Throwing Food..

I have an 18 month old who does the same thing. I am also a single parent and still find it extremely frustrating. At this age they are old enough to understand punishments a little so usually when my daughter throws her food, she doesnt get anymore. She gets a firm low voiced,"no" and I clean up before letting her out of her chair. Its important to find other things to peak their interest. Outside, toys, even water. Sometimes too all they need is a little water inbetween snacking good luck!

i have 19 month old twin girls. they too throw their food. i think all toddlers go through this. just keep trying to feed her a variety of foods. i usually clean up the floor, at least a quickie clean up before i even get my girls out of their highchairs. i try not to respond too much when they throw things because if i do. it becomes a game of battle of the wills. good luck!

Dear L.,

Well, she is only 18 months old and is dealing with a lot of changes in her life. The changes that are happening inside her little body, and the changes that are happening in her family. You need to be very calm and firm at the same time, in order to give her confidence that things are going to be alright. When she refuses the food, then ask her if she wants to eat anymore. If she says or signals no, take her down from the table, clean her up and give her something to do. Clean off the table and get on with your lives. At the moment she starts to throw food, take her away from the table and put the food away.

Just keep on doing this. Do not let her eat anywhere else but the table. You need to sit with her too while she is eating and talk to her as if you were enjoying the meal too. Keep some extra foods on your plate so that you can see if she is interested in them. Be ready to take her away from the table asap when she starts refusing to eat or throwing - take the food off the floor yourself immediately also. Don't fuss at her. Just be firm and quick.

Just continue doing that and the bad habits will be forgotten. The moment that you try to find somewhere else to feed her is the moment that you start some really strong habits to change. I know one little girl that never did sit with the family to eat, and it caused a looooot of other problems. You don't need that.

This will work out, another thing. Do not discuss this with too many other people, or you will start getting lots of advice - some of which that you do not want to follow. She does not need to be punished in any way.

She will do fine with the new baby, just be sure to give her attention too, and get her a baby doll just before the new one is born. You know, a baby doll with a blanket and bottle. She will love it and take care of it the way that you do the new baby, probably. Nothing is for sure, you realize.

Good luck, C. N.

This is a tedious method but it works. When she throws the food, take her out of the high chair and away from the food. Then try putting her back in for a little bit. If she throws it again, take her out again. Pretty soon she'll get it that eating is not a game. Good luck!

My daughter used to do something similar. She would throw the food whether she liked it or not... You're nicer than me in the fact that she gets what I give her... NO OPTIONS.
What I did when she would throw her food.... I would get her out of her chair, take the tray into the kitchen & have her HELP ME pick the food up. I would tell her its not nice to make a mess & throw food... If she doesn't want it she could say so... I would then put her in time out for 2 or 3 mins.... This went on for about a week & then she stopped. NO MORE MESS!! YAY!!

NOW, she tells me... "I don't want it" LOL

I agree with a lot of the others. Apply some discipline, but for the most part this is a stage amongst many others. Her habbits will change. Avoid the 5 star restaraunts hahaha.

I would give her food in her chair at set meal or snack times. Don't give her food when she screams for it. She's not too young for time out. Basic guide is one minute per year of age. When she throws food on the floor, clean it up off the floor then clean her up, and take her out of her chair and tell her she's done and that there is no throwing food. Then don't try to feed her again until she has calmed down. If she throws food again, repeat. Keep taking her out each time she throws the food. Even if it takes three hours to eat that first meal. She'll learn after at that first meal, or soon after.

I have a 3yr old that still throws food on the floor! He gets in trouble for it now, but last year I was so frustrated with it and I finally realized that my son was actually learning from it. They drop it to see what happens the "cause and effect" thing. I would just try to bear with it and keep saying no for another couple months, then punish her if she continues. I also found that since I have been making my son clean it up by himself and throw it in the garbage, he does it less and less. Good luck!

First of all put her in a seat with a strap like a high chair...

Also, don't let her pick the food. Serve her, when she throws the food say we don't throw food. Repeat this 2 times, when she does it a third time clear off her table, clean up the mess and remove her from the table. Explain to her as you are removing her that since she is throwing food she is done eating.

Don't feed her anything for 2-3 hours. Stay consistent. Keep repeating the process. Feed her meals every 2-3 hours.

Example: Breakfast at 8, snack at 10, lunch at noon, snack at 3, dinner at 5 or 6. No in between feedings.

Always remain calm and patient... Good luck!

Hi

First and foremost, you are the MOM. You must be in control.
You should not feed her just because she is screaming. You need to set times for each meal. Eat together as a family at the table. Plate her food like you would you own. If she throws it, leave it and take away her food for a few minutes. You continue to eat, letting her watch you. When she starts to throw a fit again, tell her she can have her food back if she eats it. give it back to her again. If she does the same thing, take it away a little bit longer. you may have to repeat this several times. You are not starving her. She will eat when she is hungry. when dinner is done. You make her help you clean up the mess that she created. For snacks, give her, juice, yogurt, cheese. Not cookies or junk food. Remember her stomach is a lot smaller than ours and she can get by on a lot less. Take control Mom.

good luck

She's doing it cuz he's 18 months old & it's a phase. It's all about cause & effect: she likes to watch it drop to the floor & then see the effect it has on you. The key is to stay calm & be consistent. When she throws the food, calmly tell her no food throwing & give it back to her but warn her you'll take it away if she does it again. If so, then take the food away, tell her eating is done & have her leave the table or high chair. She'll get it in a few days. Just remember not to make a huge deal out of it cuz the more attention you give to it, positive or negative, the more she'll want to do it. Good luck!