My 4 year old takes forever to eat

[tk8]

My 4 year old eats very slowly, no matter what we try he still takes forever to eat. Like tonight we sat down for dinner,everyone else has finished and had dessert he was still eating the same thing. It was over 2 hours before he finished. I am worried about him. Also is it normal for a child of his age to still eat 1 thing at a time?

[jd1419]

My four year old is the same very slow to eat--he would rather pick at his food and take time to eat and paly in between.  We have a very relaxed food rules in our house so sitting at the table does not apply--They must leave their food on the table and not take it with them, the one we really enforce.  Unless he is totally hungry and saying he is starving then supper time takes a long time.  For Tyler I think that it is now his wind down time and he is not really ready to totally stop playing and eat.

My 2 1/2 yr old on the other hand will eat quickly and understands thatn as quickly as he eats the faster he either gets a popsicle or gets back outside.

[Raine9]

Welcome to the club! (LOL)

My 3 1/2 year old daughter is the same way.  My husband and I get so frustrated waiting for her.  Good luck!

[CHeimes]

My 4-year old is the exact same way.  Her and her sister who is 20 months sit at the same time, have the exact same thing in food and Grace finishes 20-30 minutes before Kena does.  

We make Kena sit and eat all or most of her food.  She likes to get up from the table, play and so on... but we're consistent in making her stay in her chair and finish her food.  Sometimes I will sit w/ her and eat w/ her... that seems to help some.

She is very picky too... and she only will eat one thing on her plate at a time.  

I think it's pretty normal.  I wouldn't worry if I were you!

[Cleveland Mom]

Kids at your son's age frequently are picky eaters.  My kids age 4 and 2 are somewhat picky but not at an extreme level.   We have always been conscious about the kinds of food we have available in our house.   For dinner, we pull out plastic trays with small compartments and fill them with healthy foods that they like i.e. cottage cheese, cheese cubes, fruit, whole grain bagels, cut up, plain yogurt.  Sometimes they eat what we are eating but most often not.  As long as its healthy, I don't worry.  You can't force your child to eat something.  Have the family meal, then offer a healthy alternatives i.e pasta, whole grain bagel, fruit.  If they snub your main meal and the alternatives, well then tough beans.  You did your job.  Don't worry your son will not starve himself.  Don't become a short order cook for your son either.  Just give him a few options and thats that.

As for how long he takes to eat, alot of young kids are very slow eaters.  Let him poke its no cause for concern.