8 Month Old Eating Habits...

He's just experiementing. However, now is the time to nip it in the bud. If he's hungry, he'll eat and not play. You're doing the right thing to quit feeding him when he sprays his food, but I'd bump it up to the FIRST time. And say something like "No spitting. Dinner is over" or, if you want to give him a chance, say "You may eat nicely, or play on the floor." When he spits again say "That's so sad. You're not eating nicely. Dinner is over."
You might also try some finger foods if you haven't already. Both of mine were completely off baby food by about 9 months. Of course, then you'll e asking us what to do when he's throwing food across the table, or on the floor. The answers will be the same :-)
If he's the only one eating, just take him out of his high chair and clean up. If you're trying to have a family meal, put him in his crib or a playpen until you're finished eating.
This is the first of many meal-time battles to come! Just remember: You will never win a battle over food. You can't force a kid to eat. Put healthy, varied meals in front of him at regular intervals and let him eat (or not eat) what he will.

He sounds like he's just playing with his mouth and seeing what he can do. It is frustrating. My son went through it, and he eventually ended spitting the food at me. It was so hard getting through that. I just kept telling him no, and then go on with the meal. That habit also started back up when he was about 2. He started spitting and throwing the food. I lost it when I had BBQ sauce thrown at my face, so I understand your frustration. Just hang in there and remember that he's just trying out his new abilities.

This is the classic annoyingly cute behavior that infants just love to torture us with! Your son has figured out a new trick and I'm sure he absolutely loves the reactions he get from you and your husband. I wish I had better advice than to say it is a stage that will pass, but that is the best I can do. He is experimenting with everything, so new "tricks" will start to replace his current one and he will probably get bored with it and resume his normal eating habits. If not, be prepared to clean squash out of all your clothes for the next couple of weeks!

My son started doing that at 10mo. I would try to keep a stone face and say no in a stearn voice. I got my husband to do the same and he finally stopped when he didn't get a reaction. I would also praise him when he ate right. All kids react differently but you might want to give it a try.

My daughter started doing that around 8-9 mos old and finally at 9.5 mos old I got tired of it and stopped feeding (on the spot, grabbed her up out of the high chair, went to the grocery store and bought stuff I thought she could eat) her jar food and only gave her table food (she had no teeth until she was 11 mos old, FYI). It was a very easy transition. I think they really do this alot when they are bored with the lack of texture.

Good luck!

I just have to say that I understand completely. I feel like I've had one of those very willful children. He eventually stopped but now he's into throwing things (he's 15 months old.) Good luck and just go with your instincts cause all the little ones are different and do things for many reasons! (we'd just take him out of his high chair but then he wouldn't care and go about his business then 15 min later be screaming for more food- I think he was too young to put two and two together!)