Sitting still long enough to eat

[Now we're 3]

Hi

I am looking for some ideas on what we can do to get my almost 2 year old DS to sit still long enough to eat. I've probably built a bit of a rod for my own back as I just gave up and followed him round the room as he continued to play shovelling food into his mouth. He was quite happy to take it so isn't a case of him not being hungry. He's just being a typical toddler with much too much going on to sit still. He refuses to sit in either the high chair or at his little table and chair and will only sit down if he can sit on the high stool against the breakast bar! Then we have to ply him with toys (read cars cars cars) to keep him there and even then he will often only stay there for about 5 minutes.

He is in day care 4 days a week and the girls have said to me that he does push it with them regarding sitting down but they are really strict on him and he knows that he has to stay on his botty to be able to have his food. Obviously I'm much more of a pushover lol! Evenings are probably a bit harder than mornings.

Any ideas suggestions on what I can do gratefully received. I certainly don't want to turn it into a battle ground but think I need to make it a little bit better than what it is.

Thanks

[onthefly]

We have 'food stations' - at the bench (now he's bigger) at his desk and at the table. Soemtimes also on the couch (special treat). Now he's older we insist on him sitting to eat, but when he was younger he couldn't do it. So the food stayed put, but he was free to come adn go. And often stood up to eat (next to his 'station')
Standing still to eat might be your first step to getting him to sit. Maybe just try insisting that the food needs to stay in one spot (so don't follow him around with it). And if the brakfast bar works, then use it

[Cranky Kitten]

I'd second the suggestion of implementing the rule that either the table or the breakfast bar is where the food is laid out and is available. If he wants to eat, he sits down. If he gets up and leaves the table, he doesn't get to eat while he's off doing whatever. I'd also suggest having definite meal times and eating your own meal with him.

Don't make any fuss over it or even comment on it, just calmly continue with your meal. If he comes back and sits down, he can have some more. Make sure the areas he can wander off into are safe and ok for him to roam largely unsupervised while you continue to eating, keeping an ear out for any major dramas. Your attention is the biggest tool here, where if he sits and eats he gets to be with you, to talk to you and interact. If he doesn't, well, it's pretty boring. No one to talk to, no TV on or distractions. Eventually boredom, curiousity and hunger will lead him to come back to the table and sit down.

Good luck

[sloane]

similar to PP - we have had certain places where food is put & DS can help himself. most of the time (we've been slack in the last few weeks) dinner is at the table & we expect him to sit to eat at least a couple of mouthfuls. apparently dinner is no longer in vogue so a couple of mouthfuls is a good night these days

we try & eat with him where possible (dinner always) so that it's a social thing & he sees us doing the same thing.

my theory is small steps - and until i can really reason with him, i'm prepared for there to be a little bit of slack.

[Now we're 3]

Thanks will try the food stations ideas and see what happens. Will try to eat more together as well not easy in the evenings with timing of tea and getting home from work. Fingers crossed .............