Meal Time WWYD

[MomBoss]

I had this same child. He sat in a highchair though, not at the table with the rest of the kids. Whenever he would act crazy I would turn his highchair around to face the wall instead of the kids. He never ate but i didnt worry about it. The child wont starve, if shes hungry she will eat. I agree not to give a bottle before meals. The formula should be in a sippy cup IMO. I transition out of a bottle by a year.

[Unregistered]

I'm wondering if I would consider leaving the table as reward. I'm wondering how others on here would weigh in on that.

All my children are allowed to leave after they are done. Sometimes slower (like the last one left at the table) eaters are hurried along with a warning that the meal is almost over so they can get it in quick if they want to.

I just mean that I don’t want her to associate throwing food with getting to play.

[Mom2Two]

I just mean that I don’t want her to associate throwing food with getting to play.

I wouldn't think that she'd associate it that way. Think of it more as a signal that she's done and put her down. Play should be her "normal" rather than a treat. So when she's no longer eating, then she's done at the table and she goes back to normal.

[Unregistered]

I wouldn't think that she'd associate it that way. Think of it more as a signal that she's done and put her down. Play should be her "normal" rather than a treat. So when she's no longer eating, then she's done at the table and she goes back to normal.

Good way to think about it! Thanks.

[Blackcat31]

I just mean that I don’t want her to associate throwing food with getting to play.

Do you have rest or nap time immediately after lunch time?

If so, when she is done and ready to get down from the table have her go directly to rest/nap time verses going to play.

Being allowed to go play could be distracting to the other kids and possible lure them into wanting to be done before they really are just so they can go play too. kwim?

[Unregistered]

Do you have rest or nap time immediately after lunch time?

If so, when she is done and ready to get down from the table have her go directly to rest/nap time verses going to play.

Being allowed to go play could be distracting to the other kids and possible lure them into wanting to be done before they really are just so they can go play too. kwim?

It wasn’t directly after because she was on a two nap schedule. Second nap not until 1pm but as of today I’m trying her on a single nap starting at 12-12:30 so I’ll probably try this suggestion. She’s never really slept during first nap anyway. Thanks!

[laundrymom]

I would stop bottle until after lunch. And offer milk in a cup all other times. At 12 mo I'd stop bottle too.

[Lissa Kristine]

I know this was for slightly older kids (18 months on up), but when I worked at a daycare where students had a school lunch that included milk, I never served milk when I initially served the food.

Say lunch was chicken nuggets, brown rice, green beans, and milk. I would, first, serve the green beans and wait a few minutes. That way, if the kids were REALLY hungry, they'd take a few bites (otherwise, they would often fill up on the meat and grain). Afterwards, I'd serve the rest of the food (in reverse order of how the kids would eat them if they had them on their own).

I allowed water cups at the table from the start, but milk was not served until near the end of the meal. If I served it at the beginning, the kids often drank their milk and did not eat.

Maybe you can try something like that. No milk/bottles for any of the children until after 15-20 minutes of eating. At 11.5 months, DCG should be ok with drinking her bottle in the same way an older child would drink milk- sitting at the table.

I do agree that she's probably still full. Switching meal and bottle times would probably help. Another option would be to extend the gap between meals and bottle time in addition to switching. (ie: Lunch at 11, Bottle at 12- or keep Lunch at 11:30 and offer the bottle at 12:30). I would probably go with having a larger gap between meals and bottle. If she knows she's getting a bottle right after lunch, she may decide to keep refusing food and just hold out for her bottle, but if she doesn't have a bottle immediately after meals, she might give in.

[ColorfulSunburst]

I do not allow to infants to take food by their hands. If they are not able to feed themselves by using a spoon I or my teacher assistance feed them. They get (if they get) their bottles after eating solid food. I prefer to use a regular cup as early as possible. Usually it is 8-9 mo age.

[LysesKids]

I do not allow to infants to take food by their hands. If they are not able to feed themselves by using a spoon I or my teacher assistance feed them. They get (if they get) their bottles after eating solid food. I prefer to use a regular cup as early as possible. Usually it is 8-9 mo age.

Here in TN we have to allow infants to try and feed themselves part of each meal once they are on table food... that includes picking things up with their hands like small diced fruit or cooked vegetables.

[Blackcat31]

I do not allow to infants to take food by their hands. If they are not able to feed themselves by using a spoon I or my teacher assistance feed them. They get (if they get) their bottles after eating solid food. I prefer to use a regular cup as early as possible. Usually it is 8-9 mo age.

How do you teach them to use silverware?

I provide open cups (no lids) and silverware as soon as they begin sitting in the high chair but most my kiddos start with holding the utensil in one hand and eating with the other and then they begin to learn how to get the food onto the utensil; (some using their hands to place it there) and then with lots of practice, role modeling and assistance when needed they become fairly proficient with using utensils.

I am curious how you teach your littles if you don't allow them to take food with their hands?