Do your 2 year olds dish up their own dinner?

[Kayzr]

I suppose the title says it all really. DH read in a book about BLW that 2 year olds should dish up their own dinner so they only get what they need.

I know my 2yo DS1 would probably get most of it on the floor.

So does anyone let their 2yo dish up their own dinner?

Thanks.

I dont let my 6 year old serve her own, mainly cause the dishes are hot. I suppose if you put a selection of food in cool dishes first, for your ds to pick from, it might be a good skill for him to have?

I wouldn't let a 2 year old - largely because I think that it would be so difficult for them to do they would get frustrated and lose interest. I also think that they are likely to try stuff if it's on their plate - they may not if it's something unfamiliar in a serving dish.

Lmccrean - are your dishes "burny"hot or just "ouch" hot? If they are "ouch' hot he'll very quickly learn how to serve himself without touching the dish - mine did!

we only do it when we have a sunday roast and have the veg, meat, potaotes, etc in dishes to serve up by ourselves. DS (2.6 years) likes to dish something up from each of the dishes but rarely eats much of it - he just likes the novelty of spooning it onto his plate.

like last post, only for a few meals like roast dinner. IME they love doing it and it is a positive thing for trying out new things, but not that practical for all the time because of hot dishes and waste/portion size.

DS1 (2.9) does - but only recently. Not because we didn't let him before, just never thought about it. One day he just leaned over and picked up a spoon and started helping himself - he seemed very comfortable doing this so I think they must encourage it at his nursery.

Although we do have to monitor/stop him otherwise he would literally put everything on his plate!!

I've tried this and DS eats directly from the serving dishes directly, then puts them on his head.

But he's not 2 yet, maybe I'm expecting too much

Directly, I said. D'you hear?!

LOL at this thread !

I might try letting try to dish some up himself. But still expect most to be on the floor.

My 3yo does but she has no concept of volume/only getting what she needs. She just gets what she can manage which may be far too much or too little so she leaves some or gets some more when she is finished.

Are you kidding?!
What a faff around! I dish it all out in the kitchen then bring it thru to dining room no-one serves themselves chez monster!

No way! My 3 year old wouldn't have a clue I put food out for him and he then eats what he needs. Sometimes if he feels I have not given him enough before he's eaten any he says 'No, I want too much' so I don't think he's very trustworthy in this respect!

and also if they dish it out themselves my 6 YO would accidently on purpose make sure there was no room on his plate for broccoli

We let our 2.2 year old to help herself when we have old salady type dishes out or buffets. Hot food tends to be served directly on the plate. If she feels she hasn't been served enough she has been known to lean over with a spoon and swipe something off our plates

God no. My 2 year old hardly even eats her own dinner, never mind dishing it up. If I let her dish it up herself she wouldn't take anything apart from possibly a slice of meat.

not unless you count stealing from my/DH's plates...But like MoM, I dish up everyones food anyway and get your own leftovers for seconds.