Throwing Food On the Floor-Need Help

MrsEmilyS

Ugh.  Okay, so DD has been throwing food on the floor off and on for awhile now.  Well, in the last 2 weeks she has started doing it at every meal and it's driving me insane. 

When she does it (either picks a piece up and looks at me and drops it or swipes her hand across the tray) I say "No m'am we do not throw food on the floor.  If you're finished tell Mama all done and do the sign" "I try to reinforce that she doesn't have to eat it but she can't throw it on the floor.  Since she is doing it at every meal and what seems to be testing me and my boundaries I have started taking off her tray while saying the above statement.  I have tried that, the finger point, talking louder, ignoring her for a min after I take away the tray until I bring her something else......and yet she is continuing to do it.

Am I doing enough?  Sometimes she cries, sometimes she does nothing or she will laugh.  I'm so over it.  Do more?  Stick to my guns?

Thanks! 

amanda1680

I have no advice.  M has been doing this for what seems like months now, and it drives.me.insane.  I can't even describe how much I hate it.  Every single meal, she does what your LO does... drops it piece by piece, or my favorite, just sweeps her hands across the whole tray.  I probably raise my voice more often than I should and tell her "NO!  We don't drop food on the floor!"  But I have no idea how to stop her from doing it.  Sometimes I'll just take the food away, but it doesn't bother her.  So yeah, I have no advice, just wanted to commiserate! 

jellybeanjean

Commiseration from me.  It's an obnoxiously long and frustrating stage.

rainstar752

I agree with PP- if they throw the food on the floor, the meal is over.  Don't take it away and then offer something else 2 minutes later.  It will be annoying the first few times because you'll worry they didn't eat anything, but they should learn really fast not to throw the food.

soontobe05

Say no as you have been up to three times (three is my limit) and then say "Okay, all done." and take the food away and get her out of the chair. It's hard the first few times because you'll worry they're hungry, and they may be, but they learn I promise. 

MrsEmilyS

Thanks ladies!  Is it bad that it makes me feel better that I'm not alone in my frustrations?!  I think we will give her 3 chances and then she is finished with the meal.

Thank you! 

M&M227

We also do a few chances then I tell her "I guess your finished"  I take her tray away (the top part comes off so the I don't have to take the whole top off) and I also make her sit there for a few minutes.  I don't want her to get into the habit of throwing her food once she wants to get down.  DH and I finish eating then we take her out and let her walk around while we're cleaning up.

JsMama11

I am dealing with the same thing and also give him a couple warnings before ending the meal but feel like I'm discouraging one bad behavior (throwing food) and encouraging another (throwing a fit to get out of his chair).

So now my question is....should I be taking him out of his chair or making him sit there with no food? Why isn't there a manual for toddlers!?!?!

JsMama11

M&M227:

I also make her sit there for a few minutes.  I don't want her to get into the habit of throwing her food once she wants to get down.  DH and I finish eating then we take her out and let her walk around while we're cleaning up.

 I think this is what I need to start doing. I haven't had a proper dinner in a week! 

MrsEmilyS

JsMama11:

M&M227:

I also make her sit there for a few minutes.  I don't want her to get into the habit of throwing her food once she wants to get down.  DH and I finish eating then we take her out and let her walk around while we're cleaning up.

 I think this is what I need to start doing. I haven't had a proper dinner in a week! 

This is what I plan to do.  Now if she finishes before we do she gets a toy in the highchair to play with until we finish unless we are almost finished.  However, I won't be giving a toy if she has been throwing things.  I hear you on the manual! 

Melissa2216

DS does the same thing. He likes a clean tray, so when he's done he throws what's left on the floor. My only suggestion might be to simplify your words.

I read somewhere that at this age they really only understand 2-word phrases. So when DS throws something, I take his hand and say "no throwing."

If he does it again, I say "no throwing. All done?" and I move all the food away from him as I'm saying this. Then I give him one piece of food (sometimes if he has too much food in front of him he'll throw it, but if I give him  one piece at a time he'll eat it).

If he throws it, I firmly say, "All done." and I take his tray.  DH calls this my "3 strikes" law, lol. Sometimes DS starts crying, but I'm hoping he'll learn eventually.

 

MommaA117

I am thankful for my dogs every day.

lauracoro

Dd used to do this and I started giving her food little by little.  It was a bit annoying but I'd give her a few pieces and when she ate those I'd give more. She didn't really throw the food when there were only like 5 peices on her tray at a time.