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Another toddler eating question

kat.in.the.hatkat.in.the.hat
in Houston Babies

Marion is a pretty slow eater and I think a lot of times she gets kind of bored sitting at the table.  It's not unusual for her to tell us she's all done, but then when she gets done, she has a hunk of apple or a piece of cheese in her hand and wants to walk around and eat it.  When she does run around, we keep her in the kitchen so messes are easy to clean up than on the carpet.  It's just as if she is tired of sitting and needs to get the wiggles out.

Would you discourage this behavior and try to keep her at the table? 

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j+k+m+e | running with needles
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Re: Another toddler eating question

  • Suzi-G-Suzi-G- member

    Disclaimer:  I obviously don't have a toddler.

    But my inclination (from my own childhood and working in a preschool) is to not let them walk around w/ food.  I have no issue w/ eating in the living room or what not because we do that but the rule when I was growing up (and this came more from our Montessori school, not so much my mom) was that you could not walk around w/ food.  It had more to do w/ tripping and choking than anything I think.    

    When I worked in a preschool I had the "lunch bunch," meaning I was the poor teacher's aide assigned to watch over half a dozen toddlers while they ate lunch.  Surprise  If the natives were restless we'd sometimes take a break during lunch.  By that I mean, everyone would chew and swallow, get out of their chairs and we'd do Simon Says or sing head shoulders knees and toes or something else to get the wiggles out, then everyone would sit back down and resume eating.  It helped, especially on days when it was cold, snowy or rainy and they were wound up.  It's harder if she's in a high chair, but you might try something like that. 

    My big boy is bounding towards 4! Baby brother coming in October!
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    Hipster dog is not impressed.
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  • LisaK2bLisaK2b member
    imagekat.in.the.hat:

    Marion is a pretty slow eater and I think a lot of times she gets kind of bored sitting at the table.  It's not unusual for her to tell us she's all done, but then when she gets done, she has a hunk of apple or a piece of cheese in her hand and wants to walk around and eat it.  When she does run around, we keep her in the kitchen so messes are easy to clean up than on the carpet.  It's just as if she is tired of sitting and needs to get the wiggles out.

    Would you discourage this behavior and try to keep her at the table? 

    yes...I would discourage it and you'll be glad you did years from now. 

    Lisa. mommy to Emmy and Ally image
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  • mom2llmom2ll member
    Luca has a really hard time sitting and eating.  We do let him get up and walk away, but we don't let him take food (he sits on a stool, not in a high chair).  We leave his plate and allow him to come back.  Before I wash dishes, I give him a "last call" and put his bottom back on the stool for one last try.  99% of the time he comes back for more.  I think he just doesn't have the attention span to sit for an entire meal.
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  • kat.in.the.hatkat.in.the.hat

    imagebpaullo:
    Luca has a really hard time sitting and eating.  We do let him get up and walk away, but we don't let him take food (he sits on a stool, not in a high chair).  We leave his plate and allow him to come back.  Before I wash dishes, I give him a "last call" and put his bottom back on the stool for one last try.  99% of the time he comes back for more.  I think he just doesn't have the attention span to sit for an entire meal.

    this may be what we start doing then - that's good advice, thanks!

    image
    j+k+m+e | running with needles
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