12 month's olds table manners

[Cookiemg]

My son and myself were visiting a friends house today and I was dismayed by my child's behaviour around food. A plate of biscuits and cakes was put out for the children and while the other two chose one item and nibbled on them until they were finished my wee boy took one item, then another and another and put them into his mouth and treated them as though the cakes were toys.

I left embarassed and incredulous that the other could eat in such a clean manner and I wonder where I am going wrong.

I have recently found that meal times have become stressful. I find the time that it takes to feed puree and some finger food, and now integrate self feeding takes an hour and I have no idea what to do during that hours as I talk to my boy all day long and have run out of things to say. Occasionally I have resorted to putting on the dreaded TV which I must stop but I use it to stop him and me becoming bored.

I guess after all that I am wondering if there is a connection between the two scenarios?

Thank you for your help.

seriously?
12 months and you expect table manners.
Should be glad that he isnt tipping it over his or your head!
Normal normal normal NORMAL behaviour tbh.

also its not necissary to talk constantly to him, i used to read books to mine (wipable books) to distract him while he played with finger food.

Were the other children the same age as your child? If they were then call social services as they are not being raised right.

Stick some food in front of him and let him get on with it.

TV is good for a child's education. My mum says so and I am very clever so it must be true.

you do seem to be putting a lot of pressure on yourself and him, cookie, do you normally have difficulty relaxing?

Please don't be embarrassed about your little boy! He's absolutely normal. No 12 mth old would behave any different - how on earth would a baby of this age know to finish one thing first???

Meal times of an hour are rather long - no need to make them so complicated!

Oh, and you don't need to talk to him all day

Let him get on with the eating, put some washing on, read to him from the nespaper (sounds weird but DS liked it), get supper ready, you don't have to sit next to him for the whole hour.

Agree you should relax. You are not 'going wrong' - now is a good time to start accepting your child for the person they are individually, and not get drawn into comparisons. It really doesn't matter what other kids do; your 12 month old is only actually capable of doing what comes naturally so you worrying about it will acheive nothing other than stressing you out.

I agree as well that you should lighten the meal time mood - he doesn't need you giving him your full attention while he's spending his lunch-hour in the high chair (bless him) Use the time to clean the kitchen, put the washing on, make the supper ready for later on....whatever needs doing.