with her (with DS too if necessary). IME, quiet, calm, distraction-free mealtimes are easiest all round!

I definitely think that at 2yo you should sit down with her.

Make a cup of tea and sit down and chat to her as she eats her tea. You can feed DS at the table surely?

The social aspect of sharing a meal is very important I think.

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If she refuses to sit back down, then tea is over and there is nothing else until tomorrow morning

sorry, my telly comment was a bit flippant. I agree, it would help if you sit with her. threats do not work at this age ime. although bribery does.

All good points. I will try and get her to sit at the big table and not the small one. I was sitting on another small chair.

The toys are in here too and the telly is often on. Sometimes they are good distractions but obviously not always.

Well I turned off the tv and got us both fresh drinks and sat at the big table. She ate one bit of chicken said she had finished. I said if she wanted pudding she would have to eat some more. She said she wanted pudding but got down anyway.

DS is awake now so will have to sort him out. He is suffering with teething.

But I will try again tomorow.

Thanks

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