Do you eat dinner with your toddlers/as a family?

[Anonymous]

We did not at that age. We started eating together when DC was 5.

I always disliked the "eat as a family" emphasis. Neither the timing nor the menu worked for us. It's not like you can never start, later, when it does make sense.

[Anonymous]

Yes we have always eaten as a family. I find it way easier now that I’m teleworking and don’t have to commute- we have been eating around 5:30 every night. But ore-COVID we would all eat together at 6:30.

[Anonymous]

My husband worked shift work when my kids were toddlers, we tried hard to have a family meal every day, but it wasn't always dinner, it just depended on his hours.

I ate with my toddlers every evening, but part of that is that I didn't face the issue you did in that generally if DH wasn't home for dinner it's because he was working 4 - 10 and I wasn't going to wait that long. When he was on that shift, we'd switch and do family breakfast instead.

We also often had a retired relative stop by for dinner. So, my kids got the experience of adult conversation, which I think is a big part of why family meals are important for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did not at that age. We started eating together when DC was 5.

I always disliked the "eat as a family" emphasis. Neither the timing nor the menu worked for us. It's not like you can never start, later, when it does make sense.

Can you explain what you mean by the menu didn't work?

[Anonymous]

We started to eat together at 6 months. Same for the second kid. Before that bedtime was just too early. Now we eat together with the 1 year old and 4 year old at 6pm. Makes the 5-7 time a rush but thats ok. Everyone eats better and the same thing.

[Anonymous]

We don't eat family dinner with our 3 year old. We have talked about starting it, but we are currently very worn out from potty training and WFH without childcare, and we really look forward to getting to have dinner with just the two of us after hour kid goes to bed. It's pretty much the only couple time we get these days. Our kid is also in prime food rejection phase right now, too, so meals with her are not particularly relaxing at the moment and by the time dinner rolls around, my patience is getting a little too thin to sit down for a 40 minute meal in the evening. I can handle eating with her earlier in the day, but by 6pm I am exhausted and just happy if she will consume any amount of the dinner I actually made (as opposed to the emergency yogurt and fruit she will inevitably demand instead).

I also feel less pressure to do family dinner right now because since we're all home right now, we are eating breakfast and lunch together most days. I think if our kid was going to school we'd prioritize dinner more.

[Anonymous]

We do, but we have dinner at 6 and bedtime at 7:30. Since I work from home full time we do a lot of oven or crockpot meals that I just put on and don't require active attention.

[Anonymous]

NP why are you all talking about the menu? Eat one dinner and eat together. No special meals for babies or toddlers.

[Anonymous]

We all eat together around the table (5 yo and 20 month old). We usually eat at 6:45/7 with an 8pm bedtime. Favorite part of my day and a big priority in our family.

[Anonymous]

Everyone eats at the same time and the same meal. I don't care if the toddler wanders off and picks at her plate but this is a hard and fast rule for me.

[Anonymous]

Half the time. Honestly, I prefer to eat alone so I can read.

[Anonymous]

We ate separately, but now that the kids are older, we eat together. Just do whatever is easiest for you. If both are easy, then pick the one you like better. Enjoy this phase, and then enjoy the next one.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s a great idea to start, OP. Starting now will definitely help make meal time easier as your child gets older. We’ve done meal time together from the very beginning with both our children. Although, maybe once a month my husband and I will feed the children first and order secret takeout to eat in the living room when they go to bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did not at that age. We started eating together when DC was 5.

I always disliked the "eat as a family" emphasis. Neither the timing nor the menu worked for us. It's not like you can never start, later, when it does make sense.

Can you explain what you mean by the menu didn't work?

DP. I don’t believe in forcing kids to eat foods they don’t like or threatening they will go hungry.

[Anonymous]

We do not. Pre-Covid I never got home by dinner time so I eat after kids are in bed. It’s too early for DH also.

While we’ve all been home we do on occasion, but I really hated being forced to sit at the dinner table with my parents. It was torture! I don’t want to do that to my kids, I can have a conversation with them that doesn’t involve dinner.