Super slow eater

I have a 4.5 year old dcg that has been with me full time for over a year. She is an incredibly slow eater, has been since the day she started attending my daycare. I have done lots of encouraging of her eating at a more age appropriate rate with age appropriate bites (she will nimble like a mouse if you let her) as well as giving her time limits on how long she is allowed to sit and eat. This girl will take 45 minutes to eat 3 slices of cucumber! It is getting frustrating for me, because I can't and won't wait forever for her to finish her food.

It isn't a picky eating issue, she eats everything she is given without complaint - she just takes little bitty bites and SLOWLY chews. I also give her a 1/4 cup of water at every meal and she will take FOREVER to drink that as well. I have to make sure she drinks or she will go all day without any liquids if I let her be.

When I give her a time limit (setting the time on the stove) she usually will eat all of her food before the timer goes off, so I know she is capable of it. But I am seriously sick of dealing with this with no improvement.

So my question is how to address it with her parents. I am sure they don't consider this an issue at home, letting her take as long as she wants to eat. But since I feel she is not improving in my care, I think a united front on this issue is necessary. I am thinking about kindergarten preparedness as well, the kids only get about 30 minutes for lunch and if she is left to her own devices she could go that whole time with having eaten hardly anything. She is underweight, so that is not a good thing.

Have you asked if she is eats this slow at home? If she does, I would just ask if they are concerned about it for when she goes to kindergarten. Maybe they haven't considered that?

I agree, both you and parents need to be united on this and help her realize that if she doesn't start to eat faster she will be going hungry at school lol.

Good luck!!

Oh I have had that child as well! I have no idea what to tell you, it is frustrating and I was exhausted every meal as well trying to get her to eat. I would just keep giving her the same thing every meal until it was done (parents were on board and having issues with her at home as well - we both tried everything). She did start to speed up when she realized that she missed out on the afternoon snack (usually something fun like cookies, pudding, granola bars etc). I was so happy when they left my care for mom's mat leave. After a year I had 2 spots open up and mom wanted to know if they could come back as their current daycare was not going well. I really hesitated because I dreaded the thought of meal times. I was pleasantly surprised though when they returned. She is a really good eater now. I think being at home with mom for the 10 months she was home did her wonders! Now we are working on the babies picky eating habits!

I always seem to get the kids who like to hold food in their mouth and not chew. That is my biggest issue. It seems they all seem to go through this stage. I have one that has been doing it for 3 weeks now. grrrrr......just swallow!!!

haha I thought of you instantly Mickyc when I read this thread! I've had a few slower eaters but thankfully none that hold food.....as long as you keep getting them, I should be good :P haha (mickyc and I are in the same town lol)

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Originally Posted by 5 Little Monkeys

Have you asked if she is eats this slow at home? If she does, I would just ask if they are concerned about it for when she goes to kindergarten. Maybe they haven't considered that?

I agree, both you and parents need to be united on this and help her realize that if she doesn't start to eat faster she will be going hungry at school lol.

Good luck!!

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I have talked about different food issues with them in the past, though I can't remember if we talked seriously about her slow eating. I got them to alter her diet about 6 months ago because she was always having mushy poops (sorry, too much info) and I was concerned that it was related to her eating too much sugar and fruit - she was living on jam sandwiches and apple sauce). At that time I told them a change was necessary as it wasn't possible for her to use the toilet independently (also a kindergarten readiness issue). The food changes worked.

I guess I feel sometimes that I am contantly asking for things or bringing up issues and wanted to make sure I bring it up in a way that won't feel like I am telling them how to parent.

Do you think it is appropriate for me to tell them to set a timer while she eats? What other strategy could they possibly try? I feel I have tried everything. She will be doing good, then be gone from daycare a few days and I have to start all over again.

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Originally Posted by mickyc

Oh I have had that child as well! I have no idea what to tell you, it is frustrating and I was exhausted every meal as well trying to get her to eat. I would just keep giving her the same thing every meal until it was done (parents were on board and having issues with her at home as well - we both tried everything). She did start to speed up when she realized that she missed out on the afternoon snack (usually something fun like cookies, pudding, granola bars etc). I was so happy when they left my care for mom's mat leave. After a year I had 2 spots open up and mom wanted to know if they could come back as their current daycare was not going well. I really hesitated because I dreaded the thought of meal times. I was pleasantly surprised though when they returned. She is a really good eater now. I think being at home with mom for the 10 months she was home did her wonders! Now we are working on the babies pick eating habits!

I always seem to get the kids who like to hold food in their mouth and not chew. That is my biggest issue. It seems they all seem to go through this stage. I have that has been doing that for 3 weeks now. grrrrr......just swallow!!!

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Yes, this girl doesn't usually come on Mondays and those days are so much easier. My day is so much different when I don't have to constantly telling someone to eat.

I think it is appropriate and within your rights to ask how they feel about using a timer at home. I would explain you have done this in dc with her and you notice a big difference in her eating when the timer is set.

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Originally Posted by AmandaKDT

I have a 4.5 year old dcg that has been with me full time for over a year. She is an incredibly slow eater, has been since the day she started attending my daycare. I have done lots of encouraging of her eating at a more age appropriate rate with age appropriate bites (she will nimble like a mouse if you let her) as well as giving her time limits on how long she is allowed to sit and eat. This girl will take 45 minutes to eat 3 slices of cucumber! It is getting frustrating for me, because I can't and won't wait forever for her to finish her food.

It isn't a picky eating issue, she eats everything she is given without complaint - she just takes little bitty bites and SLOWLY chews. I also give her a 1/4 cup of water at every meal and she will take FOREVER to drink that as well. I have to make sure she drinks or she will go all day without any liquids if I let her be.

When I give her a time limit (setting the time on the stove) she usually will eat all of her food before the timer goes off, so I know she is capable of it. But I am seriously sick of dealing with this with no improvement.



So my question is how to address it with her parents. I am sure they don't consider this an issue at home, letting her take as long as she wants to eat. But since I feel she is not improving in my care, I think a united front on this issue is necessary. I am thinking about kindergarten preparedness as well, the kids only get about 30 minutes for lunch and if she is left to her own devices she could go that whole time with having eaten hardly anything. She is underweight, so that is not a good thing.

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I remember when I was in school. My sisters and I would go home for lunch and my sisters would be so frustrated that I took so long eating lunch. I was a professional cook for a long time. Maybe it was my love for food that made me savour it?lol

I have had a slow eater with me for 1.5 years. It is a much bigger issue that her parents won't acknowledge. She is almost 4 and still holds food in her cheeks, and can't chew or swallow the most basic foods, and often vomits. She definitely has sensory issues and low mucle tone in the cheeks and mouth. My 12 month olds will polish off the same amount of food in less than 1/2 the time. Basically, she eats like a bird, as I can't have snacks and lunch lasting 1 hr each. It would literally take her 3 hrs to eat 2 small snacks and lunch, and my schedule was turned upside down as a result. Now she eats next to nothing, but stays in our timed schedule. It's a tough battle to win, and I give up making referral suggestions to her parents.