How do you fit in family meals?

sidey1

DS is almost 6 months so I've just started thinking about how we'll work mealtime into our schedules. We wanted to try baby led weaning, however I'm not sure it's realistic since the whole point is to eat as a family and I can't logistically think about how we can make that work. DH gets out of work by 4:30 and picks up DS at daycare at 5, usually get's home by 5:30, I don't get home until 6:30 and that's on a good day with no commuting issues ect, we start DS bedtime routine around 7:15 the latest because he's usually getting cranky.  While we put DS to bed, one of us gets started on dinner and we typically eat around 8pm once DS is down for the night.

So the question is how to fit dinner together in there somewhere? I'm starting to think making dinners ahead that DH can pop in to heat up, might be the only way to manage this but then I'm concerned that DS will be too cranky anyway since it will be so close to bedtime. What does your family routine look like if you eat together?

jlaOK

I have more flexibility with cooking dinner because I WFH and get off at 4:30 or 5:00.  This means that we eat between 5:30 and 6:00 and eating together is no problem.

If your DH doesn't want to take the lead in preparing dinner (mine wouldn't be great at it).  I would do as you suggest and prep meals ahead of time for him to cook when he gets home that way you all can eat at 6:30.  I used to get home at 6:00 every night and that's what I did.  Instead of prepping and eat at 8, you could prep the next nights meals after DS goes to bed.  I would also add in some freezer and crock pot meals that way you wouldn't have to do this every night.

Also, since your DS won't be eating everything that you guys eat, you could prepare some food for him on Sunday and keep it in the fridge for the week.

traveltheworld

Hmm...if you get home at 6:30, I don't really know if it's feasible that you all eat together.  Young children need to eat early. DS (15 months) must have his dinner by 6:15 at the latest, even if we give him a big snack right when we pick him up from DC at 5.  Is there any possible way for you to go into work earlier and get home half an hour earlier?

FWIW, we get home at 5:45 - 6, and I aim to have dinner on the table within 20 minutes of us getting home.  I chop and wash all ingredients for the week on Sunday nights, and our week goes like this:

Monday - eat meal that was pre-cooked on Sunday;

Tuesday - make dinner from ingredients that have been prepared on Sunday;

Wednesday - crockpot;

Thursday - make dinner from ingredients that have been prepared on Sunday;

Friday - order (healthy) take-out.

 

mae0111

Honestly, we don't.  DH gets home at 5 most days, and I get home at 6 on a good day when I'm in the office.  DH gets dinner for DD1 and she eats while DH feeds DD2.  They're typically done when I get home.  Bedtime is 7-7:30 for both kids.

I WFH on Wed and Fri, so I try to prepare something that will allow us to eat as a family on those nights.  Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. 

litzo27

We have always eaten dinner together as a family around 6:45 -7:00. The bedtime for the boys at that age was around 8 and then moved to 8:30 and a bit later. So it worked out ok - half hour for dinner, then bath, book and nurse. And even though it was close to bedtime they generally enjoyed sitting with everyone and playing with food (we largely did BLW as well - so small pieces of whatever we were eating). We didn't really worry about them actually getting any food in their mouths (that's what breakfast and lunch is for But as they got older they got more excited about trying things. What helps with the timing is that I don't cooking much during the week - I usually cook once on the weekend enough for 3-4 dinners plus do one or two crock-pot meals during the week (or the opposite - something super fast like scrambled eggs). Also a take-out once every couple of weeks.

avh0630

I struggle every day to eat dinner as a family.  We pull it off probably 4 times a week, but didn't start until my son was probably 3.  It will get easier as your son gets older because he will most likely go to bed a little later.  Your best bet will probably be preparing in advance so your husband can heat it up or using a crockpot.

For what it's worth, I recommend trying to fit in a family dinner as much as possible because I have an extremely picky eater and I think it may be because he always ate on his own.  Good luck!

sdlaura

We don't.  My husband picks our daughter up from daycare at 4:30 and feeds her around 5, then I get home around 5:30.  The bedtime routine starts at 6:45 pm.  We could probably push dinner back to 5:30 pm, but the issue is who is going to prepare it.  DH is a great cook but not a good multi-tasker, so he doesn't want to try to prepare dinner while watching DD.  We really need to get better about making meals ahead but I just haven't been able to get motivated to do it regularly.

Like the PP, I'm telling myself we will make it a priority when our kids are a little older. 

emberlee3

Family mealtime is important to us.  I started it when DS was about 1.  We always eat with the kids, even if it's just 1 parent.  Our schedules vary, usually the one who picks up the kids is home by 5 or 5:30.  I plan our meals for the week so they are easy (extra easy if DH will be in charge, because he has no cooking skills whatsoever).  We eat dinner around 6:00, and we try to have the kids in bed by 7:30.  Sometimes it's closer to 8:00 for DS. 

Baby led weaning is awesome. I highly recommend it!  I did it with DD, although we didn't start until about 10 months because she had some GI issues and could not tolerate food until then.  She has done fabulously, and it's been amazing to watch her skills develop.  She is a pretty adventurous eater, much different from DS, but I think it's more of a personality difference than anything (nature rather than nurture).

rubber_chicken

I believe eating a family meal each day is very important.  But where is it written that it has to be dinner?

