No, not the baby....the 7 yr old. 7.5 more accurately

I just don't get it. How does a child of that age make such a mess of himself while eating?? And the food doesn't matter. He can make a catastrophe out of plain toast, just the same as he can with mac and cheese. Or raisins or spaghetti. Or chili or pb sandwiches.

Seriously, it's ridiculous, and disgusting. I don't know how he does it. I sit with him at the table and it just *happens*. Sure, I see the occasional too big bite try to squish in his mouth or the bite roll off the fork and down his chest...but come on...pb sandwich? I'll even allow a messy face here, but all over the front of his shirt? I mean, what'd he do...open the sandwich and smear the pb bread on himself?? My goodness!

It infuriates me. I think at this age THIS level of messiness is unacceptable. But I don't know *how* all this happens so I don't know how to stop it.

The things I do *catch* I correct on the spot "take smaller bites and it won't fall out of your mouth" "chew with your mouth closed and again, smaller bites makes that possible" yada yada yada Oh and "use your napkin not your shirt"

It's the weirdest thing though...I can sit right there, witness only a couple 'minor infractions' yet when he leaves the table...it looks like he was wearing his entire meal.

Does anyone else have a horribly messy eater....beyond age 4. Any ideas, help, suggestions, tips ??? It's really driving me crazy. I'm *thisclose* to putting him in a highchair and spoon feeding him!!! j/k LOL

I don't have an older kid, but I know a friend of mine's son kept making a mess until she made him start cleaning it up himself. He started paying more attention, eating more carefully etc - got clean real fast. She said he was just lazy and always in a hurry to eat - the whole dinner mess really made him stop and think because if he got it on his clothes, then he had to do his own laundry etc on top of his other chores. Not that he doesn't still have the occasional spill, but it's more of an accidental once in awhile thing than everyday now.

Tara said:
Does anyone else have a horribly messy eater....beyond age 4.

ME!!!! hahaha. Seriously though, it never fails, I always make a mess of myself. I think people like me just have a magnet underneath our clothes that attract the food. My dh always teases me about spilling things on me while I'm eating. I don't really have any suggestions but CB's suggestion sounds pretty good.

Oh Eva .... you made me LOL

I may have to try that one Cheese .. have him do his own laundry. He already has to clean his mess otherwise. But the mess is mostly on his front.

Here are pics from today. Mind you, the pics really don't do it justice LOL And, this *is* a mild one, he can do much 'better' :roll:

But....

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a72/Tara-S/DSC01110.jpg
Do you see on his forehead? How does one get pb on their forehead when eating a sandwich? Hmmm ? As well as all around his mouth. But as I said, I'll even let that one slide.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a72/Tara-S/DSC01111.jpg
And the shirt. A big glob by the collar and several other smears across the front.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a72/Tara-S/DSC01112.jpg
Again, this is NOT his 'best' work. But still, gives an idea. This was a pb sandwich we're talking about. And those aren't drips from sloppy pb!!

Is he getting it on his hands and then touching his face? (that's all i can think of for the forehead. did his hair get in the way so he swiped his hair, but his fingers had pb?) Maybe a cloth napkin where he can wipe his fingers periodically is in order?

It doesn't seem to matter to keep a napkin handy, he reaches for his shirt (or pants) first :roll:
But maybe with persistence ..... ??
Lay out a nice biiiiiiiiiiig napkin for him at every meal....

Yes the pb on fingers then touching face is likely ... but why is a whole other issue.
WHY does one need to have every finger tip on the sandwich and I don't just mean holding a sandwich 'nicely' with two hands. I mean fingertips in the food. He's also one who's prone to fisting a piece of bacon and sausage and ..... LOL We tell him fingertips are sufficient in those instances. Then he goes around and every fingertip must enter his mouth. He's a doozy I tell ya LOL

And to think, he was SUCH a neat baby. On his first birthday, see, I set out the cake and let them have at it. Well, they never *do* 'have at it' He was quite tame. He stuck a spoon in the middle then commenced to trying to use the spoon as a straw and suck the cake up. To no avail, obviously. So I get his slice and he ever so carefully and cleanly, took small bites with his spoon, his face was soooooooo clean. Unreal! And now? Geesh!

I'm sorry but you guys have me laughing now. :D i don't have any suggestions that haven't already been said. My dd is a messy eater but she's only 3 so i will have to let her slide for know:lol: I love the story of him being such a neat eater at the age of one, the one time you let them be messy he didn't want to....lol

I'm on the same boat as you Kristy my dd is 3 so i let is slide for now. :wink: My dh on the other hand freaks and can't stand a mess. He's always wiping her hands and mouth every time she takes a bite :lol: (Could be a bit of an exaggeration but now that i think of it i don't think it is). :lol: I can't even imagine who dh would feel to have a messy 7 yr old. LOL! Tara that is a funny story about your ds being super clean when you didn't mind if he wasn't and now he's messy when you don't want him to be. ROFL!

