Any advice for slow-eaters?

[chen tai]

Hi,


My DDs are 4 years old & 2 years old. they are super slow eaters too.
So i put them on a highchair (so they cant move around), no distractions like TVs & toys, and remind them that they cant get off unless they finish their meals.

whoever finish 1st can start to play their toys. So eventually both wl compete to finish their food faster.

undst all kids are different...so have to try different methods n see wch is the best way for them..

[Mamalicious Alicia]

Hi Mummies,


My first son does not like to eat, number 2 likes to eat. But of late, Number 2 follows what his brother is doing. So if my eldest son is running around and not eating, number 2 will do the same. Both of them are very active kids who cannot sit down for more than 10 mins on a stretch. So in order for them to sit down and eat their meals, they are either watching their favorite show or playing wii. Its a bad habit to cultivate. Sigh what to do. Since my objective is to make them eat as much as possible. Its a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Mamalicious Alicia

[carebear]

When my DS was little, he had no problem eating the food that he liked but will shun certain food. I was not pushy and let him the food of his choice so eating was never a problem for him.

With my DD, it was different. She ate small amounts each time but would get hungry in a short while. She was literally munching throught the day. So for her, it was finger food.

Both my kids don’t eat vegetables, but they eat lots of fruits and drink juices which are freshly squeezed.

My nephew is very different. He will chew and ruminate on his food for 1 hour and my MIL who takes care of him is always complaining.
When my kids are at her house, they also don’t like to eat her food cos she cooks all kinds of herbal stuff and fish, which are not appealing to kids.

However when my nephew comes to my house to eat, he is able to finish his meal relatively fast, albeit still small amount.
I also note that my MIL gives him snakcs and milo in between his meals. So of course when it comes to meal times, the poor child is not hungry.
Also during meal times, she gives him a large amount of food and expects him to finish it.

IMHO, we should analyze why kids eat slowly or eat small amount.

Is it because the food is not appealing to their taste?
Is it because they have been given snacks in between meals?
Are we pressurizing them by giving them a large amount of food on their plate which they find intimidaing?
Is it because they prefer to eat small but frequent meals?

[samuelarnold]

I would have him checked out to make sure nothing is wrong.

If he has any distractions while eating… such as tv … etc… turn that off…
Give him something he enjoys doing once he finishes eating such as playing outside etc… and only once he is done, that might encourage him to eat faster…
But do have him checked to make sure all is ok…

[meow69]

my ds is also a slow eater usually takes abt 45min to 1hr n don’t likes to eat vegg, but he can eat better in childcare centre n faster. I asked him why he can eat faster in centre, he told me he don’t want to be the last

[miao]

my 5 year old can take up to 1.5hours at dinner… he eats faster in child care than at home, perhaps pressure from friends and teachers… my yet to turn 2 years old was really fast at the beginning of the year, like 5 mins! But for the past one month or so, he started to eat much much slower and at times can’t even finished or just completely abundant his meal after few scoops.


I tried scolding the elder one, tried couching too but just won’t work… i didn’t try the reward system, because it means he will finish the meal faster not because he should (save time, food won’t turn cold) but because of the rewards that he wants after it.

But now I think I can try, at least to train him to get into the habit of eating faster then can spend more time doing other things together than to keep chasing him with the bowl after awhile.

[colors]

hi,


my girl’s (2 yrs old) always take abt 1 hr to eat her meal no matter what rewards was offer. and at time can’t even finish the amt given, and pretend to vomit in order to escape from meal. except for porridge.

if we start taking away her food because we do not want her take the cold foods, she cried.

angry…

[Angelight]

Colors, maybe you can try letting your DD feed herself. I tried that on my girl and she ate faster than when someone fed her.

[colors]

Angelight:

Colors, maybe you can try letting your DD feed herself. I tried that on my girl and she ate faster than when someone fed her.

try that also, sometime works, but most of the time fail. she only eat fast when there is fried chicken.. too heat to have everyday.

[Angelight]

Your girl is just like mine, loves fried chicken. :lol:


I know how frustrating when our child is a slow eater. Sometimes I really feel like tearing my hair when I see her take so long to chew and swallow her food. :frustrated:

But I believe, and hope and pray, that she will grow out of it when she enters primary school becos of peer pressure and limited recess time. So take heart, yours will too. :hugs:

colors:

Angelight:

Colors, maybe you can try letting your DD feed herself. I tried that on my girl and she ate faster than when someone fed her.

try that also, sometime works, but most of the time fail. she only eat fast when there is fried chicken.. too heat to have everyday.