DD eats too long. How to get her to eat faster?

[Jessica1501]

How long does your LO eat a meal?
DD always take so long time to finish a meal, 45 mins to 1 hr, and takes 30-45mins to finish half a cup of milk.
She enjoys eating what she likes to eat (veggies and meat) but she chews and shallows so slowly even though I always offer her soft food and things easy to chew.

I just start doing the following strategy. I set up the alarm before the meal, so after 30 mins, when DD hears the ring, she will have to finish her meal. If she isn't finished her meal, she will feel hungry and next time she will eat faster.

What do you think about this? I just start so I don't know if it works.
Or do you suggest any other ways to get her to eat faster?

Thanks.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Why do you want her to eat faster? Is she eating the whole time or distracted? If she just eats slow then that is actually kind of a good thing since she digests better that way and isnt as likely to choke.

[OkiMom]

I take a good 45 minutes to finish a meal, thats if Im by myself. With my family its probably over an hour because we talk. Why is it important for her to eat faster? Its actually healthier to eat slower because it allows your body to tell you that you are full and means less overeating.
I encourage my daughter to take her time eating.

[Marlet]

I'm curious as to why you want her to eat faster as well. I wouldn't push it honestly. DH eats fast and as a result so does his DS. They both have digestion issues and hunger cue issues and knowing when they are full. Given that she's a toddler it sounds like a normal pace to me.


Honestly, regardless of what you do, I'd drop the timer thing. I can see that one just causing major issues with food and "permissions" etc.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Not to be snarky or anything but messing with eating is one sure fire way of causing eating disorders down the road. So unless she is just playing and not eating it would be best just to let her be.

[1growingsprout]

As a mom of a child with digestion issues DO NOT RUSH EATING... My 3 yr old has digestion issues and I'd love for her to eat anything.... rushed eating can lead to heartburn, reflux, stress,possible choking etc. Honestly, the timer thing freaks me out. I know some times as parents we want our kids to 'hurry up and finish' but does it really matter? I value our table time as a family. Dinner can take an hour with everyone there.... Lunch can take 90 mins when its spread out in shifts...

My only concern is if she is taking so long because she is in pain or having difficultly swallowing or eating, then I would see a dr but if she is just a slow eater then no worries.

[StrawberryFields]

I agree that it seems like a normal pace to me... especially if you are sitting down as a family, eating and talking. I encourage my kids to slow down when they eat and sometimes they are the last to finish. It's healthier to eat slower anyway so it's not something I would want to speed up at all. 30 minutes does not seem like enough time to sit down and eat a meal IMO--especially for a small child who isn't as coordinated. I am not sure * I * could finish my dinner in 30 minutes--and unlike the kids, most of my forkfuls make it to my mouth on the first try :LOL

[georgia]

I think it's really important to instill in children a healthy sense of listening to their bodies and trusting them to do things on their own time table, even if it's an inconvenience for us as parents. Rushing through meals, esp. if she needs more time to process, select, chew, digest, etc, doesn't seem to be the healthiest route.

I can definitely empathize with feeling like they "should" hurry! because a few of my children are born "dawdlers," but w/eating, I'd really try and not put any pressure on pleasing others or adhering to someone else's clock. Slow eating, from what I understand, can be very beneficial for the digestive system and overall health as far as weight gain. It sounds like you're doing a great job with offering her healthy foods that she will like, so that's a really good thing. My recommendation would just be to enjoy the time with her while she'll actually sit down in one place and eat a meal with you

[SeekingJoy]

Even if she is playing, I would let her be. It makes sense to limit food to the table to prevent messes. It also would be fine to let your little one know that if she gets up from the table you will put her food in the fridge so it won't spoil. But I don't understand the need to speed her up.

[Code Name Mama]

I agree with the pp who said to lose the timer - no matter what. I really wouldn't use food as any kind of behavior modification (even if what you're trying to modify is how she eats).
I can understand why 45 minutes would be frustrating, I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum - ds takes 1 bite, maybe 2, then he's off to do something else. I agree with others though that slower eating aids healthy digestion, so I wouldn't really hurry her.
If it's a matter of you feeling like you have to be at the table with her - just get up! Let her sit and enjoy herself, come by every few minutes to make sure she's ok.
Good luck!

[lifeguard]

Please drop the timer.

Dh & I eat too fast. We both struggle with our weight & I know one of the factors is that we finish eating before our "full" receptors kick in. I have to make a conscious effort every. time. to sit down & eat slowly.

It might be a nuisance but it's actually a healthy habit.

[Jessica1501]

Well, most of you asked why I need to rush. That would not be a problem if DD can eat by her own. She usually eats, looks around, and plays without eating. Her meals not only take my time but also make me tired because I usually have to make fun for her.
If I calculate the total time I have to spend with her, let's see, 3 hours for meal time (she used to take 1.5 - 2hrs/meal, thanks god now it drops to 1hr), and 2 more hours for milk time. I also used to have to lay down with her to sleep and that took 2 more hours. Brushing her teeth also takes time because she always fights. Besides, I have to study whenever I don't have to take care DD, at least 4 hours/day. So with this schedule, I usually have no time to take her out, no nap time, and sleep only 4-5hrs/day.

