Toddlers eating in front of the tv.

[GingerDoodle]

My DD is 22 months; whilst its been hot we've been eating in the front room (our dinning room is in the conservatory and its currently 35 degrees with the doors open).

DD has dinner around 4.30 / 5 so 1/2 of the week she eats dinner before us (not something I like but it works best for her).

DD rather likes this; especially if I let her watch Mr Tumble...so much so she demanded it yesterday and we had a temper tantrum when I said no...

Just wondering how many people let their toddlers eat in front of a tv regularly? I have no intention of letting it become an every day thing!

Mine did sometimes when they were younger, I don't think it hurts. It hasn't affected their table manners etc and their eyes haven't gone a funny shape lol
We also had lots of dinners around the table - we mainly eat this way. Do what works best for you

I usually let mine have their weekend lunches in front of the TV - but its all "picky bits", cheese cubes, raisins, breadsticks etc, so "proper" meals still happen at the table. (mine are 3 and 4). They tend not to eat a lot at lunchtime and I have more hope of getting it in them if they are watching Thomas or Ben and Holly or whatever.

I really don't like eating in front of the tv....but.....when they were toddlers I found they ate more if they did.

We always eat in front of the tv as we have a tiny kitchen and no dining room so don't have a choice.

It hasn't done any harm and my DCs always sit nicely and have good table manners when we do eat out.

But then I don't really limit screen time as I like to have the tv on during the day for background sounds.

Only breakfast and afternoon snack ever get eaten with tv on in our house, and even then they still sit up at the table. We find tv more distracting and less gets eaten.

I sometimes allow it depending on what theyre eating and how desperate I am for some peace and quiet.i wouldn't stress about it.

I really think it depends on your house layout and children. My DS 3 has always eaten up to his little table but does watch tv whilst doing so, my SIL is mortified by this saying they all eat with tv off and talk. My son will not touch anything on his plate without the tv on but will eat the lot whilst watching one episode of Ben and Holly so I know what suits us. Just do what you have to and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

I'm like crazykat, I like the TV on for company (not that I'm there that often). DD eats all her meals in front of the TV. We have a sort of vague plan for eating together at some distant point in the future, but it hasn't happened yet. My nephew always ate in front of the TV too. He's a perfectly well-adjusted little boy who's very polite with lovely manners when eating out.