How do you deal with constant snack requests (they’re driving me nuts!)

[Anonymous]

Just provide something healthy and then who cares how often they want it. At 3 and 5 it's not worth the fight.

If they don't want a banana, ok they can wait until lunch.

I promise that this is something you can just stop if it's not working.

But if you are trying to work while caring for them, that's a different problem. I'd send them to preschool so you can work.

[Anonymous]

They are trying to get your attention. This is why working while trying to take care of kids this young doesn't work unless they have unlimited screen time.

[Anonymous]

We're French. Snack time is after school. Otherwise it's breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are trying to get your attention. This is why working while trying to take care of kids this young doesn't work unless they have unlimited screen time.

+1
Kids this age will not be able to entertain themselves for long periods of time. You might get an hour, but otherwise they are going to pester you all day. How many hours a day are you working?

[Anonymous]

I would have designated snack times.

Let’s say they eat breakfast at 8. Snack at 10:30. Lunch at 12:30. Snack at 3. Dinner at 6. Bed 7:30

Offer options but not too many. Produce plus protein.

Apple slices with peanut butter. Carrots and hummus. Banana and string cheese. Whole grain toast with sun butter or a slice of melted cheese.

Vegetables ALWAYS available if they’re hungry. If they don’t want their preferred veg, they aren’t hungry enough.

Make sure they always have water available. Teach them to listen to their stomach, not their mouth.

[Anonymous]

We have one set snack time. Since your kids are younger and I guess at home during the day, probably two snacks is fine--morning and afternoon. No snacking outside of those times. I'm sure it will take getting used to, but much better to get them on a routine instead of dealing with constant requests.

Also, do you have a babysitter during the day? It's very difficult to get work done with no childcare (trust me, I know).

[Anonymous]

You can’t be “working” and watching a 3 and a 5 yo. Get a caregiver or send them to daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks my kids are 3 and 5. They are too young g to be trusted to get their own food. I want to know what they are eating and foster controlled independence.

That last sentence? What? They are too young to handle it themselves. It’s your responsibility. They’ll be able to do it soon enough.

[Anonymous]

Designated snack time. Have snack ready in box or bin with their name and color.

Or

Snack bins. Put day's snacks in kids color coded bin. They eat it or not. Gone is gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks my kids are 3 and 5. They are too young g to be trusted to get their own food. I want to know what they are eating and foster controlled independence.

No they are not you are lazy

Teach them

Put some snacks in a drawer they can reach show them some healthy snacks then explain the rules one snack after breakfast one after lunch

Thanks! OP here. This is a good idea. I want to foster independence, but also keep an eye on how much they are actually having. I need them to eat lunch/dinner and not have unlimited snacks.

I wish there was a way for them get only one snack per day without me having to monitor it.

Thanks everyone! My mother in law thinks this is a me problem and maybe she is right…. Arghhhh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are trying to get your attention. This is why working while trying to take care of kids this young doesn't work unless they have unlimited screen time.

+1
Kids this age will not be able to entertain themselves for long periods of time. You might get an hour, but otherwise they are going to pester you all day. How many hours a day are you working?

They are in part time daycare. I get them back at 3… it’s not even about work, but more about the constant snacking and asking for another.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Do you think I am the only one with this issue? Are my kids different? When we have friends over it seems that their kids behave exactly the same way…

Does it happen with you? Does it not bother you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Do you think I am the only one with this issue? Are my kids different? When we have friends over it seems that their kids behave exactly the same way…

Does it happen with you? Does it not bother you?

You indulge it. No snacks except designated snack time. We are an ingredient family. There just aren't chips and crackers and packets of things.
We have cheese sticks, yogurt, cut fruit and maybe tortilla chips as snack options. Snack is eaten as a meal sitting at the table.
My kids are 5 and 9 and it's worked. They don't ask for snacks, they eat at meal times.
You have to be strict early on. I was happy to entertain a game of cards, read a book, play with them if they were bored (when they were little).

We have had playdates with kids who ask for snacks. I say "it's not snack time right now". And if kids are rude, they don't get invited back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Do you think I am the only one with this issue? Are my kids different? When we have friends over it seems that their kids behave exactly the same way…

Does it happen with you? Does it not bother you?

I think it’s a fairly normal issue and you’ve gotten some good suggestions. At that age, and really through elementary school, we had set snack times. Usually about 10:00 and 3:00. It would be something pretty simple. If they ask in between, I’d just remind them when the next meal or snack time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks my kids are 3 and 5. They are too young g to be trusted to get their own food. I want to know what they are eating and foster controlled independence.

No they are not you are lazy

Teach them

Put some snacks in a drawer they can reach show them some healthy snacks then explain the rules one snack after breakfast one after lunch

Thanks! OP here. This is a good idea. I want to foster independence, but also keep an eye on how much they are actually having. I need them to eat lunch/dinner and not have unlimited snacks.

I wish there was a way for them get only one snack per day without me having to monitor it.

Thanks everyone! My mother in law thinks this is a me problem and maybe she is right…. Arghhhh

Make the snack something more complicated and less fun than a crinkly bag of something. And then put the container in a high cabinet.