We eat breakfast together every morning.  10-15 minutes of shared oatmeal.  We talk about our plans for the day, strategize etc.

We've found that this has a couple advantages over dinner.  DD is usually tired, hungry and cranky when we get home in the evenings, and we have to rush around cooking, doing bath and bed routines, taking care of the dog etc.etc.  Also, toddlers are notorious for not really eating dinner.  DD downs her milk and usually throws most of her dinner on the floor.  All of this added up to a family meal which was not at all pleasant. 

Whereas mornings are much more manageable for us, DD is always happy to see her breakfast bowl, and it's a pleasant way to start the day. 

In the evenings, we serve DD leftovers as soon as we get home, and then eat our own dinner after she's in bed.  Bonus grownup time!

MammaBear81

We also prepare dinner ahead of time.  Dinner is at 6pm at our house, which is when I get home.  DH is working nights now so he's sleeping, but when he worked days we would eat as a family.  If at least one of you could eat with your LO I think that would be good too.

cecilyandgautam

DD has a later bedtime than yours and that's how we do it. I don't get home til 6:15, dinner is served sometime between 7-7:30pm and DD's bedtime is 8:30pm. I don't see how we would it if she went to bed an hour earlier. 

ccam

If I put something in the crockpot or make a super easy meal, we're able to eat together. But with DS's bedtime around 6:30, that doesn't always happen. Regardless, I always sit down with DS while he eats. I might have a snack or prep some stuff for dinner. He won't go to bed this early forever though so it won't always be like this!

sidey1

 Hmm, it looks like breakfast might be the better option for us. It does seem like it will be slightly easier to do dinner when DS gets a little older and is able to stay up a little later. He's very routine oriented right now, and when it's bedtime he definately let's us know.I had breakfast with my Dad every day until I was in my teens and I really enjoyed that time together even though it was quick, would love to give DS that experience as well.

APendola

We didn't really start having meals together until DD was closer to one year old.  It's hard to schedule the meal times when they are still sleeping so often.  As some other posters mentioned, you could always have a cup of tea or light snack while LO eats, so everyone is having something at the table together.

TheBorg7of9

I have a 20 month old.  We do not eat dinner together because I come home after he eats his dinner.  Dh gets home first and feeds him dinner around 6:30.  I get home at 7 and do play time, bath and bedtime.  Then we cook our own dinner and eat just my husband and I together around 8 or 9.  Personally, eating together as one big family is not a priority for me.  Playtime and bathtime and bedtime are more fun and better bonding anyway.  And I just don't see how we could have our dinner ready in time to eat before DS does to bed.

DTNZ4Ever

When DS was that age it was tricky for family meals since DS wanted to eat as soon as he got home. It became easier once DS was older and could wait while we cooked it helped. For awhile DS would eat our previous nights dinner and we just ate after he was in bed.

laurakaz13

We can't every night b/c DH works until 6:30 most nights.  DD and I will eat together and we eat as a family on weekends. 

We did BLW (although I had no clue it had an actual name until I came to the Bump) and had no problem doing it while not eating as a family all the time.  DD never ate pureed food, ever, but not for lack of trying. 

Anyway, I think meal time as a family is important so one of us will always eat with her.  Once she gets older and is able to stay up later, we will make sure to do family meals. 

nosoup4u

We didn't eat with DS1 when he was a baby, he would have dinner when DH got home (I was at home at the time). DS1 eventually started staying up late enough for dinner, it was sometime between 12-18 months. He could eat leftovers from the previous night's meal with your DH, and then you guys eat at your regular time.

dglvrk2

rubber_chicken said:

I believe eating a family meal each day is very important.  But where is it written that it has to be dinner?

We eat breakfast together every morning.  10-15 minutes of shared oatmeal.  We talk about our plans for the day, strategize etc.

We've found that this has a couple advantages over dinner.  DD is usually tired, hungry and cranky when we get home in the evenings, and we have to rush around cooking, doing bath and bed routines, taking care of the dog etc.etc.  Also, toddlers are notorious for not really eating dinner.  DD downs her milk and usually throws most of her dinner on the floor.  All of this added up to a family meal which was not at all pleasant. 

Whereas mornings are much more manageable for us, DD is always happy to see her breakfast bowl, and it's a pleasant way to start the day. 

In the evenings, we serve DD leftovers as soon as we get home, and then eat our own dinner after she's in bed.  Bonus grownup time!

We do this a lot. Some mornings are rather rushed, but we often take 10 minutes to eat breakfast together.  We always eat breakfast and usually lunch together on weekends.  DD (2 yrs old) and I get home around 5.  I give her leftovers or whatever we are having (fix it early or crock pot) for dinner around 6.  Sometimes I eat with her, but usually I sit and just have a few bites and a drink.  I do think modeling proper manners including sitting at the table are important at this age. DH gets home around 7.  He helps put DD to bed, works out and then we eat a smaller  dinner when he's ready. I get some "me" time while DH works out.  (I usually go to the gym with DD after work; there's a fantastic kids room at my gym.....)

Yes, we eat rather late. However, we find we eat smaller dinners this way (think salad and a small piece of meat/entree).  Also, working out and couple time as important to us as family time, so this works for us.  

On weekends we do have family dinners.  They're usually nice, but I find trying to get DD to eat any later than 6:30 usually leads to a meltdown because she's too tired....