Throwing Food.... - Madison,AL

Throwing is so much fun! And once most babies (happy birthday, by the way!) find they can throw food, they do it! Not only is the action exciting, but it also gets a rise out of Mama! Is that powerful or what?

She probably hasn't thrown the peaches because they're a little too slippery for her to get a grip on.

She's not being intentionally disobedient (she's not old enough to do that). It's a game she's playing.

You don't have to play it. Be prepared; once she throws, say casually, "I guess that course is over," and put it away. Try the next food; when she throws it, it's gone. If you have three or four foods planned, at least she gets a bite of each.

You have to keep a good attitude through all this, because if you coax or cry or lose your temper, you're playing her game!

Do not worry! When your daughter is hungry, she WILL eat! She really will. If you need to, move up snack time a bit, but make the same rule apply for all meals: throw it and it's gone.

It may take a few days, but be consistent, firm, and friendly. She's learning about consequences. When she finds you're not playing according to her rules, she'll drop the whole thing (and come up with something else).

My son does this as well. He is 17 months old and has been doing this for the past few months. And boy can he throw! There's not a whole lot you can do unfortunately. We would spoon feed him as much as possible. He will eat well at times and others not so well. When he starts to throw the food, I will then remove it from the tray and go about my business. After a bit I will try it again and sometimes that helps. Redirecting him has worked somewhat. But if he continues to throw it, then he's done. I'll remove it completely and not return it. If the child is hungry, they will eat. I wouldn't worry about it so much. If she is losing any weight she should be fine. My son's throwing episodes have decreased somewhat so I believe it's either just a phase or what I am doing is working. Either way there is hope.

Is she just doing it to get a reaction? Babies at this age do things because, of the way we react to them doing it. Its a game she drops you pick it up she drops you pick it up. Just quietly go and pick it and say I guess you don't want this because, you threw it. Let her sit there a while and she will tell you she is hungry if she is hungry. She will want it back eventually if you set it where she can see it. She is playing a game with you don't "play" back if you don't like it. Kids will eat if the are hungry. Just give her a 1 or 2 bites on her tray to pick up and eat. Too much on a plate overwhelms kids as does too much to choose from don't put a plate with beans, bananas, rice infront of her. Put out a couple beans then if she finishes those give her more beans or a couple small pieces of banana's etc. It is way less messy that way and she will be less likley to throw it is being overwhelmed is the problem.

I have a one year old that will do the same thing if it is in pieces. Sometimes, I just hand feed him or with a fork. Other times, I put it in one of those bowls that had the split lid that he has to put his hand in to grab, but food won't fall out when it's tipped or dropped. Lastly, I have found that sometimes he wants something he can hold and knaw on like a biter biscuit.
It is just part of their learning process.

both my kids did this and when they did i took them out of their chair and told them they could eat when they stopped throwing food. took me a few times every meal they ate but then it worked when the realization hit them that they didn't get to eat when they threw their food

I agree with Mary, simply remove the food once she throws it and say "all done!" She'll figure out the pattern pretty quickly! You could also try limiting the amount you put on her tray, sometimes too much food is overwhelming - and three crackers may be too much food, even though it seems like a small helping to us. I would start with ONE bite at a time. When my babies started table food I would put one pea on the tray, when it was gone, they got one cheerio, and so forth. I also didn't discourage "playing" with the food, squishing it, pushing it around the tray, putting it in and out of the mouth multiple times and dropping it into a cup were all ok behaviors. Mealtime is discovery time, and should be fun... it's just easier for mom when the fun stays on the tray! :)

I would suggest once she throws something, tell her no, if she does it again, swat her hand and tell her no throwing food, and if she does it again either give her one more warning and tell her she will have to get down and not eat or take her away from the table and tell her she can eat when she acts like a big girl. Good luck, my daughter also liked to push the limits at that age and I just had to stand firm and tell her no or take her out of the situation and not cave in when she started whining.