I'm after some advice. For the past year or so (at least) we have been sitting down to eat dinner as a family at 5.30. The kids get hungry early, and this actually suits us as DH starts work early and so goes to bed at 8.30. Although 5.30 seems early, I thought it was a good idea because, as I said, the kids get hungry early.

However, even though neither of them are fussy eaters, we're finding dinner time quite painful. DD, in particular, has days when she doesn't eat much at all, even though they are both clammering for food from about 4-4.30 onwards, so I know they're hungry then. Late in the afternoon I only give them little snacks such as grapes or sultanas so they don't ruin their appetite, but this doesn't satisfy them. Then, come dinner time, noone seems overly hungry anymore.

So, what I'm wondering is whether I should just feed them their dinner earlier? DH and I won't eat earlier, but I thought if I give the kids their dinner at, say, 4.30, then we can do baths after that and then at 6ish they can sit back down at the table with us and have some more, or some yoghurt or fruit or something.

Do you think 4.30 is too early for dinner? I'm worried they will get hungry overnight, that's why I would still want them to have something else when we sit down at 6. WDYT?