What are your mealtime rules?

[FebMum2Be]

Odhran has to sit for his dinner, now he is older I give him the option of sitting on the sofa (we don't have a table yet but will eat there when we get one) if he stays sitting he stays on sofa until finished with no toys, programmes, dummy etc but if he messes I put him in his high chair. Its important to me to have an established mealtime so he knows it's time to eat and he has to sit and concentrate on his food. My nephew eats a bite runs round the room and comes back for another bite, he never sits if we are out having a meal etc so I wanted to try to make sure Odhran wouldn't do this, although it may not work out how I hope lol

What is your routine/what are your rules?

 

[AugustMum]

Sometimes I let Paige run a bit wild at meal times but thats only if Im feeling lazy 9 times out of 10 though we both sit down together at the table and have our food. Doesnt matter if its breakfast, lunch or dinner, we will sit and eat together.

when she's a bit older Ill be following the same rules that I followed, like excusing yourself if you need to get something and noone leaves the table until everyone is finished. Phones are a massive no no at the table. I wont use mine or answer it at the table and so when Paige is older Ill expect her to do the same. Meal times were like a family get together in the evening for me growing up so I want the same thing in my house. Home cooked food with everyone sat down. Love it.

Takeaways though (which I think Paige has had fish and chips about 4 times) can be eaten on the sofa. Look at me going wild eating at the sofa lol.

 

[FebMum2Be]

I hate eating on the sofa lol maybe because I really want a table, but I do agree takeaways have to be eaten on the sofa, a table would feel wrong lol, I want to have the proper mealtime when he is older, how was school etc x

 

[Me, My Girls & I]

In the flat it was a bit of a free for all as there was no distinction between the living room and dining table, but now we've got a seperate area I've got my strict hat on and they have to sit properly! Although this morning I wasn't feeling well and they ended up on the sofa! As they get older it will be us all sat round the table to eat and when OHs back early enough we all eat together! The no phones rule will apply too' she says sat on her phone on the sofa whilst the kids eat at the table

 

[ZMD]

i know Tegan's still quiet young but we all eat at the table together, i even make her eat her snacks in her high chair now because if not she puts food all over our new sofa! x

 

[lanny]

Herbie sits with the other kids him in his high chair, he hates his chair tho as he hates to be still.
Now and again if I feed him sat on the sofa giving him bits a time he eats loads it's just so messy xxxx

 

[isobel84]

we dont have a table, its our next big thing to buy. noa only eats in his highchair at the moment n we eat sitting in the sofa (we got a table, its a no no no to hav e the plate on the lap)
when we get the table, it will be food at the table only, he will not be able to leave the table and play or muck about and then come back. he will eat til hes finished and if he leaves he leaves- no more food. But as long as we eat there will be no tv or anything on.
Im looking forward to mealtimes at the table!!

 

[FebMum2Be]

Me too x

 

[Lacey's Mummy]

Charley sits in his highchair and Lacey at the table. She's not allowed to leave the table until she's finished and if she won't try her food (when she's being fussy) then I send her to bed. We have a no eating in any room except kitchen rule in our house so there's no excuse for not eating at the table.
When OH's home he sits with his phone in his hand while eating which I don't like as I don't want the kids thinking they can play while eating their tea

 

[FebMum2Be]

Chaz have you done this the whole way through? Has it stuck? I'm hoping from me doing it with Odhrán from a young age it will pay off in the future, once we get the table the same rule will apply, sit until you are finished, although he will be in a booster seat until he is old enough to understand x

 

[Lacey's Mummy]

Laceys always ate her tea at the table and 9/10 she does stick to it. The only time she doesn't is if she doesn't like what I've cooked so refuses to eat it so I send her to bed. I'll be doing the same with charley too just ATM he's stuck in a highchair so has no choice but to stay put! Lol

 

[FebMum2Be]

Sounds good to me, hopefully it will work out, they say consistency is key don't they? Poor Charley lol before you know it he will be trodding along behind Lacey haha xx

 

[AugustMum]

I do kind of the same thing. If Paige doesn't eat whats in front of her then thats all she gets. She went through a phase of ignoring everything I put infront of her but soon learnt it was all she was getting so now eats everything.

 

[isobel84]

Jen I think routin, being strict n not giving options is the key, then they won't know the diference.
I can't remember even once growing up being allowed to eat in the lounge or infront of tv, and there was no questioning it. Still today at my mums or dads I wouldn't be alowed to eat anywhere but the table x

 

[setdse]

my lil man is still in a highchair and we do BLW so we stay with him but its a no phone zone and no tv. We sometimes put the radio on etc but only quietly! when hes older it will be a case of when he gets down from the table it means he doesnt want anymore! and it will go! Im a bit of a freak when it comes to sitting down when eating and drinking cos ive seen to many incidents when children are running around with food and drink in there mouths and choke etc! dont want my lil man to go through that so its table or no food!

 

[AnnaWiggles]

We don't have a table either so Noah's in his highchair. No toys, TV or anything. If it's something I know he likes and has eaten loads of times before and he rejects it, he doesn't get anything else. If it's something new and he rejects it I'll give him something else. Umm, that's about it! NO bloody throwing food on the floor!! Drives me mad. He still does it though

 

[FebMum2Be]

I think I recognise you from the sister site, hiya xx

 

[evie_smith]

We had a table - which has now converted into a side table in the corner next to the sofa! I loved it!! Danny thought it was too formal and didn't like it! Said it was too much all the time and when he had finished his tea would just get up and walk into the lounge without waiting then would moan if the kids did it. So I put it away for my own sanity and my husbands head! Lol

 

[titch]

oh god the throwing food on the floor drives me insane!! LO does it as his way of saying hes finished. Does my head in cos he knows the sign for 'finished' and did it for a few weeks and then went back to the throwing thing We eat at the table in the kitchen, we never have food in the living room, its never really occured to me cos our kitchens got a defines area for the table IYSWIM. LOs highchair is up against the table so its like hes sitting around it. At my parents his highchair tray goes back and he fits perfectly at the table so he sits there. We had loads of ppl round for sunday lunch at my mums and my cousins daughter was there, shes 20 months old, and my mum thought it would be cute to have them sitting at the window seat with the table pushed down (there werent enough chairs) but it was a nihgtmare. LO was trying to crawl onto the table the whole time and my cousins LO was just wondering around and refusing to eat. I said afterwards that LO eats strapped into a chair at the table, end of! It was all far too exciting for him!

 

[titch]

oh and I dont really bother myself how much he eats. If he says hes finished then hes finished. I jsut take the plate away to stop him throwing it around! He then sits there until its time to come down. Ive got a thing with kids and fussy eating, I dont want LO getting stressed about it. If he doesnt want to eat much then theres nothing worse than being force fed, i think thats why so many people have food phobias, from being forcefed as kids. I suppose Im lucky cos LOs favourite food is peas and fruit. Im not saying I let him eat whatever. I make a healthy meal, it goes on the plate in front of him, I offer to help him if hes struggling to use the spoon himself. if he says no then its no. he doesnt get an alternative or lots of attention or fuss. It drives me mad when people go "ooooh well done" everytime he eats something. Its just not a big deal! stop making it one!