My daughter, who is 3 1/2 years old, is an extremely slow eater. I know that taking one's time when eating is a good thing,but it is getting kind of ridiculous. The good news is that she is not slow because she is complaining, picking, or even playing, she is just really really slow. Its not that I want to rush her, but sometimes meals last up to 1 hour +!!! This is with no TV on or any distractions like conversations or toys at the table. Its just her and her plate!! Personally I just don't have the time in my day to sit and watch her eat an hour long breakfast, lunch, and dinner, especially since my 21 month old son eats two bites and is then off and running!!
I just wanted to see if anyone has dealt with this or has suggestions. I was thinking about setting a timer at 30 minutes, but I don't want to be mean or create any sort of "food issues". Even though I stay at home with my kids and work part time from home, I don't think its appropriate to be taking this much time to eat, even if I am not on a super tight schedule. What do you all think?? THANKS!!!
I remember those days! I used to be at the table so long I grew roots! Soooo frustrating! BUT, I'd hold off on the timer thing. Hopefully, she'll pick up the pace eventually.
Let her take her time. Try to do something else at the table while she's eating--pay bills, read a catalog, etc.
Setting a time limit is realistic, because as our pediatrician said, she won't have unlimited time to eat in preschool or kindergarten. Also, since it's best for the family to sit down to meals together, at least once a day, (per the experts) it takes too much time away from you being able to spend with the rest of the family to have to sit there 3+ hours a day.
I had to take my daughter's plate away almost full many times after 30 minutes, even though I would remind her it was time to take a bite, chew or swallow during that time. She did eventually get the idea and began to eat the things she liked best first, and when she started preschool at 3 she almost instantly learned to eat more quickly, teacher didn't have time to sit there, either!
Also, make sure if you give her snacks you give her one or two of the foods she would be offered at her meals, rather than a cookie, etc. That way she'll still get some the nutrients and food you want her to have.
i have the same problem with my son who is 4 yr old...
my middle son is like that - it is SO aggravating! i know it sounds minor and petty to people that don't have a child like that - but i like to serve a meal, eat with the family, and then clean up the kitchen and move on. it was the worst at about 3 and 4, he's 5.5 now and still eats slow, but not AS slow. what i did was we all ate, then when i had cleaned up everything in the kitchen and wiped everything down other than what he was eating and where he was sitting - i ended the meal. hope that helps and hope she speeds up eventually!
Sometimes it's a control issue. A 3.5 year old can't control a whole lot in his life but they can control what and how fast they eat. The 'love and logic' series has good ways to deal with this. But generally, if you take the focus off their eating (do other stuff while they eat and don't really pay attention to their eating) it will get better. My daughter would chew for hours, it seemed!
DS went through that phase too. We have always eaten meals together as a family. So we just told him that when mommy and daddy were done with coffee, dinner was done. Not punitive, no big deal, but done. It seemed to work well. At daycare, the kids have a set amount of time to eat. When lunch is over they clean up and go to nap. DS didn't always get to finish all his lunch. But he has kept growing so apparently he eats enough. It will get better.
She is 3.5 can you give her foods that require supervision first so you can sit with her while she eats that and then go into the next room, while you can keep an eye on her but are not with her doing what you need to do while she finishes? My son prefers to eat alone and when we leave him to eat he is done rather quickly.
Are you sitting with her while she eats, watching her? If this is the case it may be her way of taking your attention away from little brother and spending quality time with you. In this way, you may actually be tieing L. feelings and attention from M. to food. She'll start to associate eating with feelings of love. No good.
She is old enough to eat on her own. When an appropriate meal time is done, leave the table and clean up after everyone else so she is by herself. Keep an eye on her, of course, but go about your day. Ask her every so often if she is done. That way she gets to take her time and you get to keep on with your day too.
When I was a kid I was the slowest eater my mom ever saw, I would literally line the peas up on the fork prongs before eating them. She tried everything but finally it came down to her letting me eat, the entire family would be done the dishes washed and dinner cleaned up before I was done. The deal became if I wasnt done eating by the time she started the dishes I had to do my own. honestly sometimes I did my own. But I grew out of it and your daughter will too by the time I was in school I was eating like a normal kid.
I know exactly how you feel. My 4 1/2 year old son is this way. It takes him 1 hour to eat 3 tiny silver dollar sized pancakes!!! It takes him 1 1/2 hours to eat a small dinner. He eats, but very, very, very slowly.
Amazingly enough, he'll eat junk food: cookies, jelly fruit snacks, Popsicles within seconds!!! So I know he can do it, but he just chooses to take his time.
I worry about him when kinder starts in August. I hope he'll learn to eat faster otherwise he'll miss out on recess time or he won't eat at all so he can play w/ his friends.
Sorry, no advice to give you. But I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone!!
My daughter is not super picky, but she is super S-L-O-O-O-W like yours. It takes an hour to eat breakfast sometimes and she makes us late. It drives me crazy! I just wanted to let you know you're not alone.
I was a slow eater when I was young. Just like your daughter. Not because I didn't like the food or flavor. Simply used to chew on and on like a cow! :) Maybe the entire 'shove food inside mouth and masticate' held so much of my interest! LOL
And I just grew out of it gradually when I started school - couldn't make a laughing stock out of myself when all my friends finished their lunches within 10 minutes, and I was less than half way through! :)
Since I can empathize with her (sorry, not with you.. :)) ), I'd say please give her more time. She'll pick up her eating speed naturally as she grows up.. :)
