Two Bite Rule

[Country Kids]

Does anyone do the two bite rule for eating? I have one that will literally take one bite then be done after they have cried for how hungry they are.

Also, they wil ask over and over for milk then when they get it they literally take one sip and be done.

At lunch after they take one bite they are happy to go lay down and take a nap.

The thing though is its starting to rub off on the other kids. I had one finally eating healthy and now has tears running down their face because they only want to take one bite of something and not eat anymore.

Any ideas?

[Truly Scrumptious]

I have the two bite rule as well, but they can't leave the table until lunch is over. If they want to cry the whole time...doesn't bother me. Usually if they have to sit there they will eat the rest.

[cheerfuldom]

I dont make the kids eat or drink. But I also dont let them cry for food or make a fuss at the lunch table. I will send them to go play or they will go to the "cry corner" if they will not stop asking and asking for food (this is when I know they are not hungry and wouldnt eat even if I offered it to them). If they act crazy at the lunch table, they still sit in a chair, but away from the group. I have never had a kid last too long with these measures. I dont fight over two bites, but they cant be disruptive either.

[Country Kids]

What do you do when its the whole group saying they are done and want down?

I have one that is a great eater but the minute someone says they are done, so is this child, even if the first child is really done.

Also, I have a child that will repeat over and over and over they are done till they can get down. Thats all they will say-I'm done, I'm done,I'm done,etc. until you let them get down.

[Willow]

I dont make the kids eat or drink. But I also dont let them cry for food or make a fuss at the lunch table. I will send them to go play or they will go to the "cry corner" if they will not stop asking and asking for food (this is when I know they are not hungry and wouldnt eat even if I offered it to them). If they act crazy at the lunch table, they still sit in a chair, but away from the group. I have never had a kid last too long with these measures. I dont fight over two bites, but they cant be disruptive either.

Same here


I don't make a fuss about food or drink at all, everyone gets their portions per my food program requirements, if they don't eat or drink it tough, they can sit and wait for everyone else, we do that whether kids eat or not. Everyone hangs out until everyone is done.

They can have water between meals/snacks and that's it. If I have a new kiddo that bucks meals and tries to make it to yummy snack times alone I make sure to feed straight raw vegetables for awhile.

I don't care if my daycare kids are hungry by their own choice, and they know that. When parents see how effective making food a non-issue is they usually jump on board at home too. All of my daycare kids are great eaters as a result. The picky ones rarely resist more than a week

[cheerfuldom]

try setting a timer where everyone stays at the table even if they are done. For the repeater, I would scoot him/her away from the group but make them sit on their chair, facing away.....so they get no attention for the disruptive repeating.

[Country Kids]

try setting a timer where everyone stays at the table even if they are done. For the repeater, I would scoot him/her away from the group but make them sit on their chair, facing away.....so they get no attention for the disruptive repeating.

Oh, tried that. They just keep turning around in the chair so they can face the group. They just want down so they can go to naptime.

The milk thing is at lunch. I serve lunch and while I'm pouring milk they are asking for it over and over and then just take one sip.

[Willow]

What do you do when its the whole group saying they are done and want down?

I have one that is a great eater but the minute someone says they are done, so is this child, even if the first child is really done.

Also, I have a child that will repeat over and over and over they are done till they can get down. Thats all they will say-I'm done, I'm done,I'm done,etc. until you let them get down.

He's got you trained that when he bugs the heck out of you, you relent.

Don't relent

If he's three ask him to sit there quietly for three minutes. Set a kitchen timer if he needs help focusing on something. Challenge him to not say "I'm done" for those three minutes. Reward him when he does, start the timer over if he forgets. You can start in even smaller intervals to help him grasp the concept if that makes it easier.


Once everyone declares done we still sit and wait a good 5-10 minutes beyond that. Kids feel really full if they sit down and inhale their food. Knowing that doesn't equal right back to playtime has gotten all my kids to sloooooow doooooooown. Most relax during that time, their bellies adjust, and then they eat a bit more.

[cheerfuldom]

Oh, tried that. They just keep turning around in the chair so they can face the group. They just want down so they can go to naptime.

The milk thing is at lunch. I serve lunch and while I'm pouring milk they are asking for it over and over and then just take one sip.

put them in a booster with straps so they cant turn around....and scoot farther away. they have to be getting some sort of payoff for all this bad behavior so you have to take that part away from them and the whole thing will be over.

[Willow]

The milk thing is at lunch. I serve lunch and while I'm pouring milk they are asking for it over and over and then just take one sip.

Only offer to refill a sip at a time after you give them their required serving.

[Heidi]

What do you do when its the whole group saying they are done and want down?

I have one that is a great eater but the minute someone says they are done, so is this child, even if the first child is really done.

Also, I have a child that will repeat over and over and over they are done till they can get down. Thats all they will say-I'm done, I'm done,I'm done,etc. until you let them get down.

-put only small amounts on each plate so that there's less waste (literally 2 bites of each food). Have the rest available for refills when their plate is empty. Then, any left overs can be frozen for another meal.

-If a child is seriously grossed-out by something, don't push it. Encourage, but some things are gross to some people.

-If they keep wanting milk refills, limit it to food program standards, and only give small refills. I will sometimes make them wait on refills until they've eaten something.

-If someone doesn't want to eat, they can sit at the table and visit with their friends until at least (insert #) people are done. This can be said in a positive way...like an invitation, not a punishment. I also sit with the kids most days, and make either eat with them, or take a small plate and more or less pretend to eat with them...

-Disruptive people are excused...period....they can go sit on the couch until everyone else is done. You can bet the minute that happens I'll decide to read an extra story. All my kids LOVE stories...so missing out stinks!

[Country Kids]

I give the required milk serving-this is what the child will only take sip of and then be done.

I can't just serve two bites, we have minimum requirements to serve for our food program.

They aren't grosses out by anything they are just done and want down.

They don't want to visit they want down so they can go take a nap.

[Wigglesandgiggles]

I give the required milk serving-this is what the child will only take sip of and then be done.

I can't just serve two bites, we have minimum requirements to serve for our food program.

They aren't grosses out by anything they are just done and want down.

They don't want to visit they want down so they can go take a nap.

Have the required amount available, but gice two bites at a time?

[countrymom]

I have the two bite rule as well, but they can't leave the table until lunch is over. If they want to cry the whole time...doesn't bother me. Usually if they have to sit there they will eat the rest.

same here. My kids now will tell the others that "you don't know if your going to like it if you don't try it"

[countrymom]

but I bet you that they love to eat junk, I have an 18 month old like this. she eats nothing unless its junk. The dr told mom that she's just a picky eater, I'm sorry but she's not a picky eater she's a junk food eater.