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How do I get my toddler to behave at dinnertime?

Toddlers are reluctant to stay still for any significant amount of time, especially at dinnertime. Normal adult conversation at a dinner table is not aimed at young children. Your child could be feeling ignored and acting out of frustration by being fidgety and misbehaving during meal time.

Toddlers have seemingly random eating habits, so your child might not even be hungry enough to want to eat a scheduled dinner. Sometimes children will be happy to eat a whole bowl of food and stay still while doing so. Most of the time, there is some sort of distraction that will be more interesting to your child than sitting still. Going to a restaurant with a toddler might work if your child is taken in with the scenery and sits still. The opposite could also happen: the restaurant might seem more exciting than food or staying in one spot.

At home, consider giving your child food before the proper meal starts. This way your child gets attention and won't interrupt the normal meal too much. If you choose to have your child at the table during dinner, keep the conversation child-orientated at the beginning of the meal. This will encourage your child to sit still and eat a bit. You can then let your child carry on with another activity, while the rest of the family continues with dinner.

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