Slow Eater - Hermiston,OR

My daughter is the same,and I have to say I don't have a problem with it. Other then mealtimes she is very "busy body" and won't stop and needs my attention a lot. So when we sit down for meal it gives me the chance to relax, drink my tea or coffee, eat, read magazine or just chit chat with my little girl. I love this time of the day ! try to be positive !

My son is a slow eater and I look at it as a good thing. Slow eaters chew and digest the food better. They don't tent to eat more than they need which is a problem with the fast eaters. A slow eating child can give you the advantage to spend more time on the table as a FAMILY and we all know the benefits of that. In our family we sit for dinner at 6 and get up 7-7.30 and no body takes it as a bad thing. We do talk. We use the dinner time to talk about how our day went and the plans for the next day. There is no TV or other distractions, it is just us. Along with the food we do share love and care and I do look at dinner time as a well spent hour. For the other meals I just let him have the time he needs. With a little effort you can turn it into advantage. The only problem (and I don't really think that is a problem) is at Preschool, he would miss the most of the music time because it is right after the snack time. I just asked the teacher to take his plate away and put it in his cube, so he can finished his snack later and so far it works. Before I use to rush him through breakfast, lunch and dinner and yes, I know how you feel. Now I sit down with him at lunch and we all do eat dinner together. And you know what? I do get a good healthy lunch too and the best part of it... I have one on one time with the love of my life. We talk, we learn, we joke, we laugh, we have fun together while we are eating. My advice is to slow down and enjoy all the benefits of your slow eater. It is your choice to take it or not. Good luck!

If it were me, I'd start lunch sooner. Plan on it taking an hour plus, and then let him enjoy himself. If he's sticking with the eating ( not getting up and running around), just give him time. When I was a teacher of 20-30 month old children, we allowed an hour for lunch for the kids, and usually needed the time.

Being a person who now takes care of two five year olds in the afternoons, I have the fun of seeing two very different types of eaters. One can finish a snack in twenty minutes-- the other can make it take twice as long. This second one is having a great time lingering over their food, chatting and I can see that this is a relaxing time for them.

Of course, there are times when things have to get moving. That's the day to prepare a lunch that can easily be packed up to go. At that point, I just let the kids know that they can eat until the timer goes off, then we'll pack up the rest of it and take it with us. This usually works fine.

In short--kids are often rushed through the day, on our schedule. As long as they are sitting at the table, let them take their time whenever possible. Europeans linger over meals...why can't we? :)

A couple of things. One, you could seat him sooner so it doesn't bother you how long he takes, or two, you could decide which part of the meal he can take away from the table and continue to snack on while he plays, or three, you could opt for more meals, but smaller ones. For example, when he wakes, give him a cup of dry cereal to eat while he plays, then an hour or two later, feed him a sit down breakfast. Around 11, feed him a small lunch, then at 2, another small lunch. Snack at 3:30, small dinner at 5, and another at 6:30. You could also try serving him his lease favorite parts first when he is hungry, and his favorite foods, when he is slowing down.

Keep in mind that slow eating is an excellent healthy habit for him to learn... as is many small meals.

Hi A.~

I have to say it's not a bad problem to have though I understand your frustration. We have a molasses kid ourselves (even ice cream takes an inordinate amount of time to finish!). We impose time restrictions and if he's not done by the end (I mean sometimes we just have to get things done and can't sit all night waiting for him to finish) then that's it. Kids usually have some kind of a concept of time (ours is three as well - timers work really well). If you don't have anywhere to go or aren't sitting at a resturaunt with other squirmy kids then let him go at his pace. Otherwise let him know how long he has, set the timer, and when it's out it's out. He won't starve and may be apt to finish in a more timely manner the next meal. BTW ours is not only slow at eating but at walking with us, getting into the car, saying goodbye...pretty much EVERYTHING! So I do feel your frustration!

Oh, A. - how sweet --- ( I know it seems a problem- but may this be the worst one you'll have for a LONG time) -- depending on where other areas of your house are--- what would happen if you sat with him for a stated time ( 40 minutes?) - and then began puttering in surrounding areas - he likely is stalling as this gives him 1-1 time with you- which no child ever born had enough of--- to their eyes--.
Blessings,
J.

H A., I have a great niece who does the same, she is now three as of February 3rd, she eats slow too, but its fine they do have small tummies. If this is really a everyday problem to you and you are going nowhere in a hurry just sit down at the tableand read a magazine and have patience,it will be a reward. If your at a resturant or a friends place and want him to hurry just a little bit, simply, just give him one item at a timeexample, mc Donald's four pack chicken nuggets, give just one till finished w/a drink, small spoonfull of others,if he has not finished take it with you for laterto feed or reheat as long as he has enough to hold him over and does not have a real hungy tummy till he can eat again. Also you may find it a little help to give him a small snack just ten min before lunch or what the eating time maybe you want him to finish sooner. Good times ahead for you. S.,

Since stickers on the chart seem to motivate him, why not make a new section for getting meals eaten on time? Set a timer and tell him that if he's done before the timer goes off, he gets a sticker. Start with 45 or 50 minutes, and every day take off a few minutes until he's down to a reasonable time--whatever you feel that is. See if that helps.

I would just be glad he is eating at all, with mine every meal is a battle!

Oh I know how you feel - my daughter eats very slowly as well - I guess I'd just be thankful you can go out to eat no problem and have a nice meal.

I wouldn't rush anything - I do clean up after a 1/2 hour or so and sometimes I just grab a book to read while she's eating. Other thing is I end the meal - leaving food on the table for her to eat later as a snack.

I do agree sometimes it might be just the chance to have the attention of mom.

The Italians take at least 2 hours to eat and look how healthy they are! Where's the fire?
I agree with DJ.

Why don't you try "helping" him. Like you feed him one bit he feeds one bite!? It may work?

I wish I had an answer for you Our son is like that takes him at least 30-45 minutes to eat if not longer. Our daughter on the other hand can't sit still and eat at all. I prefer my sons laid back slow eating over my daughters having to get up every two seconds to stretch eating.

Give him at least 30 min. and after that say it's time for you to clean up, and let him sit alone. If it's quality time he needs, give him more with a book before bedtime, but I know we all need to get the kitchen clean up done. When I was a child, my best friends family used to all stay at the table until she was done, with a lot of frustration. She took FOREVER to finish. I would rather see her eat alone instead of frustrated eyes and comments going at her.