how can I make my kid eat alone?

Question

my kid is 3 years old, he can eat alone (i have seen it), but he wants to be feed by anyone else, he is supposed to do that by himself by now, I need help...

Answer 1

Let him eat on his own. If you do it for him or somebody else does it for him all the time, it could take a long time for him to do it on his own. Just leave the food in front of him and don't make a fuss over it. Say nothing about it. Just expect that he eats on his own.

When the meal is over, if he hasn't eaten anything, then you ask if he'll eat something. If he says yes, ask him what he wants to eat from his plate. Ask him what he'll do to get the food in his mouth--will he use the fork or the spoon? Always use language that assumes he will do it for himself.

Beware other ways you may be babying him. Some kids seem to adopt a "serve me" attitude early on and just expect people to do things for them and find lots of areas to be served. Tackle the food first and once that's dealt with, see if there are other areas he's expecting others to do for him when he should at least try to do it himself.

Answer 2

I agree with the others, as long as by "alone" you don't also mean sitting alone to eat while you try to catch up on things. (not ajudgment there, just know how it is with tots in the house) But yes, of course, if you are sitting at the table having a meal and you are eating and interacting with him, he will get it and feed himself, or he will get hungry, then get it and feed himself. That's just one of those issues where the body will win. A child can resist and insist on his way, but eventually his little tummy will say, FEED ME! NOW!!! and he will pick up his little chickie nuggie and shove it in his sweet little mouth! :) (and I'm typing with a smile on my face, not intending meaness at all)

Answer 3

Don't give in, tell him he is a big boy now, no more feeding. If he refuse, then he doesn't eat. Tell him, this is the last chance, otherwise the kitchen is CLOSED. Trust me, after once twice of being really hungry, then he'll eat by himself.

Answer 4

Awe, he's mastering manipulation already. I remember those days with my four old twins and five year old when they were three. I would sit down with them and eat my dinner refusing to stop in between bites to feed them. They learned the first night when I was finishes with my dinner and went to watch one of their movies that the only way they were gonna eat and watch a movie was to feed themselves. Don't give in, you will have many situations of manipulation while he's growing and you want to stand your ground now before it's too late.

Answer 5

You can start by making a game out of it. You give him a bite, then you expect him to give himself a bite. After a few days of this, it's ONE bite from you, two from him. So on adn so on until he's eating by himself. Be sure to praise him for doing right, and ignore when you have to give him some food. DON'T get upset if he gets upset. YOu've already got a habit ingrained that needs to be changed.....