3 year old - mealtime nightmares - does it get better?

[Branconche]

Hello

My 3 year old is a fantastic eater, eats the same food as us - however recently evening meals are total chaos. In theory we all sit at the table together, in reality he will have a couple of mouthfuls then will want to sit on the couch/watch tv.

We got into the habit of having the TV on while eating at the dinner table but I worried this was creating bad habits So stopped it, mealtimes are definitely harder as a result.

It is at the point now where myself and DP just hate the evening meal, after working long days we want to sit down and enjoy a hot meal but instead we are having to deal with a grumpy and frustrated toddler while our dinner gets cold.

Does anyone have any tips? Do we just give up and let him eat on the couch?! Is this going to get easier?!

Thanks

How long ago did you stop the TV at mealtimes? You might still be in the phase where he's testing if you really mean it, especially if he's a fairly determined personality or likes his routines. I wouldn't give in – I think you're right that it wasn't a great habit and eating round the table as a family would be better.

You could maybe tilt things a little bit in your favour, though, to help the transition. I'd serve his favourites a bit more often for a bit, and after long days, either serve things that are fairly easy for him to eat, or I'd be prepared to help him more than usual. My youngest is just a little younger, and when she's really tired, she wants me to feed her unless it's finger food, or she'll just not bother eating (and then wake up hungry).

My two also often watch a bit of TV whilst I'm cooking, so that might be a sort of halfway house – depends how you think he'll cope with turning it off to come to the table.

Thanks for your reply @skkyelark
Having the tv on while cooking if anything makes it worse as he's distressed when you turn it off. But my partner is on his own when cooking as I don't get home till a bit later and tv is the only way to keep DS occupied on his own/distracted from hunger!

Thanks for your support re. Keeping tv off, I definitely agree. It has been a couple of weeks but to be honest we have given in a couple of times, including last night, just so that we can enjoy our meal.

It's keeping him at the table that's the main struggle. He used to stay at the table if tv was on but now it's sometimes impossible to convince him to sit with us.
I think I'll persevere as you suggested.

I don't get the fuss about telly at tea time. Sometimes we eat together at the table. Sometimes my 3 year old is having his own dinner earlier than us for various reasons and he loves to sit at his own little table and eat his dinner while he watches something. He's not feeling well today and specifically requested his favourite pasta dinner at his little table while watching telly.

He's a smashing eater and doesn't watch an excessive amount of telly in general.

If you’ve decided to turn it off then you need to stick with it. It’ll be grim for a while and then get better.

We don’t have a TV in the kitchen but I do let the kids eat watching tv sometimes if it’s just them eating. If it’s a family meal we all sit at the table.

Can you play silly games at the table, the ‘let’s all think of words that begin with B’ or ‘Let me tell you a funny story about when you were a baby’ etc etc? Distract and more distraction. Serve their favourites. Offer a tasty pudding.