Currently, studying time is extremely important for me. I need more time to relax to concentrate on studying and to play with DD more.

[just_lily]

Without a whole lot of information, I am thinking this isn't actually an eating issue. If you don't have time to do other fun things, maybe she is stretching out mealtimes because it is the best quality time she gets to spend with you??

What is her motivation to finish eating, if eating is the only fun she gets to have with mom?

I would take the focus off of eating, and start focusing on the fun things you can do once she is finished. Don't go out of your way to make the meal "fun". (Don't make it unpleasant, just don't worry about it.)

I would present her with her meal, and let her know that when she is done you can go to the park, play outside, read some books, etc. Then I would sit with her long enough to eat my own meal. Talk with her, but don't go out of your way to get her to eat. And then when you are done I would get out your books and do some of your studying while sitting with her at the table. Remind her that as soon as she is done you will go and do that fun activity, and in the meantime you are going to study while she finishes.

If she doesn't finish eating because she wants to get going, wrap up her food for later. Don't fight it... make it a non-issue. Continue offering food throughout the day. Excepting an underlying medical condition, children will not starve themselves.

Eventually she will figure out that spending 90 minutes to eat lunch gets pretty boring, and it is better to focus on the task at hand then move on to something more fun with mom.

Good luck!

[1growingsprout]

Originally Posted by Jessica1501

Well, most of you asked why I need to rush. That would not be a problem if DD can eat by her own. She usually eats, looks around, and plays without eating. Her meals not only take my time but also make me tired because I usually have to make fun for her.
If I calculate the total time I have to spend with her, let's see, 3 hours for meal time (she used to take 1.5 - 2hrs/meal, thanks god now it drops to 1hr), and 2 more hours for milk time. I also used to have to lay down with her to sleep and that took 2 more hours. Brushing her teeth also takes time because she always fights. Besides, I have to study whenever I don't have to take care DD, at least 4 hours/day. So with this schedule, I usually have no time to take her out, no nap time, and sleep only 4-5hrs/day.

Currently, studying time is extremely important for me. I need more time to relax to concentrate on studying and to play with DD more.

what is 'milk' time... around here we just have sippy cups out and they are always available... its not something that has to be monitored at the table. But honestly it just sounds like being a parent. Kids have quirks...'you' may not like the current schedule but it seems to be working for you dd.

[trinity6232000]

OP how old is your child?

[Whistler]

My DS takes forever to eat. But he doesn't have his 2yo molars yet. It just takes a long time.

Two ideas off the top of my head:

1. If you need to study, sit her down to eat and you break out the books right there while she is eating. Let her sit there and dawdle and you copy note cards or something. BTDT!

2. Dessert is a great motivator. (Please don't flame me for bribing my kids to eat.) As in "when you're done you may have this fruit/yogurt cup or cookie." If it something my DS wants he'll go at a steadier pace in order to get the coveted dessert.

I do agree with PP's that it really isn't possible to MAKE a kid eat faster and why would you want to anyway? That is part of being a toddler... exploring the textures and nuances of your food.

[Code Name Mama]

I can't remember if someone has said this (the pp who asked about "milk time" made me think of it), but couldn't you just offer food more throughout the day? Maybe she's like my son and doesn't really want to eat a lot at set meal times. My son is a grazer, which is actually pretty normal and healthy for toddlers. I've seen some people use an ice cube tray with bites of food - you could set it on a kitchen table chair if you want it contained in the kitchen. That way she can run in whenever she wants.

[SparklingGemini]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

Not to be snarky or anything but messing with eating is one sure fire way of causing eating disorders down the road. So unless she is just playing and not eating it would be best just to let her be.

:

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Marlet

I'm curious as to why you want her to eat faster as well. I wouldn't push it honestly. DH eats fast and as a result so does his DS. They both have digestion issues and hunger cue issues and knowing when they are full.

: I never thought of that. That's why I've been overeating so much lately. I've gotten used to having to eat quickly to be able to finish before I have to tend to Lina, so I'm taking more food before the first has a chance to register.

As for the actual topic, how about muffin tin meals? Eat together until the adults are finished plus a bit, then set up a snacking tray for her. As an added bonus, you'd be able to give her real food prepared appealingly.

[Liberty5_3000]

Hi there, I just want to say that I know how frustrating it is. I have a 3 yr old sister and she eats incredibly slow too. Left to herself she will take 2 hours to finish a meal that she likes. She has left the same bite of food in her month for 20 minutes, we've timed her. It is just annoying watching her. My mom doesn't try to hurry her though, unless they have somewhere they have to be or something. The living room and dining room are one big room, so she just stays in her highchair while everyone else goes back to whatever they were doing and she is still in the midst of everything and everyone. It still is annoying that she lets her food get cold and soggy and would rather sit there chewing than playing with the other little ones, but she's quite happy with it, so I guess I should be too.