Mealtime battles with my son, how to deal with him?

Question

My son use to be a wonderful eater, and he still is, he anticipates meal times and does not have a problem at all with leaving whatever toy he plays with or whatever he's doing to sit down to eat. However, lately he has become a nightmare at his high chair. For example, he will eat but it's nothing new for him to slam himself into the back of his highchair for no reason at all, or to kick his highchair at the bottom in hopes of knocking off his cup. Or the kicker for me is when he will put a piece of food in his mouth and blow it out onto his tray, or take crackers and push them around his tray until they fall off. It's so frustrating that he didn't use to be this bad about eating he acted better than this when he was eight months old. Shouldn't a two year old act a little better at the dinner table? He doesn't see his father and I act like that, so what gives him the right? What can I do, if I excuse him from his high chair it used to phase him now he just runs and plays?

Answer 1

Put his meal in front of him, and it he throws it around, don't give him more.

Answer 2

if you shorten your question, people will be more apt to answer.

Answer 3

I actually wouldn't put up with that and would tell him to act like a big boy or he will get put down out of his chair and no more food-the turn around, with hunger involved would be fast. I never allowed my children to scream in public (not accusing yours-just see it in malls etc and it makes me insane) or run around like crazy people either-they will get it-kids are not just small people-we need to give them rules and "walls" to adjust within so they turn out to be fun adults and good,fun older children. Doing it now will make it so much easier later. You want to enjoy each other and be a family not a struggle! When he wants to eat tell him to be nice and be a big boy and put him back in-if he starts again-take him out again-easy! It will work. Mine were good in public and still are at 14 and 20. Nice ytoung adults who look at some crazy kids in school and think why?! like I do. Not that they were perfect by a long shot-but thats what parenting is for-don't hesitate to be a good parent and nip this in the bud. I do think explaining things in his level will help-as he starts try clapping your hands together sharply to get his attention and say NO! I never had to "handle" my kids but this started them enough to realize I was serious

Answer 4

tbh, it seems normal, but still unacceptable

im not sure how to discipline a 2 yr old without just being plain mean

perhaps if you tell him not to, tell him why not to

and if he does, take the food away?

(feed him later, after he's been feeling hungry for a while???)

just a suggestion