Why Won't They Close Their Mouths When They Eat????

Just reading the first sentence, I hadn't even gotten to the stuffy nose part, but I was going to say, maybe they can't adequatedly breathe through their noses. I find the more dairy my kids eat, the more they chew with their mouths open. Because dairy causes increased mucus production, I find that it takes about a week ro more of no dairy before they really start to be able to not chew with their mouths open. Even if they don't sound stuffy, they may have swollen sinuses, etc. I also find that PB8 from Nutrtion Now helps a ton with the stuffy sinuses.

I would give them one reminder/warning then excuse them from the table. I think you are doing the right thing in catching this early. TABLE MANNERS are very important for kids who eat at school, go on playdates and are out of the house eating.

My kids get excused from the table (i.e. dinner is over if you can't behave). Once they know you're serious they'll make the effort.

It's still a DAILY reminder in our house, however one warning usually nips it in the bud.

If you want to be silly, chew with a BIG OPEN MOUTH of food, talk, put your elbows on the table, interrupt them and see how THEY react. Tell them that's how they look when they eat! Once they "get it" they may be more willing to behave themselves.

When I met my stepdaughter she had NO table manners at age six! She'd chew with her mouth open, take huge bites so we could see it all mushed up, lick her plate, slurp her drink, just grab big platefulls of food all at once.

Now, at age 8 she has wonderful table manners! But only because I reminded her over. And over. And over. And over.

I'd say pick one thing, and for you it's just the chewing thing. Just give gentle reminders. You're going to have to give them a lot and you'll probably get tired of hearing yourself talk! But you know, it will sink through eventually and it'll become habit. Now I don't have to give reminders anymore.

I used to give rewards, don't bother. It's too much hassle just for table manners! A simple reminder now and then is fine.

Good luck!

I agree that seeing adults eat with their mouth open is unappealing but for a 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 year old it is a little unreasonable to expect that. It is great you are teaching them the correct way to eat but they are kids don't expect perfection. I say if that is the biggest problem you have you should be very happy! Don't sweat the small stuff!

Something simple that worked for good table manners at our house when my boys were young was lighting candles at dinner at night (make sure you have 2--tea lights work fine) If they sit and eat nice they get to blow out a candle at the end of the meal. It worked like magic.

when you give them food this week have it cut into really tiny pieces like you would for a baby. Only put one piece of each meal item (one half noodle, one tiny piece of meat, one half mandarin oranges, on tiny little chunk of apple). That's all that you put in front of them.

Now you tell them - you guys have been eating like babies so I am going to have you have food like babies eat until you learn to eat the right way. I want this (eat something with mouth closed) not this (eat with mouth open). This (demonstrate) not this (demonstrate).

Let them eat and because it's tiny pieces it will make them eat with mouth closed. Praise them. These meals will be labor intensive for you, cause you will only refill their plate if they eat with their mouth closed. Otherwise you will give another example of right and wrong before you give them another serving of each thing. Repeat the above until they get the food finished.

As the week progresses make the pieces more normal sized but keep on the demonstrating before each meal and as needed before giving them more food. By the end of the week you will have polite closed mouth eaters.

ugh, my 4.5 year old used to be very good about keeping her mouth closed... my 3.5 year old is horrible at it. I'm constantly reminding them, but their father is a horrible example. his chewing makes me sick!!! Good luck!!!!!!!

You just have to stay on them. The 2 1/2 year old I can understand a little.

Make sure you and your husband model the proper eating style. Remind them not to talk with food in their mouths. Ask them to take smaller bites.
Praise them when they are doing a good job. At some point you should set up a hidden video camera and show them what they look like.

Hate to tell ya, but that's just the way it is right now! LOL...they are kids and will need to be reminded a lot, but eventually, they do start to pay attn to their eating habits and manners! I usually just have to say the childs name and ask that they chew w/ their mouth closed and then they are ok (I run a daycare.) My own kids are 10 & 11 and still need a reminder once in awhile! Hang in there and use some of the ideas other posters had...they sound good! And I think it's great that you are working on this w/ them at this young age...I've seen too many adults eat like animals at the table and it grosses me out! :)