thread: Dinnertime dramas

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    by the beach,NSW
    1,767

    Question Dinnertime dramas

    So dinnertime at our house is not going well at all. Last night DD would only eat her dinner on DH's lap. The night before my lap was fine. Over the weekend we were at my parents and she was so happy in her highchair there and ate far more than she ever does at home.

    We've given up on the tray which worked for a short while with the chair just pulled up to the table (tablecloth got a bit dirty, but I can deal with that), but now she won't even get in the chair at dinnertime (other meals not a problem). We've tried just belting her in, but she managed to scream the whole way through the meal which wasn't pleasant at all - however if I knew I only had to do it a couple of nights then I would be able to cope better!

    Any ideas on how to get her to sit in her chair and eat? I'm not concerned about the amount she is eating, I suppose it is more the habit of everyone sitting down at the table and eating dinner together.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    South-East, QLD
    597

    I will be interested in everyones response too cause DS has started this in the past week!!

  3. #3
    BellyBelly Member
    Add kawazuki on Facebook

    Dec 2008
    Paradise. QLD
    2,288

    my little one did this a few weeks ago.
    so if she wouldnt sit in her chair she didnt eat, was simple.
    we all sat in our chair ate our dinner, she screamed and carried on and tried to climb onto our laps.

    we told her you sit in your chair and eat your dinner if your hungry.

    she went without dinner for 1 night then the next night she started and we held our place and said no food unless your in your seat. once we finished she decided she was really hungry so she sat in her chair for a little bit and had a few mouthfulls.
    next night less tantrum but she sat in her chair and ate most of her dinner
    then break through on the 4th night, i just said dinner time you going to sit in your chair, a nod and she walked over to her chair and waited to get put in.

    so one night with no food
    one night with minimal food
    one night bit more
    then she sate her dinner and didnt complain.

    she still had her milk before bed, but didnt get dinner or desert if she wasnt in her chair


    its hard adn its heartbreaking saying no to her especially with food, but she got the hint.

    good luck

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    by the beach,NSW
    1,767

    Thanks kawazuki, I was thinking that's what we would need to do. Glad to know she got the idea fairly quickly.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    South-East, QLD
    597

    kawazuki - I did that last night with DS told him if he didn't eat what he was served then he didnt get anything else. He still had his bottle before bed tho. It is heartbreaking but like my mum says....Tough love goes a long way!! Lol. I do tough love to a degree but sometimes there are just lines I can not cross! Lol.

  6. #6
    BellyBelly Member
    Add kawazuki on Facebook

    Dec 2008
    Paradise. QLD
    2,288

    it was heart wrenching not giving her dinner

    but with persistance and continuity she learnt.

    we havent had majour delimas with dinner now, she will sit in her seat 99% of teh time and eats 90% of the time, sometimes she is just to tired to play the game tho.

    but we be strict no chair no dinner is our rules

    just like my 9yo wanted to play the i feel sick card to get out of dinner, so i gave him shower and sent him straight to bed, he didnt like that as he felt better once he didnt have to eat dinner. but ohwell you played your card now im following through lol..

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Add DANNIIM on Facebook

    Sep 2007
    Northern - WA
    1,786

    The main thing you have to remember is to follow through.....never do empty threats as such, they will learn real early to take advantage of them if mum or dad don't follow through!