My child takes one hour to eat

[LockedDownn]

Hey all

Looking for some opinions - my child (8) takes around an hour to eat. It could be anything even sandwiches! It’s not normal is it x

What are they like at school?

They usually only get 30 minutes max!

I was like that, and sill eat slowly. I grew up in a family of fast eaters.
I'm slim, the others aren't.

@itsgettingwierd - at school she only gets through half a sandwich... if that!

DD went through this. Lasted years. 9 and a half now and she is just starting to eat at a sensible pace.

For DD it was just that she is easily distracted and just picked at what was on her plate rather than concentrating on enjoying the food.

Why do you think it takes your DC so long?

@KirstenBlest - I’m a fast eater and don’t expect her to be fast but an hour is just ridiculous don’t you think. Even half hour is okay but an hour is just painful x

It's actually much better to eat slowly, the way they make kids shovel food down in school is really unhealthy. However I do feel your pain, it is as boring as fuck sitting at the table with a slow eater.

Are they just eating slowly or messing about and not eating?

Tbh we usually aim to start dinner around 6pm, and aren’t finished until 6.45-7pm. That’s two adults and almost 1 year old.

@Spanglebangle - I think it’s because she doesn’t actually realise she is taking as long as she is. She can’t tell time yet so she has no idea she’s been sat there for the best part of an hour. That’s what I think but I could be wrong. Also she really isn’t interested in the food, just kind of day dreams and takes her time x

@Crockof ha ha you made me laugh but honestly it is painful to watch. I think it’s good she takes her time but sometimes we have places to go like school, the job could be done in half the time x

@Caspianberg - so do you think I’m expecting too much, is an hour okay x

I would implement a time frame start a little at a time - after 50 mins take meal away and knock five mins off each week until she can get down to half an hour - it’s generally faffing about that stalls them!

My best friend at school did this. She would have to eat half her sandwich at break and then the other half at lunch otherwise she didn’t have enough time to eat it. I wouldn’t worry too much (although I can see it’s annoying). She grew out of it and is a tall, healthy weight 33 year old now, who eats at a normal pace.

Shall I phone DM for her version? . I think when I started school I would take about an hour and a half to eat my lunch. There was me and one other kid like that.

I'd just put up with it. We're all different.

If I eat quickly I get indigestion.

I have one that's a slow eater. When we eat as a family at the table, he is always last to finish whilst the rest of us sit and wait, so as not to be rude and leave him alone.

Ignore the PP. Just leave more time for meals don't try and rush her. Makes for an unhealthy relationship with food and fast eating leads to overeating later in life.

How would you feel if you went to a restaurant and the waiter was constanly fiddling with his watch, telling you to hurry up then took the food away because you where too slow. I would find it very embarrassing and stressful etc

@Sandcastles24 I tried the timing thing around a year ago and as you’ve said it was stressful and just created this whole fuss around food so I wouldn’t do it again x

@KirstenBlest - that’s good to hear, I feel like such a nag and don’t want to be but I guess when everyone is finished and she’s still sitting there not bothered then maybe I shouldn’t be bothered either x

@intheenddoesitreallymatter - I tried this menthol and it was stressful, I ended up constantly clock watching and she just rushed. It was unhealthy for us both x

@LockedDownn - I’m not sure what’s ‘right’. But I don’t think it’s super excessive if you seem to be saying they are eating, but just slowly. It’s not like they are refusing to eat.

If it's happening at school too it's clearly just she isn't hungry or doesn't recognise feelings of hunger?

Is she eating enough? Is she healthy with normal energy?

I think the solution (if there needs to be one) would be if this is negatively affecting her life.

I get it's annoying you and would me too - but she may just not need to eat more?

Although I'm actually sitting here thinking taking an hour to eat a sandwich is some kind of skill

Has she always been like this? Was she slow to feed as a baby?

If you have a dining table in kitchen, can you just potter around tidying up after say 30 mins, so you feel productive but can still chat to her whilst she finishes. Maybe then make a routine of a drink for you after so you can join her back at the table with your tea ( or wine) if she’s still not finished.

@Tankflybosswalkjam - she’s always been very slow x

This has just reminded me I was on the “slow eaters” table at school. We went in early with the infants and stayed throughout the juniors sitting 😂

Sadly it’s not made me a mn certified size 4 waif in my advanced years but I am still a slow eater though v greedy too.

I have an 8 year old and he is the same - though not with 'favourite' food. I just accept it but we don't sit with him for the whole meal, after about 20 mins or so depending on the meal we start moving around - one of us still in the kitchen doing chores but not sat at the table with him.

I wouldn't consider taking the food away after a set time because he has a small appetite and wouldn't be upset to lose half his meal - but he will eat the whole thing without a fuss in time and he needs the calories (verging on under-weight, consultant is happy to leave him be as long as he stays on his centile). He seems to manage fine at school, but I suspect small portions/more favourite foods plus he doesn't finish it all.