Throwing food

[amyrae76]

What do you do with a 2-year-old who throws food at nearly every meal? This is especially frustrating because our house is on the market so we have to keep it extra clean all the time.

How can I stop her from throwing food? Any advice?

Thanks!
Amy

[MommaC]

When she does it, take her hand and in a low firm voice tell her NO. If she does it again, tell her NO and slap her fingers. Be consistent. It will stop eventually. If you can't bring yourself to do slap her fingers (it's difficult, but I'd argue that it's necessary and effective), tell her know and take her food away for a bit (a time-out of sorts). Whatever you choose, be quick and consistent.

[kaiya23]

My daughter is only 13 mo., but I'm determined to start table manners as early as possible. She started with her cup, then her food. She hears "no" very firmly on a regular basis, but generally, if she throws it, she must be done with it, so I take it away. Even temporarily. Sometimes I'll rinse off a cup and give it back to her toward the end of a meal, but not more food.

Is he throwing it toward the end of the meal? That's usually when my daughter starts up with playing with her food, even if it seems like she hasn't eaten that much. So maybe it's just a sign that he's done.

[ivegot4]

I agree that taking away the food is the fastest way to curb that behavior. Especially if she doesn't get any until the next meal/snack time. Stay consistent!

[ra11en]

My DD loves throwing food on the floor. She gets a stern "No throwing food", then a clear warning that we'll take it away if she does it a second time, and we always follow through with taking it away. She knows exactly what will happen, and 90% of the time now she'll stop after the first time. I'm sure she's gone hungry, but it hasn't negatively impacted her development at all.

She's 21mo now, and when I tell her "No throwing food" she will say "No no no" and promptly start eating it. :)

[Mommaof3]

I have three kids under the age of 5, and aside from all the knowledge in the books you can read, how it is all normal and that they are learning the possibility of falling by chucking food, i have come to learn that most of the times when my kids have thrown food or push it around, its simply because they are not hungry. Simply tell them no, but realize that they are just a child and remove the child. Once being put down if they are truly not hungry, they will leave, if they are hungry, they will insist on being put back in. Trust me, simplify.

[catadmin]

The effect way to deal with food being thrown is to say in a low tone "NO throwing the food" and remove the plate. Let the child sit in the high chair as you eat your meal. After a few minutes, look at the child and say "Are you done with throwing your food?" Even without a response from the child, give him/her back their meal. If he/she does it again, remove the dish and do not give it back.

Also, do not put the child down but leave him/her in the high chair until you are done. Then clean up the child and put him/her down to play.

Repeat exactly the same thing on the next meal if the behavior is not changed.