My 2.5 yr old holds food and drinks in his mouth for such a long time - like 5-15 minutes. Sometimes he'll squirt some out and it's gross. I'm constantly afraid he is going to spill it all out and plus it takes him the longest time to eat! Has anyone else experienced this?
2006-09-11 11:20:22 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
He sounds unusually intelligent. Food play, especially with the mouth, is a significant learning venue for babies and toddlers. The more "in" to food play a child is, the more intelligent they tend to be. Kudos to you for allowing him to play for so long with his food. But, there are other things to learn about, too. Such as not making messes that we can't clean up ourselves.
2006-09-11 12:01:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Encourage him to swallow but don't make a big deal out of it. It could be a control tactic he has discovered since only he can really control when the food will be swallowed. If you make a big deal of it, he'll do it more. I knew a boy who used to do that and he would hold the food in his mouth for an hour sometimes. And, it was gross. But, after a few months he stopped doing it. I know it can be hard sometimes, but try and be patient.
2006-09-11 18:28:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES! doesn't it drive you nuts? My oldest son used to do this but he would spit juice all over the house. We started the eat and drink only at the table rule. Then we added, if you can't eat nice at the table, you don't eat. Now before everyone freaks out..toddlers love control, the first time you take that plate away they lose control. If you stick to your guns the first time they don't do it anymore. We made my son get up from the table, we didn't yell, no time out...we just took the plate and got him out of his seat. Then we went back to eating dinner. Within an hour he was asking to eat. We told him the rule again, we haven't had another problem. Hope this works for you, I know how annoying this problem can be.
2006-09-11 19:52:49 · answer #3 · answered by aerofrce1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've never experienced that, but I think I know what might help. Whenever you all sit down for a meal give him his food and when you are done eating take his food away too even if he has only eaten a few bites. If he says "Mom, why are you taking my food away?" just tell him he needs to be done by the time you are done eating. If you do that for each meal and stick with it, he should realize that he needs to eat faster and not play around if he wants to eat. Good luck and God bless.
2006-09-11 18:28:10 · answer #4 · answered by BeeFree 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You think 5-15 minutes is bad? You should come to our house. Our son holds the food in his mouth for up to an hour if it's not something he likes to eat. (His way of preventing another spoonful of food-I-do-not-like get into his mouth, I think.) We always trick him into swallowing it by offering him something he loves. Right now the order of food appear on the dinner table is important in our house. Soup have to come last cause that's his favorite and his drive to finish things that's not so attractive to him.
2006-09-11 18:45:40 · answer #5 · answered by emigirl77 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kids love to get a reaction...it's a control thing. Just don't react (other than to mention it's gross), and when everyone else is done eating, he'll be stuck at the table alone with no one to impress with his new little trick. He'll probably quit because he'll get bored.
2006-09-11 18:27:18 · answer #6 · answered by TigerLilly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My brother does that ALL the time. He is 5. The doctor said it was because of the time that he choked on a hard candy, but he ONLY has this problem with food, he eats candy perfectly and quickly. I guess it will just remain a mystery to us.
2006-09-11 18:25:45 · answer #7 · answered by Steph<3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you could get him excited about a special reward he will get after he finishes his meal like a big boy. It will take his mind off the food as a tool to get attention and give him something to look forward to. It's worth a try.
2006-09-11 19:12:22 · answer #8 · answered by KieKie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is called a test you against him. Try talking to him or just give smaller amounts of food to start.
We use a mirror so ours could see how yucky is really looks No one likes to watch them selves eat they stop quick this way also.
the first time they laugh but not the second
2006-09-11 18:30:07 · answer #9 · answered by aaricka 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take the rest of his food away and don't let him eat it until he finishes what is in his mouth. If he doesn't finish it then he won't get the rest of his meal. He will learn quickly not to mess with you.
2006-09-11 18:23:51 · answer #10 · answered by ♥ady_8e_80♥ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