18 months - What is up with spitting out food?!?!

crysbena

Recently my daughter started putting food in her mouth, mashing it up and then just opening her mouth to let it pour out... all over her... all over her chair... all over the floor.  It's beginning to get really frustrating.  DH asked, "have you read anything about this in any books?"  um...no... but anyone else going through this?  I'm not sure how to help correct or redirect her.  I ask if she's all done and sometimes she is...sometimes she isn't.  Anyone else going through this?

I totally lost it today when she spit out oatmeal all over her and the floor today.

gingerfamily

Is she laughing while she does it?  If so, I'd say she is doing it to get a reaction out of you.  If it were me, I'd take her out of her seat and tell her she can come back when she's ready to eat like a big girl.  I've done it with DD and it works. 

turtlerun

She probably likes the feel of it coming out and the independence of controlling a situation mixed with your reaction.  I went through it with my DS a couple of months ago.  Once I didn't pay any attention to it and let him sit in the mess he stopped.  I also gave him a wash cloth and taught him how to wipe the table and his face.  Now he doe not do it at all.  goodluck!

crysbena

Great tips!  I did used to totally ignore this behavior but admittingly it pushes my buttons lately.

No she doesn't laugh... it's as if she suddenly doesn't like the taste and doesn't want it anywhere near her mouth.  Then she'll take another bite and sometimes eat it but usually spit it out again. 

I had been pulling her out of the chair but she's starting to do this when I know she really isn't getting enough food.  Maybe I can also try a different food before pulling her out??

Thanks for the tips!  I need to defintely stop giving her a reaction.

Kingston54

DS did this for about two weeks.  I think he was trying to get a reaction.  It stopped b/c I kept ignoring him when he did it.