Our 2.5 year old DD wants to be spoon fed by us all the time! She is totally capable of eating meals herself and eating with a spoon or a fork or her fingers (and has done it mostly by herself since about 15mths I think). But lately she will eat only a little bit and then want us to feed her. If we don't do it she doesn't eat anymore. She used to eat most of her meal herself and then want us to help her to scrape the last bit of the plate / bowl / tub of yoghurt etc. But now we seem to be spoon feeding her the whole meal! I think she's just too busy watching TV and is being lazy! We do eat meals up at the table but generally the tv is on at breakfast and dinner time. Anyone else had this problem and how did you tackle it? Did turning the TV off help? Do you think its related to the fact that DD2 7.5 mths is now being spoon fed solids by us?

I would turn the tv off if it seems to be distracting her. My eldest started doing this and we had a rule of the baby gets fed first, then mummy and then I will feed you. I am a terribly, terribly slow eater (always last to finish) and B soon got bored of waiting for me to finish!
I think like all phases, it will pass and you will have something new to worry about in no time, At least, that's what seems to happen in this house!

Hi feisty,

DS has tried this a few times but we just turned it around on him. We made a big deal about him being a big boy and Olivia being a baby and me having to feed her. We have also had to stop eating in front of the tv and sit all together at the table.

The other thing DS is always wanting is for me to carry him everywhere. The more active DD is getting the more crazy little things DS wants. Like getting picked up, copying her sounds but only louder etc.

sorry not much help

if i was you i would ban tv at meal times

my DD2 (2.5) has been doing the same but I noticed today she actually fed herself again. I keep thinking the things DD1 did at this age were because DD2 arrived when she was 2.5 but I think it is just a development stage and it is driving me batty.. after DD1 I know it does stop when they get hungry..(DD2 would be happy just to drink milk)

From what's going on here at the moment, I would think it's related to having a second bub who needs to be fed. DS1 is more than capable of feeding himself but since DS2 went onto solids he wants the same - to be fed or to have the last things from his bowl spooned out for him. I've heard that kids can regress a little when a younger sibling comes along so had just put it down to this.

We allow the kids to have a DVD on while they're having dinner, but have a rule that if DS1 stops feeding then the show stops too. He gets one warning that if he doesn't keep eating the show will be turned off and I always follow through so he knows I mean it. Once he starts eating again, he's allowed to have the show again.

My DD is almost 3 and is still fed all three main meals of the day, otherwise whe wont' eat.

Maybe try a reward system for eating on her own and finishing the meal.

My DD was feeding herself at one until about 18 months. I dont think it had anything to do with DS coming along. As my friends kids who are the same age did the same thing. The way I see it is that she is getting her food.

What I do do is give her a fork or spoon and she will do a few herself. We just dont make a big deal out of it. If she does feed herself we make a big deal of how great she is for doing that.

It is funny the other day I had a girl I work with more or less call me crazy for still feeding Zoe and then she preceded to tell me that her daughter wont eat her veges and if she doesnt feed herself then she doesnt even bother to feed them to her. Atleast Zoe is getting her veges. Like all things it wont last forever.

We all eat at the table and I sit her next to me and feed her and myself at the same time.

wow thats harsh! I'm with you - at least my child is eating, even if I am having to spoon feed her some of the time.

my DD oscillates between 'I do it...' and Mummy/Daddy help - usually at the end of the meal. Part attention getting i think...DD is more than capable of feeding herself. I've been telling her lately that i know she can feed herself and Mummy is not going to do it... DD is a good eater generally.

We did have a battle about not eating when the TV was on...so we've turned it off at dinner time and will turn it off at other meal times if the attention to the food is wavering.

I don't mind 'helping' if it means a less than favourite meal is eaten to a reasonable extent.

DD is 26 months and going through this phase at the moment too. I tell her to keep eating whilst Mummy finishes her dinner and then I will help her. This way she has eaten most of it and I just help with last bit. We also count the mouthfuls as DD loves counting at the moment so that is working ok for now too. Am sure it will pass soon - actually DD went through this phase last year too - around 19 months of age I think.

My 2.5 year old is the same - she's been feeding herself for well over a year but lately has taken to eating a spoonful and then asking for 'mummy help'. Same with the toilet - she keeps coming out with the roll of paper and asking someone to wipe her, when she has been totally capable for months.

I think it's because of the baby that she does it, so we do help her and at the same time when she does do something for herself we praise her and make a big deal about how she's being such a big clever girl. She's very slowly starting to do more for herself again now.

Personally I would turn off the TV and make a big deal of her being a big girl now and not having to have her meal fed to her by Mum or Dad. Explain to her in advance that you are not going to feed her any more and don't give in.

Steph