Asking for Other Foods

How wonderful. It's not very often you see a kiddo willing and wanting to try other foods. This is awesome.

I don't get why you don't like it..If you squash this interest if other foods she may become a picky eater. She's exploring food.

As for not eating much then wanting food in a few minutes....she has you trained...lol. If it didn't work she wouldn't have kept doing it.

At this age she needs to be redirected. Go outside and play, go run errands, don't be where food is. She needs to be allowed to get hungry. If she's constantly grazing she's never going to eat when it's mealtime.

Telling her she can't have food makes her think you are mean, so try to stay away from those phrases. Say things like we're almost done with errands, when we get home we'll get some food. When we go home dinner will be in a few minutes..you are such a big girl for being patient! Try to say the positive and not No, you can't have food again, No, you can't eat that right now. Just saying a Yes, you CAN have food but it's going to be a few minutes is a better way of teaching her patience.

Taking food from someone else's plate is like anything else. You remove her hand, you tell her no, we keep our hands on our own plates, every time.
Having choices at meal time is a good thing, but that doesn't mean she should have free reign to ask for anything she wants, right? Well I mean she can ASK but it's up to you to set limits. I know some moms have no problem getting up and down ten times during a meal making sure junior is always getting exactly what he wants when he wants it but clearly setting up habits like that will backfire down the road.
So for example if she already has apples and grapes and then asks for banana I would just say no banana right now, we'll have banana next time.
If she cries, well she cries but she'll learn, as long as you are consistent.

Ha! Yes, They are so hilarious.

Just remind her to use her words and ask others politely for their food. And if they say no, she is not to cry or whine.

Have the family practice asking her for some of her food. She will begin to covet her own food and plate, especially if it is her favorite foods.

Of course do not let it get out of hand, but take advantage of her interest in "sharing" and "asking with manners. "

It will pass.

Stealing other peoples food. Not cool. LOL. I would probably take the stolen food out of her hands, say no and then offer her what is in her plate.

It's a phase.

When raising the six, I let them decide if they wanted to share their food. They all had the same things on their plates but did have preferences. Stealing wasn't permitted unless it was my sister stealing fries from her kids plates lol.

Fun times. So much to learn when you are so new to the world. God bless you.

Don't give her anything else. Honestly.
To me, that's the quickest way to ensure that she thinks she can have whatever she wants, and not what's on her plate.

I always fed off my plate at that age.
Our son wanted it if Mommy was eating it.
If he really liked it then I'd take a little off my plate and put it on his.
If it didn't touch my plate first - he didn't want it.
I guess baby monkeys learn what they can eat by eating what Mom eats.
I figure it's an instinct that's a hold over from way back then.

"Eat your apple, then if you're still hungry, you can have a banana."

"No, that's Daddy's food. You eat your food."

"Apple now, banana later..."

At that age? Just distract her by making eating into a game. "Oh no! Your banana is running away! Quick, eat your banana!" She'll be on to another phase in a few weeks or so.

I don't get how a 16 month old who should be sitting her in high chair for meals, is "stealing" someone else's food. Even if she's in a chair, the rule should be when your butt leaves the chair, you're done. So unless she's climbing on top of the table, she can't steal someone else's food.