Eating as a family
When it comes to family meals, managing a baby at the table is no easy feat. Let's face it: our little darlings can start screaming, throwing food, dropping their spoons, pulling off their bibs… And yet we're encouraged to make mealtimes a calm and conducive experience so that our toddlers associate eating with something pleasant! Are there any miracle solutions to make mealtimes stress-free? Miracles, no. But at the very least, we offer some tips here for less stress and more enjoyment at mealtimes!
First, we calm the storm.
Even if we have a well-established routine and a busy schedule, it's best to delay meals for a few minutes if our little one first shows a need for comfort or to calm down. Forcing our child to sit at the table because "it's time" risks intensifying their emotions. Even for us adults, it can be difficult to eat when we're overwhelmed by strong emotions. It's the same for our children. So, never mind if the purée gets a little cold! It will be time well spent, because we enjoy a much better mealtime once our little ones are calm. Similarly, it can be helpful to get them to expend some energy before meals. For example, if the baby is crawling or climbing stairs, we can encourage them to practice moving around before sitting down. After being active, children are less restless at the table and tolerate sitting for a little longer.
We're planning for everything (or almost everything)!
What could be more frustrating than realizing, once seated at the table, that we've forgotten something important for a smooth meal? Before sitting down, we try to think about everything we need for a pleasant atmosphere, for example: a large tablecloth to put on the floor to catch any spills (that'll save us from having to mop the floor), small washcloths to dry the baby's hands or our own, a glass of water or milk with a leak-proof system, and several spare utensils in case the baby decides to throw them. If our children are a little older, we try to anticipate their special requests: milk, ketchup, more sauce, napkins… We get to know them by now!
We make life easier for ourselves
Despite our best intentions, zero-mess meals don't exist! Let's have realistic expectations and try to let go. Obviously, spaghetti with tomato sauce will be messier than a chicken dish, just as small grains of rice or quinoa will take a little longer to clean up from the floor! Here's a little tip for preparing these grains: mix them, cooked, with eggs to make mini-quiches or an omelet. You can also add them to vegetable or fruit puree to offer them by the spoonful. Finally, on busy evenings, it's best to prepare dishes that will make less of a mess for our baby… and our kitchen!
We ensure maximum comfort
Sometimes, a baby fidgets constantly in their chair and seems uncomfortable. First and foremost, check if something is bothering them. It could be a soiled diaper, a poorly positioned chair cushion, high chair straps irritating their skin, or a bib scratching their neck… Some children are more sensitive than others and can react to the slightest discomfort. Furthermore, our little ones need foot support when sitting at the table: imagine eating with your feet dangling, it's unpleasant! Some chairs are designed to adapt to the needs of our toddlers, and it becomes important to consider those that offer a footrest for older children. Trust us, a comfortable child will enjoy their meal more, and so will their parents!
We avoid the hustle and let go.
The last tip, but certainly not the least, is to avoid creating a tense atmosphere at mealtimes if our child isn't eating or is becoming irritable. Let's try to remain calm when they refuse to eat something or push the spoon away. Even if they eat very little at a meal, they might be hungrier at snack time or the next meal. When we're tense, our children become tense too, and they associate time spent around the table with unpleasantness. So, it's highly likely that over time, this tension will lead us, the parents, and the children to anticipate bad mealtime experiences!
Eating calmly with a baby isn't always easy, but by applying these tips and showing a little (or a lot?) of patience, you can have memorable family moments!
A mother, breastfeeding mentor, and nutritionist, Geneviève has been collaborating with La Mère Poule for almost 7 years. Her greatest desire is to pass on to children a love of food and the pleasure of eating together.
