my 3 years old daughter take forever to eat what should i do?

Question

when i give her breakfast she spend more then 3 hours eating 1 egg scramble, i keep asking her if she's done that's when she remember that she was eating, she take a bite and then start talking to the spoon, play with it and when i ask again she will take the next bite, it drive me crazy, she want me to feed her that's the only way she'll eat. but i don't want to feed her because when she go to school who would do it, what should i do?

Answer 1

maybe try to cook another kind of food like with colors, shapes or smelling good, or tell her you'll give to her a surprise if she finish her food, if you create a stress moment in the time eating it could be worse, But its normal too all kids have their moments they change everyday, sometimes are hungry or sometimes just don't want it .

Answer 2

First of all, you have to stop feeding her yourself. You just can't do it ever or she'll want it every time. Second, you have to tell her not to play with her food and eat. Show her that if she's not done in an hour, you are taking it away. Don't just say it, you have to do it. Put her plate in the fridge and you can give it to her again after a while. I'm not saying to starve her. Just teach her that she has to eat, and not play. Also, you don't want to force her to eat more than she wants. If you give her 5 small meals a day, it will equal what you normall give her in 3 meals. She won't be deprived, but she'll have less on her plate and will probably be finished with it quicker. Best Wishes and good luck.

Answer 3

Don't worry, she will get the hang of it when she goes to school. I know eating slow is good for the digestion, but when they take that long it can get to you. We had to give our son a time limit. He got 30 minutes per meal. If he didn't finish that was ok. Trust me, they won't go hungry, starve or lose weight. Kids are all hungry at different rates and right now at your daughters age, food is not really important to her. It's ok. When she see others at preschool eating in a certain time frame, she will begin to do the same. If you get a couple of bites of the egg into her, thats great, shes getting good protein. She will be fine, just give her the time limit and don't stress. I know that's easier said than done, I have been there myself. Our son is now 13 years old and still takes a long time to eat, but he is a tall very healthy boy! Your daughter will be just fine.

I hope you get some good answers here and I hope it all works out for you! Good Luck!

Answer 4

Wow! First of all, stop feeding her. She's 3. She knows how to get the food in her mouth.

Second, start limiting the time that she has to eat. The first week, give her 30 minutes to eat and then pick up her plate. The second week, give her 25 minutes. The last week, give her 20 minutes. A 3 year old child should be able to consume a meal in 20 minutes.

Answer 5

Toddlers only eat very few bites throughout the day. Do not make a big deal of it. Toddlers rarely sit to eat. You should keep an open shelf in the fridge that's all "hers" with snacks ready to go in bags, in containers, etc. She'll know when she's hungry.

I also keep a cupboard near the floor open to my daughter for her to get into whenever she likes for snacks. It'll have healthy things in it like whole grain crackers, etc.

If she goes to a daycare that doesn't mind you sending food with her to eat as she gets there, then do that. Send string cheese and a yogurt or something. Honestly, most toddlers don't eat a lot in the morning and take forever. Just tell her "forget it" one morning and send her packing with her food. She may like it better and get "hungry" when she's at daycare!

Answer 6

I would give her a smaller portion, even if it's one egg, it needs to be broken into maybe two tablespoons. Then leave her some dry healthy cereal to snack on during the morning so she could eat for at least an hour after breakfast. She needs to build up an appetite for the next meal so she will be hungry enough to eat it.

Maybe she snacks too much? I don't know. But she shouldn't be allowed to sit there for more than 20 minutes eating. She'll get hungry enough to eat.

Answer 7

I hate to say it but you are just letting her be in charge when you do that. Set a timer for 20 or 30 min. and tell her if she isn't finished by the time the timer goes off then you are throwing it away. After a few times of this she will learn to stop playing around and eat faster. If she is truly hungry she will remember it the next day at breakfast when you tell her you are setting the timer again. Good luck and be consistant :)

Answer 8

when she goes to school she will do it...she is just milking the "I'm still a baby and you have to take care of me" card. Have you noticed all the posts about problems with 3 year olds...I have a 3 year old and have come to the conclusion they are out to get us lol jk!!! but they are extremely manipulative at this age.

Act like you don't care...say ok...then I guess you arnt hungry then!!! then eat your food will a really cool toddler bowl and spoon set, and say its "yours" talk about how great it is and how only big people know how to use them....she will be dying to eat with it by the time your through. Go to Walmart and get her favorite character:)

Answer 9

Don't feed her. Take the food away after a set amount of time, say 30 min. When she realizes you're going to do that, she'll start eating faster because she'll be hungry.

Answer 10

3 hours??? WOW! I agree w/ the very first answer. Set a time limit and have no distractions (no play time, no television) tell her that if she doesn't finish in say 20 - 30 min., then NO snacks and NO whatever her favorite toy is. My almost 6 year old nephew is the same way and this method works for him.