Throwing Food

[mom78]

Okay, I have a 15 month old who has had the bad habit of throwing food from her high chair tray for quite some time.  Initially, when she would do it, we would just say, "Okay, all done," and take her food away and get her out of the high chair.  We would try it again later.  Since she has gotten older, we have tried firmly telling her, "No, we don't throw food." or when we can tell she is about to throw it, we will hold her hands.  I've tried teaching her sign language for all done - she knows and does other signs, but that one she won't use.  Anyway, nothing is working.  I can't figure out if she is throwing it because she is bored or because she is done with eating or with that particular type of food.  I'm getting frustrated and any ideas would be much appreciated.

[javamommy]

We went through the exact same thing with my son at the same age! They must love to throw food  Anyways, I was also getting extremely frustrated after trying everything. So we decided to do "time outs" in his crib. Every time he'd throw some food, we'd march him straight upstairs, tell him firmly " do not throw food" and place him in his crib for a few minutes. Then we'd bring him back down and put him in the highchair to eat. It might take a few nights of doing this a few times during dinner but it worked for us. Good luck!

[ReillysMom]

Our daughter did the same thing as well.  Whether positive or negative, they are looking for attention and your reaction.  With our daughter, as soon as she plays with her food (or throws it), dinner is done.  We remove her plate, we very calmly say "we do not (throw food/play with our food)."  We don't give her plate back, regardless of how much of a fit she throws, and we don't react.  As she's gotten older, she has to do timeouts for inappropriate dinner-time behavior, but again, we don't react to her.

Also, be sure to praise your child (I mean over the top--like your an amusement park entertainer) when she is behaving at the dinner table.  "Oh, Susie, I just love when you try to use your fork."  Continue to practice and role model the all-done sign when you're not at the dinner table and when you are.  Again, praise, praise, praise, and praise some more.  Teach when she is being good, ignore when she is misbehaving.

The key is, whatever method you decide to go with, stick with it.  It make take a week, or two, or even three--be prepared to ride her out. 

[JB79]

Yep, sounds familiar!  Our daughter started throwing food off of her tray when she was between 12 and 18 months...I can't remember.  We always said, "Food on the floor, you get no more."  And she immediately was taken out of the highchair and had nothing to eat until the next meal.  We also made her help us clean it up by getting on her hands and knees, picking up pieces of what she had thrown, and putting them in the trashcan.  She was defiant about it at first, but I really think it's a phase, and it will pass quickly if you pick a consequence and stick with it.

[ReillysMom]

I love "food on the floor, you get no more."   

[mom78]

Thanks so much, ladies!  It helps so much to know other kids do this and thanks for the tips!