https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 04:48:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unending-dinners#post-874484 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 12:49:18 +0000 mrs. wagon 874484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: I love the idea of the list of rules. He responds really well to rules and charts. I'm definitely going to talk to Wagon Sr. about starting something like this (and using a timer). I think he's going to be excited about it! </p> <p>Thanks!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unending-dinners#post-874481 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 12:47:21 +0000 hilsy85 874481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: I totally get that fear about weight/food intake! But I think one or two nights without much dinner (I'm guessing that's all it would take?) would be ok, especially if he can make it up the next day at other meals. Or maybe he gets like one or two chances to get the plate back and really eat. I also love the idea of the timer! It does sound like it's becoming a power struggle, which is tough!!</p> <p>I don't know if this is too "old" for him, but what about coming up with a list of rules together with him of good table manners (eating nicely--what does that mean to you/him? Not holding food in your mouth, sitting at the table, chewing each bite, etc) and hanging it somewhere he can see it while he eats, so you can refer to it. Not sure if he's too young for that tho. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unending-dinners#post-874475 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 12:42:47 +0000 mrs. wagon 874475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: a timer is actually a great idea! I'm gonna have to look into something that's really visual for him. I also started putting less food on his plate and I *think* it's helping a little.</p> <p>@skibobrown: @hilsy85: it definitely turns into a back and forth, which is what I'm really trying to eliminate. Dinner isn't supposed to be an argument! I'm all for taking his plate away when dinner is over (you goof around too much, you don't have enough time to eat the food you want to eat) but he's small for his age and it's so hard to take away food when he's begging you to give it back when usually you are begging him to just eat SOMEthing!! But honestly I think we are at a crossroads where discipline might have to come before nutrition, at least for a little while so that he learns he can't just dilly-dally all night long because it's fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unending-dinners#post-874466 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 12:39:20 +0000 hilsy85 874466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: I have no experience with this, but it sounds like by you taking away his plate, and then giving it back when he says he's not done, it's turning into a back and forth, when really it should be more firm? Like, the consequence of goofing around while eating is that your plate is taken away when dinner is over. Otherwise it seems like there's no immediate consequence (although I see the bedtime/treat thing works sometimes!). But then again, maybe it's mean to take away his plate if he's really not done/still hungry...I don't know! I find all the eating stuff stressful already and LO is only 8 months old, lo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unending-dinners#post-874246 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 10:56:52 +0000 skibobrown 874246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daughter is a really slow steady eater, so yes, it often takes her up to an hour to finish a meal... and even then I sometimes think that she would eat more if I let her. It drives me nuts b/c we often don't have the time to take such long meals. I worry that I'm not feeding her enough at times b/c I eventually have to make a call that the mealtime is over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unending-dinners#post-874190 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 10:38:15 +0000 looch 874190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gosh, I have no experience, by my son is also a terrible eater at dinner. I don't know what to do with him, because there are some days he'll clean his plate and others where he will not eat a thing. </p> <p>The only things I can think of are timers, putting less food on the plate, cutting out snacks (maybe he's not hungry) and I'd cut out the treat (assuming it's food related?). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unending-dinners#post-874158 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 10:26:53 +0000 mrs. wagon 874158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: That's what I've been doing for the past couple of days. But if I take it away quickly he will actually panic and cry. "I'm not done!" Then it's another session of "well, you're not eating!" "yes I am!" takes another mouthful and doesn't chew... and so the vicious cycle continues.</p> <p>He does get afternoon snack at daycare, but I don't think the hunger is the issue, because if I try to cut the meal short by just taking it away he panics because he says he's still hungry. Even if he's not...! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unending-dinners#post-874138 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 10:21:21 +0000 ShootingStar 874138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What if you just take the food away when everyone's done? Maybe after a couple days of that he'll learn to eat more quickly? Also, does he gets snacks in the afternoon? That could affect his hunger. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unending-dinners#post-874113 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 10:13:07 +0000 mrs. wagon 874113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wagon Jr. is so goofy and often doesn't really want to eat dinner, so dinners can sometimes take up to an hour to two for him to actually eat more than just two or three bites...!! Even when it's his favorite dinner (pizza or mac and cheese). It drives me absolutely bananas because the entire meal we'll be begging him to eat quickly. If we threaten him with no dessert or straight to bed (bad, I know) he will panic and then stuff his entire mouth full of food. He used to gag, but at least he stopped that.. but instead, he will just hold the food in his mouth. Then we'll be begging him to chew and swallow his food. Then he'll chew it like gum without swallowing and food will start coming out the corners of his mouth...</p> <p>Anyone else deal with this?! It's been making our family dinnertime so miserable lately that I've pretty much given up. Wagon Sr. stresses so much about it too. He grew up in a house where if you didn't clean your plate by the end of dinner, you got beat! And he was one of two boys so they were usually fighting for the food anyway. </p> <p>Lately I've been very firmly repeating at the beginning of each meal that bedtime is soon, so if he wants to play before bedtime he has to finish quickly. He can eat as much as he wants, but he has to eat enough of every part of the meal if he wants a small treat. If he cleans his plate, he gets a big treat. It's been working a little better... he still stalls and goofs off, but I give him warnings when it nears 6:15. That usually gets him to do one last push and eat a good amount.</p> <p>I told Wagon Sr. no more fighting him at mealtime. So if he doesn't eat (or only eats a few bites), that's fine. Just no treats, and firm 6:30 bedtime. </p>