One Year Old Throwing Food off High Chair

Oh, don't bother to try to discipline her too much. This is just a phase and a totally normal one. Most kids throw food off their high chairs at various points and doing it at the end of the meal is SO NORMAL. I'd just pay closer attention to when she's getting done eating and stop giving her food so she doesn't have anything to throw. If she does start to throw food, I'd take the rest of the food off her tray and give it to her one at a time (or just feed it to her). Saying no and trying to discipline at this age is pretty pointless. Better to distract her and create a situation where she can't be naughty. As she gets a bit older, she might be doing the throwing for attention (at this age, I think she's just doing it because its fun!). If that is the case, I'd just pick it up and ignore her. You can say no, but I doubt it will have much effect until she's much older and better able to understand "rules". Redirection works so much better for the 3 and under crowd.

B.
Momma to a 25 month old and baby #2 due in April

1 mom found this helpful

Ah, the memories. I remember those days, vividly!!! We went through the same thing with our two children. You're right on. She's testing boundries, doing it because it's fun to throw and feed the dog! FOOD FIGHT!
We first kept the dog out of the room. Then when they did throw the food, we'd try to ignore them doing it. If it got too crazy we'd just take the food away. They seemed to just out grow it... Thank goodness!
Good luck. Stay patient and just think, in 30 years you'll look back at this and laugh when their kids are doing it!
:)S.

1 mom found this helpful

First, have the dog out of the room so that fun is not there. Second, if she throws once, do the same as you are - tell her no, but I would not make a big deal out of it. The more you react, the more fun it is for her. If she throws again, she is done - especially since she is doing it at the end of the meal. Almost all kids throw food, they are experimenting with how the food falls and how you will react. She will grow out of this and it will be something else! :)
S.

1 mom found this helpful

It doesn't really have much to do with the dog, not as much as it has to do with grabbing your attention.

any attention is attention.

My youngest is 19 months old and he still will 'get ready to' throw his food, once he is done, he will say all done, all done, all done and really if I am not there by at least the second time he says it....the food will get thrown.

It is a phase, there honestly really isn't too much that can be done about it...getting upset really is going to just be a wasted emotion for you and your husband.

funny thing, after my kids are done eating, I let the dogs inside to get the most of the food they have thrown on the floor...those dogs help me out a little at least!

1 mom found this helpful

You've received some really good advice here, I agree with everyone so far. Your question reminded me of an article I just read last night talking about how kids (esp. as young as one year) haven't formed their brains enough and therefore lack the willpower to follow a rule versus do what comes naturally to them, which is to explore their environment (ie, do science experiments about how peas roll). If you are really bothered by her behavior, remove the food when she starts to do it and assume that she is full (or more full than hungry).

My 2 1/2 year old is also very fond of feeding the dog scraps she doesn't want, and the dog has taken to sitting directly under her table for meals. If I'm worried that he's begging too much or if she seems not interested enough in her meal, I'll put him outside right away.

Again, it just depends upon how much these things bother you and how much effort you want to put into making them not happen. Better to think about changing the situation than to expect her to follow "rules" about not doing them.

Good luck!
T.

1 mom found this helpful

immediately take the food away and turn your back saying all done. When she cries say no throw food (demonstrate pointing to the floor). Give it back and say eat nicely. If she does it again take it away and take her out of the chair. Let her have a fit, she'll learn. Try again in a few minutes. If she's truelly hungry she'll eat. She may be going through a growth spurt and doesn't have an appetite.

1 mom found this helpful

Oh.....I can so identify with you!! You are doing exactly what you need to. I have had two kids of my own that did that as well (we have a dog to that loved to be fed by them!) and now am watching my nephew (who is 14 months) and he tries it as well. The best you can do is say no like you are, end the meal when that happens and remember that it is a phase that does end. The only other thing may be to remove the dog from the room your daughter is eating in so that temptation won't be there. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Both of our kids did the same thing at that age. I think your idea to end the meal makes perfect sense. That is what we did. I wasn't sure about it either because I wanted my one year old to learn not to do that. The kids are 2 and 4 now and have pretty good table manners despite that rocky one year old time. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Sounds like she's doing it when she's done eating and/or doesn't want more food. You can't make a kid eat, and it's probably her way of saying "no thanks". She's also 1. She's learning about cause and effect and cool things like gravity. Her sippy cup makes a totally different noise than a spoonful of oatmeal when it hits the floor. And bananas stick while blueberries roll. How cool! Try to help her find some other ways to explore this and end meal time when something hits the floor. It will pass. My 2.5 year old did the same and he has pretty good table manners these days. Hang in there!

1 mom found this helpful