22-Mo-old Refuses to Sit @ Table for Meals

They really aren't old enough to understand contextualization like that, i.e. at dinner you have to sit but not at breakfast or lunch.

The rule in my house (with my 22 month old) is that she sits properly in her booster, and if she doesn't, or starts to play with her food too much, there is no food. Harsh? Not at all. I've never taken her food away. I've given her warnings, even gotten up to 2, but I've never had to say 3.

They just have so much energy at this age, so it is hard to sit. I do think it's a battle worth fighting, however.

Personally, I'd let him go. He's pretty young to civilly eat dinner in the dining room. But don't chase him around with food and the food should stay ON the table. He'll get hungry and come around. make sure there are a few things on his plate that can be at & stay at room temperature.

Gosh, is he hungry? My guess is that if he was hungry, he would stay and eat as much as he needed until he was full and then try to split. With my kids, I took away their food when they left, and did not give them anything else until the next scheduled eating time. This only lasted a day or so. Mind you, when they are done eating, they are eager to be excused (unless we happen to have dessert, then they are eager for everyone else to finish!) We have rules about where you can eat in the house, so we always eat at the breakfast bar or the table (until the kids go to bed, when daddy sits on the sofa with the bag of chips!) I would just try to make sure that he is ready to eat when it is mealtime! Good luck

Stick to your guns...don't let him eat unless he's at the table. Eventually, he'll give in.

Good luck. I know they can be STUBBORN!

-M

After reading the other responses, this will probably sound like a broken record. This is the best time to teach children that meals are eaten at the table and no where else. We taught our kids that if they left the table their food would be taken away and they would not eat until the next meal--and if it was dinner, then that would not be until breakfast. If this isn't nipped in the bud now--it will just get worse. It will serve you and your child well for when you go out to eat or to a friends house too--I promise they won't starve. But by setting these rules now--it will make things so much easier later--kids crave boundaries and discipline. We are the parents and it is our job to "be in charge"--this makes them feel safe and secure. I know it will seem hard and mean at first, but I promise you will be so happy that you drew a line and stuck to it. And again--there is no way your child will starve--if you are firm he will get the point and comply--his tummy won't give him a choice--haha! Good luck!!

Hi L.,

I agree with Jessica. Kids understand very good very early...So make him undertand that he has to Obey Mommy and Daddy, cause this is the time to teach to our kids everything about respect. The problem is, if yoy let him do his own will, well be ready cause it would be his behavior forever!!..

Kids are like a sponge from babies - 3 year old!!!!during this years they get their character!

So dont be afraid, start to show him whos the boss with LOVE!!!He would def understand...dont forget to be persevering!

:)

Ana

I come form the hard nose type of upbringing and do the same with my children. When food is presented, he child is to eat with no toys at the table. If he doesn't eat, he goes hungry. Take him down from the table but don't let him go to play. Put him in his room. AND do not give him snacks or anything inbetween regular scheduled meals and snacks. I'm sure this has nothing to do with not being in the high chair, but rather "that age" where they become picky eaters. When he gets hungry, he'll eat.

Save his drink for last so he doesn't fill up on that instead. Serve his least favorite foods first on the plate, in courses. Once he hits 2, you can give him half a Flintstone Complete vitamin to supplement anything he misses until he gets over his picky stage, which could last quite some time. But again, don't feed him inbetween meals trying to fill him up from what he misses at meals. This will confuse him and will hinder him eating at meal times (breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner). Any doctor will tell you to do your best in offering him balanced meals and he'll eat when he's hungry.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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Put him back in the high chair until he has the attention level to sit at the table. My daughter is 19 months and she won't sit still that long either. We have to put her in the high chair home and out or she'll run off spilling food everywhere.

These parents demanding a toddler to use strict rules are ridiculous. Toddlers don't deal in absolutes and they need gray area to explore.

Can't you just strap him into a highchair so he can't get out? Also, make sure there are consequences for his disobedience. We always say, "Obedience brings HAPPINESS, but disobedience brings sadness."

Hi L., A lot of parents have had this issue, meal time and play time are sepreate activities, and in my opinion, and it;s just an opinion it's not really a good idea to bribe children to obey, they use that against you when they get older. My advice to you is to put him back in the high chair, when he learns to behave at the table them try him again in his booster seat, if he acts up back to the high chair, eventually he will get tired of it, and this will teach him that he is not in charge you are. I never believed children should be allowed to refuses to obey. You may have a few rough dinners, but family meals are very important. Your stamina L. has to be stronger than his, hang in there he will get it. You want to be able to go out to eat or to friends and family's home for dinner, you can't do that with a child that acts up at the table. You need to be firm. J.