"Smacking"/chewing with mouth open -- how to deal?

mamarazzi

My biggest pet peeve is people eating loudly.  Of COURSE my own son would be the noisiest eater evah.

I try to ask him to chew with his lips together and show him what I mean, but in true 2/3 year old fashion, he just gets LOUDER to intentionally annoy me (I know he's doing it on purpose because he'll make a lot of noise and then look over at me and smirk).

I probably seem a bit overbearing about this, but polite table manners are really important to me and I feel like if he's old enough to be blatantly defiant in that area, he's old enough to try and eat more politely.

How do you handle table manners at your house?

JOEBunny

Just wanted to say I am sorry.  I grew up with a brother like that.  18 years of smacking his cereal every morning.  He found someone who loves him and is willing to put up with it, but is skeeves me.  Don't know how you stop it.  I complained everyday for 18 years and it got me no where.

MommyofAlissa

Set up a small table away from the rest of the family. If he smacks his lips, he can sit by himself. When he is ready to eat properly, he can join the rest of the family. Have very animated conversation and make sure he feels left out of the "fun."

ILoveBoys

My oldest does this from time to time. When he  very first started, we would ask him to put his lips together while he chewed. The few times it seemed like he did it on purpose after we asked, we would ask him to get down from the table and go sit on the bottom step until he could decide to eat with his lips together/mouth closed. He'd sit for a minute, then come back and eat (mostly) with his mouth closed.

Note: this is STILL a work in progress. But that at least got him to stop smacking on purpose, and he's actually getting much better at it. And we didn't actually start working on this until a few months ago. *shrugs* I figured it was normal for small kids to chew with their mouths open due to lack of muscle control.

Katesmama

This may not be age appropriate yet but it's funny so I'll share.  Maybe you can remember it for later.
My MIL would send my H to the bathroom for poor table manners.  Smacking, chewing loudly, burping, slurping anything like that.  She would say "Those types of noises are only allowed in the bathroom.  Take your plate and eat in there". 
Hysterical.  But I have to say my H has great table manners. 

I don't have any good suggestions but I too appreciate good table manners.  I'm lucky K does a good job so far.  Good luck