I have a 3 year old niece. Everytime she eats, you can see the food in her mouth. Her mom complains, but does nothing. It's disgusting because you can hear the food and saliva mixing. I told her that it is not nice to eat with her mouth open. She does'nt listen. Any advice?
2006-07-20 07:58:26 · 17 answers · asked by Mary C 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I have a 28 y/o brother in law that still eats with his mouth open. It is very gross and disgusting, I have lost my appetite more times than I can count when we've been at the same table. My Mother in law has said that it is a habit he picked up when he was little and had severe allergies. He couldn't breathe through his nose while he was eating, so he ate with his mouth open.
So, first thing is make sure there isn't a medical reason for your niece chewing with her mouth open. Then it is just a matter of reinforcement. ~every time~ you sit down to eat, you remind her of the rules of the table: napkin in the lap, elbows not on the table, chew with your mouth closed, saying please, thank you, and not reaching for things. It takes a lot of reminders, every day, and every time she eats. She is three, it won't happen over night, but suddenly one day you will realize that she went a whole meal w/o having to be reminded of all the rules. Consistency, just like everything else in her life, is extremely important.
2006-07-20 08:30:07 · answer #1 · answered by trishc1812 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sorry but you are gonna have to wait until she is older to teach her that. You can try and try but no 3 year old is gonna understand the concept of eating with her mouth shut. I'm having trouble teaching my son and he's 5. She will get the hang of it eventually. Just keep reminding her that's its not nice and one day she will stop.
2006-07-24 08:44:18 · answer #2 · answered by exotic69n 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How I stopped was my dad would say in a harsh voice, "CHEW WITH YOUR MOUTH CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!!" every time he heard me. If i kept making noise he;d be all (practically screaming) "QUIET DOWN AND CHEW WITH YOUR MOUTH CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and sometimes actually give me a time out lol. You can make up a story about how you had a friend who chewed with her mouth open like that and then she died because when she wasnt looking a bee flew into her mouth. But she might not be realising she's doing it, no? That's how I was (before my dad started nagging me) I'd just be eating and he'd suddenyl yell at me to chew with my mouth closed. Yeah. Just tell her to stop every time you catch her. Eventually she'll start to realise when she's doing it and make a better effort to stop when you tell her. Hope I helped.
2006-07-20 15:09:00 · answer #3 · answered by Microsoft Sam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a video camera and record her mealtimes. Do it like it's no big deal, and do it when she's not paying attention, etc. Do it for a few months, and then show the video to her so she will see how bad she looks. Three is a little young, but she should be taught table manners early in life, or when she gets to school age, she will be taunted by other kids who have not been taught manners themselves.
2006-07-20 15:05:42 · answer #4 · answered by correrafan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3 year olds chew with their mouths open. Ask her to chew with her mouth closed. Continue asking and reward her with a something special if she can go a whole meal with you with less than 2 reminders. It'll be a start.
2006-07-20 15:02:32 · answer #5 · answered by therego2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It actually is a hard skill for a toddler to learn. Some kids actually CAN'T chew with their mouth closed until around age 5.
I say QUIT giving her such a hard time for it.
Also it is possible that their is a medical reason for her not to be able to chew with her mouth shut.
2006-07-20 21:25:55 · answer #6 · answered by Minnie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would show her by example when you eat. Let her know it's not nice for her to chew with her mouth open and that only animals do that. Maybe taking her to the zoo and showing her might change her mind.
2006-07-20 15:02:34 · answer #7 · answered by mergirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Her mother needs to learn to discipline her daughter. It may be chewing with her mouth open now, and somethink entirely worse later. When I was little, we had a rule at dinner that if someone made a complaint or a face about the food, you had to go to bed. Discipline is a must.
2006-07-20 15:02:59 · answer #8 · answered by Maedhros 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try telling her in some nice way possible..tell her people dont like kids who eat with their mouth open...and that when she goes to school she ll have to sit alone and eat..kids eventually understand things if told in a way they would...it s just our problem of finding out how..GL
2006-07-20 15:03:44 · answer #9 · answered by fresh n honest 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't worry she will eventually stop that disgusting habbit...ill you made me cringe with your description of the sound of the saliva and food mixing....lol
2006-07-20 15:11:59 · answer #10 · answered by krYpToNitEsMoM 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