Dinner Time - Toddler takes 1 hour to eat!

[doberbrat]

here's how I handle it - dinner was becoming a huge issue for me. taking an hour when she's supposed to be getting ready for bed. not eating, just playing and talking.

I started setting the timmer for a reasonable amt of time once she started to play w/her food. so once she starts playing around, I'll warn her a few times and if she doesnt eat, then I set the timer for 10 more minutes. if she starts eating consistently again, I turn the timer off. if not, then mealtime is over.

generally, she has to eat some of whats on her plate before she gets something else. if its something that she really wants like applesauce, I may require a few bites of something else. if she asks for something, she needs to finish it before moving on to something else. So tonight, she asked for 2nds of chicken. I gave her more. she took 2 bites and then wanted more rice. I declined. she could finish her chcken and potatoes first.

[lovemyryley]

I say just be glad she's eating. My 2 year old has some food issues as well as a speech development issue, that we've just started getting therapy for... The first thing they told me was "let him play with his food" it will make him more likely to try it. As for sitting there for an hour... let her. But if she sits there for an hour and its now time for bed then she looses her Special before bed time Story, TV, Playtime, etc. When you are done with your meal then get up and do what you have to do. I wouldnt even ask her if she is done. I'd say, Ok well we only have a little bit of time left to play so when you are done I'll be over here. Also, try only giving her VERY small amounts of food. If you are doing applesauce, beans, rice, and carrots. then give her 2 or 3 pieces of each fruit/veggie and a small amout of applesauce.... If she finishes her sauce then wants more but hasnt touched her veggies then I'd say something like "you need one bite of each other food before we can have more applesauce... Try playing a color game with her, and tell her that you need to eat one color of the rainbow every day to be healthy. Try to make it fun for her to want to eat the foods that she is resisting. It sounds to me like you are making abig deal out of it and she happens to be getting a kick out of the song and dance you are doing over her. Try just letting her do her own thing at dinner for a week just to see what happens.