Is this a phase or something to correct?

Re: Is this a phase or something to correct?

• JWSchwarz member

  May 2013

  It kind of sounds like you're allowing it or encouraging it. You just have to set boundaries and tell her it's your food. It might take a gentle transition - I wouldn't propose getting mad about it since it hasn't been off limits before. DS was always trying to take my fork so he'd end up with mine and I would end up with his, but after about a week of thinking it was cute I decided I wanted to be able to eat dinner with an adult fork and not a mini toddler fork! He stopped asking for it after a week or two.

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• ktpaladino member

  May 2013

  JWSchwarz:

  It kind of sounds like you're allowing it or encouraging it. You just have to set boundaries and tell her it's your food. It might take a gentle transition - I wouldn't propose getting mad about it since it hasn't been off limits before. DS was always trying to take my fork so he'd end up with mine and I would end up with his, but after about a week of thinking it was cute I decided I wanted to be able to eat dinner with an adult fork and not a mini toddler fork! He stopped asking for it after a week or two.

  LOL

  

   

   

  

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• cecilyandgautam member

  May 2013

  I'm going to be the minority voice here, but I think it's no big deal and if you don't mind, then don't worry about it. DD likes to eat off my plate, or share my plate, and it works for us. She gets her own bowl of food, which she also eats but I don't care if she supplements her meal with some of mine. Sharing food, picking food off each others' plates is just normal family behavior, in my opinion. And they're at an age when our stuff if more interesting to them - even my water is more appealing than hers! As long as I'm getting my fair share of the food, I don't mind. 

  

  
  

  
  

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• boogerbearoriginal member

  May 2013

  WhitWed:

  DD is 21mo. She is a great eater, loves fruits and veggies, and sits at the table without a high chair or booster.  Our issue is that she eats off of all other plates before she will touch the food on her own.  Even though they are the exact same things on both DH and my plates she still wants what we have first.  At first I thought this was a good thing because it was teaching her to share. She'll take some for herself, feed us, and feed her baby doll.  But it's been going on a couple months now and I'm not sure if we're teaching a bad habit. Sometimes DH and I will just eat later when she goes to bed and sit with her while she eats, but I prefer eating together as a family. She does not do this at daycare just at home. Is this just a phase or should the behavior be corrected?  If it needs to be corrected, does anyone have suggestions?  I appreciate it!

  It is likely just a phase, but she is continuing to do it because you're allowing her so she thinks it's acceptable. Whether you change it depends on if it bothers you. Likely she eventually stop on her own, I mean, I can't imagine at 14yr old doing this lol. But if you want to have her eat off her own plate you'll have to set boundaries like PPs suggested. She likely won't be too happy initially but if you are consistent she'll get the message quickly. 

  Kids learn what behavior is acceptable and with whom very quickly. And if you let them do x, they will.
  

  
  
  

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