How do you get your toddler to stay seated during meal times?
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You physically can't make a toddler sit still. I do refuse to let him run in to livingroom, sometimes gets upset but I just say OK no pudding then unless have bit more. They are toddlers though. Making them sit still for long periods doesn't work. If it's just me, I just use high chair when out and about. Xx
Honestly.. I just keep my 3 year old in a short booster seat with straps. There's no sense in contending with them running around when they're supposed to be eating. He straps himself in and only I can get him out. If for any reason he wasnt in the booster seat, I would personally set the boundary that once he's down, he doesn't get more food until he's back sitting at the table. Depends on the child though I'd imagine if they're capable of understanding that boundary
I let her walk around after each bite cuz getting her to sit still would be a nightmare and it’s better for her digestion anyway to be moving around after eating
Let me tell you a story about my son. He turns 36 tomorrow, but when he was three, he did not like to sit at table. Was also the same time the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles came out and he loved them. So I decided instead of being aggravated every night because he wasn’t sitting & eating at the table, I would let him run, come over to the table stop take a bite, and I would call the “ninja bites”. After each bite, he would chew it up, and I would let him run one lap around the kitchen, dining room and living room and then come back for another ninja bite. He ate his entire dinner, there were no arguments, we all enjoyed our dinner, and he is going to be 36 years old and is perfectly able to sit at the table and eat. My point in telling you the story is to encourage you to be creative, and not sweat the small stuff. Feel free to use ninja bites to encourage his eating while giving him a little run in between, as long as he chews all his food first. Reach out if you need more help. 😊
Why does he need to? Bring crayons and toys to the table to keep him busy while he eats. Let him "feed" his toys. Play some music he enjoys and pause it whenever he leaves the table. Try to make it fun to be at the table. But he's 3...I wouldn't expect him to stay as long as the adults do.
I have an almost 4yr old, she still runs around after grabbing a bite or 2, but she is starting to sit down longer and has been better at restaurants. If we eat out, then we try to find one that is mostly empty and has a secluded section, like a corner. Also we try to get bench seats. She crawls across the seat and is allowed stand at the end of the table. I have yet to hear someone complain. If there is a restaurant that is half full or more then we won't eat there or we get it to go and she plays in the van or back of the truck
I don’t 🤷🏻♀️ they’re not meant to be able to sit still for long periods of time. I let them run around and graze as they please.