https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:56:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-talking-interfere-with-eating-at-the-dinner-table#post-2669130 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 08:37:59 +0000 Cherrybee 2669130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E has never been very interested in eating. She has always been too distracted. We have to turn mealtimes into a game. Sometimes we race to see who finishes first. Other times we play the baby owl game in which I'm a mummy owl who swoops in and E tells me what tasty food I have brought (a field mouse, a vole, an elephant shrew) before eating a fork full. Some days, I take a bell into the dining room and ring it after each bite. It's very, very wearing - I dread mealtimes - but the alternative is E eating two mouthfuls, proclaiming she doesn't like it and yakking for the rest of the meal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-talking-interfere-with-eating-at-the-dinner-table#post-2669121 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 08:20:28 +0000 honeybear 2669121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>YES. He was never a very fast eater, but oh man, meals have become painfully long in the last year. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner all take forever. I love to talk with him, but we do that all day, and in any event, we need to move on (and wash the dishes!), you know? </p> <p>I don't have many good solutions other than to have something fairly exciting to do right after eating (getting together with friends is always a good motivator), but that's impossible to do three times a day. I sometimes read to him while he finishes, but that doesn't often speed things up--he'll just stop eating to listen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-talking-interfere-with-eating-at-the-dinner-table#post-2669093 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 01:52:24 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2669093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-talking-interfere-with-eating-at-the-dinner-table#post-2669030 Wed, 21 Dec 2016 21:00:14 +0000 Boogs 2669030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Every. Single. Meal. I seriously don't know what to do about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-talking-interfere-with-eating-at-the-dinner-table#post-2668853 Wed, 21 Dec 2016 15:46:31 +0000 Chuckles 2668853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish it was talking that made dinner take forever! :) My LO is 3.5 and is constantly getting up from the table to find some random thing he must have right then, play, sing a song, get us all new utensils, whatever. It drives me crazy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-talking-interfere-with-eating-at-the-dinner-table#post-2668852 Wed, 21 Dec 2016 15:45:23 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2668852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine won't stay sitting during dinner! It's sooo frustrating. He's constantly getting up, trying to play, half the time he doesn't eat or finish his dinner. Not so much talking, idk, he just doesn't eat very much and cannot sit still for anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-talking-interfere-with-eating-at-the-dinner-table#post-2668843 Wed, 21 Dec 2016 15:34:16 +0000 littlejoy 2668843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm also in the camp of encouraging it. Sometimes if I notice it's been a few minutes since she's taken a bite, one of us will ask if she wants to "cheers" forks. That always works ... or just a gentle reminder that she needs to eat too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-talking-interfere-with-eating-at-the-dinner-table#post-2668822 Wed, 21 Dec 2016 15:18:06 +0000 Greentea 2668822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I actually would encourage it. That's the best way to visit as a family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-talking-interfere-with-eating-at-the-dinner-table#post-2668778 Wed, 21 Dec 2016 14:35:54 +0000 shabang 2668778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How awesome! This is one of those experiences that will not last, so I hope you can find enjoyment in it. Time to sit and drink wine sounds like a win. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-talking-interfere-with-eating-at-the-dinner-table#post-2668772 Wed, 21 Dec 2016 14:25:00 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2668772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I fully admit without any shame that this is actually why we let her watch cartoons at the table (mine's 3.5). It stops the talking, she can focus on the cartoon and eating, and husband and I can have a conversation. Otherwise we'd pretty much never get through dinner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-talking-interfere-with-eating-at-the-dinner-table#post-2667987 Wed, 21 Dec 2016 14:15:00 +0000 mediagirl 2667987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dinner used to be a super quick affair and my kid used to eat really fast. I was pleased with how fast she ate. But now, now she talks. And wont' stop talking. And doesn't have time to eat between all of the talking. Last night I drank 3/4 bottle of wine during dinner because dinner took so long.... Haha. </p> <p>Does dinner take super long b/c your kids talk a lot? </p>