Problems at the dinner table

[Lmeinhardt]

My 15 mo old daughter eats pretty well, she jsut throws alot of her food on the floor while eating. She also loves to drink milk from her sippy cup, but doesn't like to put it back on her tray...she likes to throw it on the floor also. I don't know what to do. When we go to restaraunts, there is a huge mess by the time that we leave. I would like to have somewhat of a handle on this for the upcoming holidays. When she throws her sippy cup down, I try to not give it back to her...but I feel she needs to be able to wash her food down. I have thought about ending her supper early, but she needs to eat and drink. We also have a problem with her screaming at the top of her lungs for no good reason...especially when she can't do something (like pick up a book, or grab something that is out of her reach). This is my first and I am thinking this will be my last!

[ra11en]

I'm sure a lot of us can relate! Especially to the "My first and I am thinking this will be my last!". :)

If she is a good eater and the pediatrician isn't concerned about her not eating enough then you need to learn to play a little hard ball with her. She is in a development stage that she is learning cause / effect and will continually do the same thing to see 1) does she get the same outcome and 2) because its neat to watch.

They won't starve themselves. I went through this with my toddler, including tantrums at the dinner table. I talked to my ped and she agreed with my strategy - when she threw her cup, she got a warning. When she threw it again, it was gone for the rest of the meal. As for throwing food on the floor - same thing. First bit of flying food gets her a warning. Second time, dinner is over. If its an accidental dropping, that gets to slide. Purposefully throwing food down - big no no.

Your toddler will learn quickly and will not starve. If she is hungry, the food will go in her mouth. Especially once she learns the consequences. If we only ate at home, I probably wouldn't care as much since I have my hoover chihuahua picking up every dropped scrap. But like you said, what about when we're out at a restauraunt or at a family's dinner? Its our job to teach them proper eating ettiquette, they don't just inately learn it themselves.

You're right that she needs to eat and drink, but skipping a meal here or there because she can't behave will not harm her at all. Tantrums from not getting what she wants - kinda the same. Stand your ground, be firm, and don't give in to a tantrum. Try to say yes as much as you can, otherwise just let her throw her tantrum and let her know you'll listen when she stops screaming. We ignore our 2 yr old when she starts a tantrum, and I tell her that once she is using words I will listen but I don't speak tantrum. She's coming out of them for the most part.

[twiceblessed]

I'm sure a lot of us can relate! Especially to the "My first and I am thinking this will be my last!". :)

If she is a good eater and the pediatrician isn't concerned about her not eating enough then you need to learn to play a little hard ball with her. She is in a development stage that she is learning cause / effect and will continually do the same thing to see 1) does she get the same outcome and 2) because its neat to watch.

They won't starve themselves. I went through this with my toddler, including tantrums at the dinner table. I talked to my ped and she agreed with my strategy - when she threw her cup, she got a warning. When she threw it again, it was gone for the rest of the meal. As for throwing food on the floor - same thing. First bit of flying food gets her a warning. Second time, dinner is over. If its an accidental dropping, that gets to slide. Purposefully throwing food down - big no no.

Your toddler will learn quickly and will not starve. If she is hungry, the food will go in her mouth. Especially once she learns the consequences. If we only ate at home, I probably wouldn't care as much since I have my hoover chihuahua picking up every dropped scrap. But like you said, what about when we're out at a restauraunt or at a family's dinner? Its our job to teach them proper eating ettiquette, they don't just inately learn it themselves.

You're right that she needs to eat and drink, but skipping a meal here or there because she can't behave will not harm her at all. Tantrums from not getting what she wants - kinda the same. Stand your ground, be firm, and don't give in to a tantrum. Try to say yes as much as you can, otherwise just let her throw her tantrum and let her know you'll listen when she stops screaming. We ignore our 2 yr old when she starts a tantrum, and I tell her that once she is using words I will listen but I don't speak tantrum. She's coming out of them for the most part.

You stole my answer, but said it much better than I could have :-)