Does anyone else have a horribly messy eater....beyond age 4. Any ideas, help, suggestions, tips ??? It's really driving me crazy. I'm *thisclose* to putting him in a highchair and spoon feeding him!!! j/k LOL

Why not? Tell him if he's going to eat like a baby you will treat him like a baby.

Though that probably won't do much for his self-esteem. How about focusing on everything positive he does while eating? Saying "please," passing something nicely, etc. Then maybe he'll start working harder at eating more civilly?

If not, remember that one day he will be older and want to impress a girlfriend. :lol:

I've "threatened" it before...maybe if I followed through just once ??
Would that be evil of me? Like you said, I do worry about self esteem there...he already suffers from 'little man syndrome' He's barely an inch or two and 2# bigger than his brother who is 2 years younger. He's a 7 yr old who can wear a size 3T in the waist!!!

Trying to think...what DOES he do positively at the table...
Generally there's nothing to be passed, so that's out...um...gee
that's tough LOL

Well, not sure if this will be encouraging or discouraging...but my 11 year old is completely and utterably the sloppiest eater I have ever seen! :shock: He looks worse than most 2 year olds...still. When he was two he always ended up with food in his hair as he always rubbed his face and head with his hands. :?

My son actually has symptoms of a sensory integration disorder and it is obvious he doesn't FEEL the food all over him. He has poor dexterity in his finger tips and awkwardly holds his untensils and is clumsy still. Knowing that I try to have some grace and mercy but it does't help the frustration or stop me from trying to train him....The following is a true story and names may have been changed to protect the innocent! :lol:

"Luke...use your fork not your fingers...Luke please sit on your bottom not on your knees...Luke please lean OVER your food...NO NO like this son...look at mommy...look at your brothers....see...Luke wipe your hands on your napkin not your clothes...Luke wipe your mouth on your napkin not your shirt. LUKE! :shock: We don't wipe up spills with our mouths sucking it off the table ( this actually happened) Luke PLEASE PLEASE pay attention you are spiling your food all over the place! Luke, Luke, Luke [whataaargghsign]

So Tara, when you have it figured out..clue me in. In the mean time...feel free to vent as I SO GET IT!

My daughter is 6 and she is an extremely messy eater! I can give her one little Oreo and by the time she's finished it will be all over her mouth, on her nose, and even little bits all over her cheeks. Unbelieveable.... She has always been this way, and I don't know why. Good thing she's cute!

*sigh of relief*

At least I am not alone!!

See, my other kids have also been 'clean' at a young age. They, for the most part, have remained so. So, I just assumed that their level of messiness, was the norm. And that Yogurt...was the 'odd one' hehe

Leslie...your story sounds much like what has gone on here at times. Too funny. In that sad, 'oh I feel your pain' kind of way. My son does not share the dexterity issues you mention, but otherwise, the scenario...fit him to a T.

"no, don't do that. no, not like that. no, do this. son, do you SEE what you're doing?"

And yes, I am afraid my 7 yr old is often compared to his now 3 yr old sister...she often leaves the table with NARY a crumb on her face (and she can get normal 3 yr old messy!) while he...well...refer to the above pictures to give an 'idea'. He can make even the seemingly cleanest foods messy.
Plain noodles? Water he drips down his shirt, then wipes his mouth with his sleeve or shirt collar.

We've decided he has this weekend to really work on it (as this HAS been an issue for quite some time now and we're forever 'on' him about it) at which time, if no significant improvement/awareness has been made, he shall not receive snacks for the week. Then at week's end, we re-evaluate. This was what daddy instituted. The judge shall rule ;)

Well I know I am Mrs. Passive Resistance, but unless it is causing a huge catastrophe I wouldn't sweat it; this is probably more carelessness than anything and he'll probably grow out of it on his own. As long as he is using basic table manners I would let it go because at this age they tend to tune us out. I would say that he should clean up the entire lunch table...but I'm not keen on using cleaning as a punishment. I think the worst I would do is tie a big old sheet around him and just simply say "its to catch crumbs" or something and leave it at that.

I would do is tie a big old sheet around him and just simply say "its to catch crumbs" or something and leave it at that.




What a beautiful laid back attitude of live and let live! I sure wish I could do that more! LOL! [rotfl] Hmmmm can't ever see it happening though! :lol: