https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:11:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-break-the-tv-dinner-habit#post-2757537 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 11:59:34 +0000 lioneyes 2757537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks all. Starting Monday we will be able to have him eat at the counter again. I will probably read to him while he eats, I eat later with DH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-break-the-tv-dinner-habit#post-2757523 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 11:46:16 +0000 gingerbebe 2757523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 2.5 your kid can probably manage a regular dining chair just fine. He may need to get up on his knees depending on the height. DS1 sits in a chair with arms at the side so that kinda boxes him into the table so he can't just meander.</p> <p>I would just move your TV if that's possible. If its bolted to the wall, I guess you're just going to have to tell him the TV is broken or it went night night for a bit. But out of sight, out of mind is easier.</p> <p>You can ease the transition by coming up with enjoyable things to do at dinner that aren't TV. For example, we might listen to music DS1 likes and wiggle in our chairs and clap along or we sing songs during dinner. We might ask him leading questions about his day like "Did you see Teacher M today? Did you see your friend Blake today? Did you color today?" At first he just responds with "yeah" but then he will start telling us about how he saw another teach and another friend and how he used purple markers, etc. Sometimes if we're having a tough day, I will allow DS1 to have a small toy at dinner, like a figurine or something, but I generally try to keep toys that are loud or that he can be distracted by off the table. We make him say "all done" before he can go play and we remove the plate so he can't graze back and forth. If he's still hungry a few minutes later, he gets one more crack at dinner, but its at the table eating the food he left on his plate and only if I haven't done the dishes yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-break-the-tv-dinner-habit#post-2757443 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 09:45:28 +0000 JCCovi 2757443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think at 2.5 you should just go cold turkey. If you sit with him and engage in dinner conversation the transition shouldn't last more then a day or two.</p> <p>We had a morning screen time routine that was letting me sleep in for a few extra minutes. The kids would come ask me for screen time and I'd give them my phone to cuddle me in bed and watch something. We went cold turkey and go hardly any push back at all! </p> <p>Unfortunately, we had a couple good months and I've fallen off the wagon again. It's all about me being lazy and not wanting to make breakfast yet. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-break-the-tv-dinner-habit#post-2757427 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:54:16 +0000 snowjewelz 2757427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There was a period in DD1's life (no clue how we got into the habit) where she had the iPad with her meals. Super not proud of that, but one day I was just like no more! And surprisingly it wasn't bad! She is 2.5 also, I feel like yours would do fine with "normal" chairs. I'd just start prepping him early in the day that there will be no TV during meal time anymore, but instead we can listen to music. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-break-the-tv-dinner-habit#post-2757396 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:03:58 +0000 MrsADS 2757396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following - we don't have the TV on, but sometimes we let LO eat at his little kiddie table (he is 22 months old) instead of in the high chair/booster at the big table. The problem is at the little table, he will sit for like 10 seconds, then he's up, wandering around, he barely eats, etc. He eats a little better sitting with us and obviously that is the better way to do mealtimes. </p> <p>I just have been so exhausted from work and everything lately it is a battle I'm giving in to, but you're giving me inspiration to keep at it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-break-the-tv-dinner-habit#post-2757351 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 06:06:09 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2757351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We recently had to adjust (break) bad dinner routine (everyone in the living room, TV on, LO mostly at the kiddie table). We eased back into, a better meal time experience, but that had more to do with our slow realization it was *that* bad. LO is back in his high chair and we eat in the kitchen and the TV is off. Granted LO is 14 months old and could not put up much of a protest, but we didn't give him any choices. </p> <p>Even though all of you are eating on the couch it doesn't mean the TV has to be on. Do you have a kiddie table or coffee table that you all can eat your meal around? The kiddie chair isn't a bad idea until he gets back into sitting entirely for his meal. Another option would be to make meal times at home a picnic. Everyone sits on a blanket. For something sturdy and table like to use an alternative until you're back at the kitchen table would be a food tray <a href="https://www.target.com/p/breakfast-tray-with-notched-handle/-/A-10638306?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&#038;AFID=google_pla_df&#038;CPNG=PLA_Dining+Shopping&#038;adgroup=SC_Dining&#038;LID=700000001170770pgs&#038;network=g&#038;device=c&#038;location=9010848&#038;gclid=Cj0KEQjwkZfLBRCzg-69tJy84N8BEiQAffAwqn-NypAvXvKhPR6xUWSKaZZYa33UeYxvyaLrvwuuhRgaAtjr8P8HAQ&#038;gclsrc=aw.ds" rel="nofollow">https://www.target.com/p/breakfast-tray-with-notched-handle/-/A-10638306?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&#038;AFID=google_pla_df&#038;CPNG=PLA_Dining+Shopping&#038;adgroup=SC_Dining&#038;LID=700000001170770pgs&#038;network=g&#038;device=c&#038;location=9010848&#038;gclid=Cj0KEQjwkZfLBRCzg-69tJy84N8BEiQAffAwqn-NypAvXvKhPR6xUWSKaZZYa33UeYxvyaLrvwuuhRgaAtjr8P8HAQ&#038;gclsrc=aw.ds</a>. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-break-the-tv-dinner-habit#post-2757341 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 01:58:08 +0000 MrsBucky 2757341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly I'd accept that he is going to be pissed about the change for a while and rip off the bandaid. I'd implement a "we only eat st the table" rule, so if he wants to eat, he sits at the table. At 2.5, I'd get a booster seat with straps so he can't just hop in and out. If he says he is done, explain that there won't be any more snacks/ food till the next snack/ meal time. I think it will suck for two days, but if you stick to the plan, he will realize you mean it and get with the program. Anyhow, that's what I would do. We are traveling and out of routine too, and I can see bad habits starting, so I empathize that we will be doing something similar at August when we are back home. Congrats on the new house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-break-the-tv-dinner-habit#post-2757331 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 23:04:12 +0000 DesertDreams88 2757331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No idea about which chair, but hopefully the different setting will help him forget about the TV association. I also recommend the reading books at mealtime, if he hasn't forgotten about watching TV. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-break-the-tv-dinner-habit#post-2757318 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:40:37 +0000 jhd 2757318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you read books or listen to music together at the table? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-break-the-tv-dinner-habit#post-2757317 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:29:32 +0000 lioneyes 2757317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved 3 weeks ago into an unfinished, under construction house. As a result, DS (2.5) has been eating dinner on the couch every night in front of the TV (we have no usable kitchen, dining or living room yet, just finished bedrooms and the study which is functioning as our temporary living room.) </p> <p>At day camp, they tell me he won't sit at the table for lunch but prefers to graze while playing (and it's hard bc he's one of the youngest and it's all in one big room). The start of camp coincided with the move, when he started eating dinner on the couch. This past year at school, he would sit at the table for snack, so I do think getting back in the habit at home will help for camp/school next year.</p> <p>We are close to being able to use our downstairs, and I want tips on how to break this terrible habit. In our old condo, he either ate at his little table or in the clip-on high chair at the counter. My original plan before the move was to move him into a normal chair that's a little higher so he can reach the table (as his little table is in his playroom as we no longer have a large open plan dining/living)... or should we go back to the clip -on highchair, then transition once he's back in the no tv groove?</p> <p>Thanks! </p>