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Original poster

calling all mothers of 4 year olds. Or ones that can remember.

27 replies

bouncy · 20/04/2004 16:35

How much mess does your child make at mealtime.

DS 4.75 usually ends up with it all over his hands and a little on the table. Is this normal for his age.

TIA

OP posts:
emmatmg · 20/04/2004 16:38

without serious supervision ds1, who will be 5 next week wuld still eat with his hands.

doesn't make a huge mess but enough.

kid · 20/04/2004 16:38

My DD is 5.3 and she still makes some mess, it depends on what she is eating. Finger foods are no problem but any beans or pasta and there is a fair bit of cleaning up to do afterwards.

Does your DS have school dinners? When my DD was at nursery she had to have school dinners (they didn't allow any children to have packed lunch) and she really improved.

Looks like it could be a while longer until he manages to get all of his food in his mouth. I wouldn't worry about it though!

busybee123 · 20/04/2004 16:40

my ds1 who is 4 and a half would eat with his hands given half the chance.....but he is pretty tidy for a 4 year old really....he even goes and gets his own cloth to mop up any spillage...sorry!!

hercules · 20/04/2004 16:44

Ds stlii eats with his hands now at 8 but then so do I and dh.

lars · 20/04/2004 16:47

My ds at that age was messy and still is now at 6yrs. My dd was never messy didn't like being messy. I dont know if this is a boy thing but my ds just loves being messy part of his character i'm afraid. So don't worry as ds gets older it will get better ( just a little with my ds I will add). larsxx

essbee · 20/04/2004 16:50

Message withdrawn

Codswallop · 20/04/2004 16:50

yes ds1 si the only kid at school who wears his whole dinner down his front

Beetroot · 20/04/2004 16:57

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binkie · 20/04/2004 16:59

Ds, just 5, is not super-messy but very very absent-minded - eats with fingers while still holding fork (in same hand), carefully wipes sticky fingers on anything that is not his napkin, could be trousers of person next to him.

Strangely he too seems to enjoy responsibility for wiping up though, will get cloth & do own face & hands plus little sister too.

sykes · 20/04/2004 16:59

Why under the table, Beety? That seems rather odd and slightly cruel.

Beetroot · 20/04/2004 17:01

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Codswallop · 20/04/2004 17:02

lol my sons only ever seem able to have ONE buttock on the chair at any time

sykes · 20/04/2004 17:02

But what is the carpet like?

SEXGODDESS · 20/04/2004 17:25

ds (7) eats and perfectly nicely and has done for many years now.

dd (11!!!!) still can't eat an icecream without smearing some of it across her face or on her new white Gap capri trousers!!!!!

hercules · 20/04/2004 17:27

Ds was always fussy about food on his face and so has had really good table manners since he was in a highchair.

expatkat · 20/04/2004 17:35

My ds is about 4.5. He's about where yr ds is in terms of mess, especially if it's something messy like pasta or ice cream.

kiwisbird · 20/04/2004 17:50

I recall my ds, the nursery and school teachers all remarking that they all could tell where he had been sitting... He still drops more than his baby sister, and spilling drinks (he is 10 btw) he is supreme, my mum often had a G+T, cup of tea, fa and ashtray by her side at her house years ago, ds used to trot into room and up end all three things!

roisin · 20/04/2004 19:06

My boys are 4 (almost 5) and 6.5, and are both really messy eaters. It doesn't actually bother me, which is probably why they don't make an effort to eat tidily. We enjoy mealtimes, and they generally eat pretty much anything that is put in front of them and are grateful. Maybe I should start tightening up now - two days into term and ds1 is on his 3rd clean sweatshirt tomorrow

mummysurfer · 20/04/2004 19:10

so glad to see this ... at tea time i was asking dd when was she going to manage eating without it going all over her face>
she still regularly drops things on her clothes and the chocoalate ice cream was all around her mouth. when will it stop - she's 8

bunny2 · 20/04/2004 19:11

Ds, 4 next month always eats with his hands, very messay. He has eczema on his hands and food really irritates but he still doesnt use his cutlery.

Marina · 20/04/2004 20:27

You forgot all round his chops as well, Bouncy. If yours is anything like mine it's knowing full well they can eat "properly" but can't be bothered that's the annoying thing!

Nutcracker · 20/04/2004 20:37

My dd is 4 and still makes one hell of a mess. We end up with bits and pieces everywhere.

smellymelly · 20/04/2004 20:45

Blimey.... My DS must be a rarity (spelling?), he actually eats very tidily, with cutlery! Although he is fussy, he is very clean, coz I hate mess. He even clears his plate/bowl away into the kitchen, and rubbish into the bin!!! He is 4.5.

DD is just 19 mths, and she feeds herself ( and has done since she was 15 mths) with a fork or spoon with not too much mess considering her age.

Lesley76 · 20/04/2004 20:54

Personally i think its due to temperament rather than age or eating skills. Some kids hate to be messy and so they learn to eat well and want to be toilet trained early as they hate feeling wet or dirty. Some just don't care or even positively like the mess....

Just my opinion...........we all like to think its because we are such good/bad parents but in fact most of the time the little b***s do what they like...........

Flip · 20/04/2004 20:57

Ds1 aged five usually ends up wearing some down his clothes, bits on the floor, tablecloth and of course all round his mouth and over his hands. He comes home from school looking like the joker off batman. I gave up even trying. I'll start again with ds2.

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