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Parenting

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Original poster

DS begging for food from adults plates?

44 replies

VickyandAlistair · 02/08/2011 18:43

Has anyone has this problem? DS is 10mo, and has a VERY healthy appetite, he loves his food and does seem to eat a lot for a baby his age, but its all good healthy stuff, I dont give him any junk. However, recently he has started 'begging' for food from adults plates when they are eating, me and DP cant eat a meal in peace! Sometimes I crack and feed him a bit of what I'm eating, but if you ignore him he makes loud 'mmmmmmmmmmm' noises and sometimes grabs at the person eating, its very offputting! Whats best to do? :)

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ShowOfHands · 02/08/2011 20:19

How lovely that he wants to share mealtimes with you. Enjoy it, he's the newest member of the family and wants to join in. If he's not hungry, he will throw it on the floor will just stop eating.

thisisyesterday · 02/08/2011 20:21

when are his milk feeds OP?

just wondering if you can gradually switch him to a later dinner so you can all eat together? like other people have said, it's great to teach them the social side of eating together as a family, as well as the plain old eating food to fill you up.
be easier for you too i imagine to only prepare one dinner?

you could give him some snacks and milk at around 4 maybe and then dinner at 6 with you?
or carry on as you are and just let him sit up with you and have a little bit of what you've got?

OR, another option would be to eat your meal after he is in bed if you don't want him having more?

barbiegrows · 02/08/2011 20:22

VickyandAlastair -

What's more important - exact mealtimes or a happy baby, learning to eat proper food with Mummy and Daddy.

Simples.

Don't forget that while you're cooking he will be soaking up those smells and that will be getting his appetite going.

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PirateDinosaur · 02/08/2011 20:24

Give him a snack/light meal at 4 to tide him over (you'll soon get the hang of what he eats at 6 and therefore how much you need to give him at 4) and let him eat what you are eating at 6. Getting used to eating "proper" food at a family mealtime is enormously beneficial for him for all sorts of reasons.

Lady1nTheRadiator · 02/08/2011 20:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JacksonPollocks · 02/08/2011 20:31

My 13 month old wants to try any food we have, and I let him as in the long run I want him to be used to the flavours of our cooking and sitting with us. I feed him earlier then sit him with us at mealtimes, talk to him and he picks at ours. In a few year you'll be grateful he's learnt to sit at a table with others rather than run around it! Ever since mine was tiny he's sat with us at mealtimes, even if it's just to nibble a placemat.

Personally I let him eat when he's hungry, whether he has a proper lunch or picks at it or has a massive supper (although I don't allow all day grazing!). I'm a great believer in learning to eat when you're hungry rather than eating a set amount at a set time. People may disagree but I see it as potentially setting a child on the road to weight problems, learning to force food down when not hungry and not listening to what their body tells them they need. Your body regulates well if left to it. Over a week/ month it all balances out and the odd mad few days of only eating strawberries and milk are forgotten. If he's showing he's hungry he probably needs food!

yellowsubmarine41 · 02/08/2011 20:31

That's just reminded me that my dd used to look intently at food that she fancied and go 'mmmmmmmm'. Very cute.

Panzee · 02/08/2011 20:35

My son giggles and sidles up to me when I'm eating something he fancies. I always give him some. I call it 'toddler tax'.

llmills · 02/08/2011 21:13

We feed them just before we eat - they still want to eat off our plates - its great for them to taste differernt foods and helps thier confidence. Please encourage it, and get used to adding a little more just for him!

I do try to discourage eating from other peoples plates though, just Mummy and Daddy.

exoticfruits · 02/08/2011 21:56

I can't see why he can't just eat the same food with you if you are eating while he is still up. Have a drink and biscuit earlier.

cjbartlett · 02/08/2011 22:00

Why don't you and your partner eat when he's in bed? Our kids go to bed at seven, we eat at 8pm

5inthebed · 02/08/2011 22:03

Let the poor child eat what you're having! He is 10 months old, he isn't begging.

QueenOfFeckingEverything · 02/08/2011 22:16

I'm surprised that you see this as a 'problem'!

Let him eat when/what you eat. He wants to join in, to be included in the family mealtime

DS is one next week and always wants the same as everyone else. That's normal - babies are innately social beings.

girliefriend · 02/08/2011 22:24

very odd that you think he is 'begging'

Either wait until he is in bed which Im guessing is about 7pm ish or let him eat with you. Its very unreasonable to expect that it is o.kay for you to eat your dinner in front of your little one and for him to what ...... ? Just sit and watch?!!! Very odd......

amyboo · 03/08/2011 11:41

DS (now 16 months) is a bit like this - he always wants what we're eating. Even if it's not one of his set mealtimes (he's in creche full time, so eats lunch quite early then has tea before bedtime), I let him have some of what we're eating, as long as he isn't just about to eat/has just eaten. The result is that he will literally eat anything! He even ate mussels the other day as me and DH were having them for lunch and he wanted some. He'll also happily eat thai food, curry, fish, etc etc. I try not to let him "beg" for food as such, but will usually give him some of what we're eating if it isn't at one of his mealtimes....

For what it's worth, DS is on the 95th centile for height and only the 50th for weight, so it certainly isn't making him overweight!

amyboo · 03/08/2011 11:42

Sorry, I should add that in the evenings, we always eat after he's gone to bed. He has his main meal at lunchtime before his nap, and then a light "tea" after creche at around 5.30pm.

StarlightMcKenzie · 03/08/2011 11:47

I'd feed your baby when he is hungry rather than to the clock tbh.

Quenelle · 03/08/2011 11:53

We work full time and have dinner around 6. DS has always eaten with us. Either keep him going until 6 with a snack or give him dinner at 4 and a little bit of supper with you at 6.

It's nice to spend the time together as a family, especially if you've been apart from him all day. And it's fantastic that he's so into his food. Encourage it all you can!

lindy100 · 03/08/2011 13:01

Right from the start I gave DD her breakfast and lunch at the same time as me, because I feel mealtimes should be a shared experience, and I always let her feed herself (loaded spoon at first, gave finger foods). She had plenty of snacks, so could last.

Her evening meal is at five-five thirty - at weekends we usually try to all eat together, during the week I occasionally eat with her if I'm starving, but otherwise wait till she is in bed to eat with DH, so she can't see and complain!

I like this sociability of this arrangement, the fact that I am eating my own food so never had to feed DD (not my thing, she could cope perfectly well on her own, and when she couldn't, I did step in. It didn't take long) and the fact that eating has become a social activity again in our house.

Mind you, she still wants to eat off my plate! On occasion we swap meals, if they are different - so I try to have the same thing as her.

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