How do you make your LO sit still for eating?

[amycyt]

Hello,

My LO is 7 months old and has been eating solids for 1 month now.  He is not a big eater and still not showing too much interest in food. 

He doesn't sit still for his feeding.  I have to put him in front of the TV so that at least he can sort of sit still so I can feed him. But I am afraid he is associating TV with eating.  If I don't turn on the TV, he would be looking around and I can't even get the spoon close to his mouth.  However, TV doesn't always solve this feeding problem.  He sometimes is so focusing on TV, he doesn't even swallow the food.  No matter what it always take forever to feed him and he only eats so little.  Anyone has similar problem and how do you solve it?  Will he grow out of it and eventually like to eat?  I envy those moms who say their kids love to eat.   

[creations]

Hi
At this age they don't need solids, their primary food is milk right up to a year old so rather than focus on how much he eats think more about his experience of food, what you are teaching him about food and setting up good habits around food.  Think more about how you want him to eat in the future rather than how much he eats now. So I'd make the future goal something like this:
a variety or healthy food
a balance of food groups
eating to his fill and not beyond
sitting at the dining table with the family
taking part in family conversations and socialising during meals
even helping to clear up at the end of a meal

Babies and children love to copy mummy and daddy having him at the table during meal times and eating your own meal, letting him see what you eat and how you enjoy it, learning the social aspect of table manners, conversation etc, all of these things can be modelled right now and he can just have small tastes of food until he wants no more.  Distractions during meal times, praise for eating, and a requirement to eat a certain amount or finish a plate can result in excess weight in the future, babies are very good at self regulating their calorie intake so it is unwise to over ride that natural ability.  If you set up how you want meals to be and have low expectations, making allowances for his age, then the actual eating will happen when he is ready for it.

hth
(btw with clearing up, mine liked to help me gather all the bits of food off his tray and pop them back on the plate or in the bowl, it's not something to force, just model and let him join in when he is willing)

[amycyt]

You made very points, creations.  You are right I focus more on the amount he eats rather than the whole eating experience.  I do introduce a variety and balance food.  It is just very frustrated that he doesn't show too much interest in food.  And because feeding has always been an issue even before introducing solids.  I just want him to drink/eat well.  Another good suggestion is to have LO to dine with the family.  However, it is impossible to do it on weekdays as LO is already in bed when DH comes home from work.  Weekends when we dine out, he can never sit at the table with us without being cranky.  One of us has to hold him while the other person eats.  We can never enjoy dining out with him.  Hopefully when he gets older and starts eating finger food, feeding will be much easier.  Thanks again for your pointers.

[creations]

I just want him to drink/eat well.

Of course. I think it is built in to us to want to feed our children
7 months is still pretty young yk, still a baby.  Some take to solids immediately like they have been waiting for it (mine acted like I'd starved him for 6 months the way he went for solids) and others take their time or show no interest for a couple of months then suddenly get a taste for it.  There really is no hurry and no way is better, if he ate too much solids he might not take his milk and that is more nutrient rich for him at this point.
I think you might need to be more patient taking into account your eating habits. If LO isn't seeing you eat and sharing a family meal then he doesn't have the modelling to copy, he doesn't see your enjoyment of the food.  Humans are social eaters we eat more and enjoy our food more when we share it with others, if he is eating alone (I mean you not eating, not that you leave the room!) he is less likely to be interested.  Personally I would provide LO with a family meal, ie eat with him, he is a child and has skills to learn, can you eat a small serving with him and eat slightly less when you have your evening meal with DH? Or is it possible to share breakfast and lunch with your LO if not the evening meal?
I also have taken DS to restaurants from a young age. It does tend to involve being a bit quicker with the meal than you would really want. Do you know your baby is already old enough to start finger foods? I didn't feed purées at all, just finger foods.  You might find he is entertained for a little while in the restaurant if you can have him in a high chair with some pieces of food from your plate (I used to take some steamed veg batons or baked veg wedges with me so that I knew he was getting some veg and not cooked with salt, then in addition he could have anything off my plate although I would only give a smaller portion if it was salty), just pop one or two pieces on his tray rather than many so there is less to go on the floor if he drops it.  Finger foods may also make it easier for you to share a meal at home with him rather than trying to feed purées whilst watching TV.  Further, if you are putting lots of effort and time into making lovely healthy purees then it is likely adding to your frustration that it is not eaten where as it doesn't seem such a loss if you steam a carrot and a few green beans and they are only nibbled on.

I'm sure your baby will take to solids just fine over the coming months.