Hallie_D
11-12-2004, 12:08 PM
At almost 2.5, DS is perfectly capable of using a fork and spoon, but he almost always asks DH or I (or both!) to feed him a few bites of every meal. Sometimes he asks for a "performance art" bite--you know, making the bite "fly" like an airplane or lots of sound effects.
DS is small for his age (height and weight have consistently been below the charts, but following the curve) and eats very little. We used to spend a lot of time making spoonfuls of food into airplanes and choo choo trains to convince him to eat, and I guess he never stopped enjoying it. Now that it is clear that he is only going to eat what he wants to eat, regardless of our antics, we really try to let him decide how much he wants to eat. However, he will always eat more if we will feed him the last few bites--if we tell him no for whatever reason he will just stop eating.
How old is too old for a toddler to be fed? Rationally I know I won't be making airplane sounds to feed him in high school, but I am starting to feel like I'm babying him too much or somehow encouraging him to eat less on his own.
Or maybe this is perfectly normal behavior?
TIA!
DS is small for his age (height and weight have consistently been below the charts, but following the curve) and eats very little. We used to spend a lot of time making spoonfuls of food into airplanes and choo choo trains to convince him to eat, and I guess he never stopped enjoying it. Now that it is clear that he is only going to eat what he wants to eat, regardless of our antics, we really try to let him decide how much he wants to eat. However, he will always eat more if we will feed him the last few bites--if we tell him no for whatever reason he will just stop eating.
How old is too old for a toddler to be fed? Rationally I know I won't be making airplane sounds to feed him in high school, but I am starting to feel like I'm babying him too much or somehow encouraging him to eat less on his own.
Or maybe this is perfectly normal behavior?
TIA!