Parents of Preschoolers  Discussion Forum

Hello everyone,
I am working mom with 2 kids. My older one is 4 yrs old. She doesn't want to eat her food by herself. After I go home, even if she is hungry she insists me to feed her food. What ever trick I do to make her eat by herself doesn't work.
She is becoming very adament in this. Is this because I am feeding the second baby who is really a baby 10 months and cann't eat by herself? But I feel very tired after I go home to cook the dinner, then feeding both the kids and then eat for myself.
Please reply me and give me some suggestions on how should I handle this.
My hubby and MIL says that I should give her the food and wait for 15 mins. then take the food away from her and leave her hungry!. They say if I leave her hungry like this for 2-3 times, she will learn the lesson :<
But I don't think I can do this. please shed your 2 cents. HARJ replied. I also have a four year old with the same problem. He always wants me to feed him. My daughter who is six now started to try to eat on her own around 4 and I worry my son is just being lazy.
As he will be starting school next week he will have to feed himself at school. What I am trying to do is give him food which he will find easy to eat. e.g grapes, yoghurt so he doesnt have to cut anything etc. Try to praise child even if he eats one grape as he will feel pleased with himself. At meal times try not to give in but make sur the food is manageable to eat for child. With a little patience Im sure very soon the child will be eating their food themselves before you.
Seema Mohaley replied. Hi!Supree
Your 4 yrs old daughter is not that big. You say that she is becoming very adamant, but I think you are becoming very adamant. I think you have diverted your full attention to your 10 months old baby. You have neglected your 4 yrs. old daughter. You are playing with her emotions and nature. She infact needs your more emotional attention and care than your 10 months old baby because she is able to understand everything then 10 month old baby. Your Hubby/MIL can easily takes care of your little one. Ask them to understand their responsibility then teaching her a lesson. Please give her some time, understand her problems. She is totally new in this world, this age of her is learning, not teaching her a lesson.

Ask your hubby & MIL to feed the little one and take care and you try to give full attention to your daughter.

I am also a working mother having two little kids of almost same age. I always try to give my full attention to my elder one who is 3 1/2 yrs. old. because he now start understanding what is happening and why. This is the age when child needs more emotional care. I feed him with my hands and in between I request him to take one or two grey by his own, and feed the little one also who is 1 year old.

I request you, you to feed her and ask her to feed you some greys, after getting your full attention she will definitely start eating herself.

By getting your little attention ,I definitely say that she will start taking her food herself. You have to become a 4 years old kid then expects her to become 30 years old. Kids are very sensitive and very emotional. They are just like a flowers.
Seema Mohaley replied. Hi!Supree
Your 4 yrs old daughter is not that big. You say that she is becoming very adamant, but I think you are becoming very adamant. I think you have diverted your full attention to your 10 months old baby. You have neglected your 4 yrs. old daughter. You are playing with her emotions and nature. She infact needs your more emotional attention and care than your 10 months old baby because she is able to understand everything then 10 month old baby. Your Hubby/MIL can easily takes care of your little one. Ask them to understand their responsibility then teaching her a lesson. Please give her some time, understand her problems. She is totally new in this world, this age of her is learning, not teaching her a lesson.

Ask your hubby & MIL to feed the little one and take care and you try to give full attention to your daughter.

I am also a working mother having two little kids of almost same age. I always try to give my full attention to my elder one who is 3 1/2 yrs. old. because he now start understanding what is happening and why. This is the age when child needs more emotional care. I feed him with my hands and in between I request him to take one or two grey by his own, and feed the little one also who is 1 year old.

I request you, you to feed her and ask her to feed you some greys, after getting your full attention she will definitely start eating herself.

By getting your little attention ,I definitely say that she will start taking her food herself. You have to become a 4 years old kid then expects her to become 30 years old. Kids are very sensitive and very emotional. They are just like a flowers.