Emma swallows food. She doesn't chew. Okay, well hardly ever. On the other hand, Lauren is a slow poke. Emma can finish 5 mini pancakes in the time it takes Lauren to eat 1. She always asks for more and I deny her because she hasn't given her tummy time to register that she shoved anything into it! We have tried giving her little bits at a time so she can pace herself. But seriously, I can't do that at every meal. We have watched her eat and told her to chew, chew, chew. She chomps twice and swallows...BIG bites. I don't want to become obsessed with it (oh wait, maybe I already have) but I really need to correct this now before she's in school and not in control of her eating habits. Any advice on how to get her to slow down?
I will be reading this thread for advice, because Ana does the same thing. And like you've I've told her no to more until her tummy is ready for more food. Thanks for posting Michelle!
Erick does this. I've decided that as long as he isn't in danger of choking, I won't mention it other than the occasional "wow, you fit alot of food in your mouth". If he eats like that at school, good! Most kids have to learn to eat fast because they get so little time to eat so that's why as long as it isn't dangerous I'm not going to worry about it. I do also say no more until I feel like it's had a chance to settle. Sorry I can' offer any advice on how to stop it though!
Wow, my girls take forever to eat, I'm impressed that she likes food enough to eat that way...you must fix some dandy meals I don't know how you can get her to quit unless you tell her she will get an extra special treat after the meal for taking her time, or you could just cut her food into extra tiny bites so there is a lessened fear of choking. I hope you get some better advice than I can give.
You have described my girls to a T! I jsut tell the fast eater that I'll get her a 2nd serving as soon as I can bring her one. I act busy in the kitchen and about 80% of the time she has forgotten and ran off to play. This was on advice from my ped. If she is still pushing...i usually offer a fruit. hope this helps!!
I do the same thing Jena. Or I tell her to wait until her sister is done before I get something else.
Michelle, completely random thought here, but does she like princesses? Maybe encourage her to "eat like a princess" and encourage the slow small bites that way? :unknw:
I dont know, I might be on the opposite end of the spectrum and say to ignore it. I wonder if you are "worrying" about it so much that she is doing it to get a rise out of you?? Or have you dont so and that doesnt seem to show any improvement?? I am not trying to slight how you feel about it. :friends:
My girls sound just like yours. Cricket can finish her entire dinner in the amount of time it takes Piper to get settled and take a bite or two. I've tried to ignore it unless there's a danger of choking because I'm concerned I might create a lasting issue for Cricket that she eats too much or something like that. I also usually have extra veggies or fruit for her so that when she asks for more I can easily hand her the "good" stuff rather than more cheese.
Royce is a chow hound. Alice eats slowly and chews everything thoroughly. I do what the PP do and offer him more veggies or fruit, whichever is handy. How do you get them to drink though? I realized this weekend that they drink maybe 8 ounces total a day. I don't know how little they drink at daycare, but I know it's not a lot. I give them milk, chocolate milk, juice, water, watery juice, ice in their drinks, juice boxes. I'm tired of wasting milk and juice!! (And ovaltine!)
We have a drinking problem here too LOL! :drinks: I took mine to BRU and let them pick out sippy cups (Addison WILL NOT drink from any girly cup). That helped and also they like to drink from my cup better than their own anytime so I try to keep a cup around. I find that if I let them choose which cup they want from the cabinet they drink more. Plus if I ask them what they want in their cup instead of just fixing them a cup of juice or milk, that helps too. I also started buying Nestle Nesquick powdered chocolate milk - it has no caffeine in it and they like the taste better than any chocolate milk I have found.
Are you worried that she eats too much, or that she eats too fast (or both)? I would try not to focus on the total amount, but encourage her to slow down both to avoid risk of choking and so that she doesn't feel too stuffed by the time her stomach registers how much she's eaten. But keep the emphasis on safety and comfort, not on total intake or (god forbid) weight. Amy tends to eat fast (not much, but fast) and is very messy. Her teachers do tell her to slow down, mostly in the framework of "It's not polite to cram food in your mouth and sprinkle crumbs everywhere." But neither of them eats very much, so I'm generally thrilled if they eat enough of something to actually ask for more!
