What do YOU do about throwing food on the floor?

ladychicago · July 2011

This drives me bonkers. Anna used to do it only when she was full, so it was a sign she was done. No problem. I could put a stop to it quickly. Now, she does it all the time. One handful goes on the floor, one handful goes in her mouth. I am not sure if she is bored? She doesn't seem to find amusement in it, but she keeps doing it!

often, I know she isn't full, so ending mealtime seems like it will cause trouble later (sometimes her second handful goes on the floor). I do not want to get in the habit of her snacking all the time because she doesnt eat enough at mealtimes. But I am open to ending the meal if you all think it will help end the problem. I have tried telling her that we don't throw food on the floor in this house/if she doesn't want it she can leave it on the tray, I have tried to physically stop her from doing it, I have tried ignoring it... Nothing seems to help. So what do you do? Does it work? How old was your LO before you could curb the behavior?

naflmj · July 2011

We ignore the behavior. If he continues we may take it away depending on how much he has eaten. Before I would say no once and then take it away but this seems to be working better.

CHI-06 · July 2011

I tell her no...which doesn't work. Then I take the tray away and set it on the table where she can still see it. I tell her we don't throw our food...she usually gets upset when I take it away...so I explain and let her be upset for a minute and then try again and put the tray back explaining that if she throws her food I will take it away again. If she throws it again I remove the tray quickly. If I have to do this a few times I end the meal.

epphd · July 2011

I take the food away. I'm not sure it works because he still does it, but I figure it's a good immediate consequence. I tell him that if he chooses to throw his food, the food goes away. If he does it again, I end the meal (for 10 minutes or so, then offer again.)

I have heard of people who put their children down and ask them to pick up the food. I may try that, but since he enjoys "helping" and throwing things away I sort of wonder whether it will be a diversion or a game instead of a consequence.

cheekyali · July 2011

In the exact same boat- so exhausting! Nothing seems to work.

preheatedoven · July 2011

DS does this all.the.time. We try a combination of taking it away (if he seems like he's done eating), or saying "food stays on the tray." To make matters worse we now have two dogs who love mealtime Hmm

Quizzle · July 2011

preheatedoven:
DS does this all.the.time. We try a combination of taking it away (if he seems like he's done eating), or saying "food stays on the tray." To make matters worse we now have two dogs who love mealtime

Our dog's new favorite person is DD. He hangs around under her, barks and punches the high chair when we eat now. It doesn't help that she FEEDS him. She'll hold the food down, and right when he's about to take it, she'll laugh and shove it in her mouth. Confused

Usually food doesn't start hitting the floor for us until she's done. I ignore it the first few times, but if it happens three times, the meal is over.

charmcitygirl · July 2011

I could have written this post about a year ago. How frustrating! Its a phase. She's just trying to get a rise out of you and they have found a great way to do it!

I usually tried to tell him about keeping food on the plate/tray. Then I would take his bowl/plate away for a few minutes. Then I just started ignoring it. Sure, that meant a lot of clean up afterward. But eventually it stopped.

I hope it stops soon for you too. Food throwing is not a fun stage!

MBandBud · July 2011

So ironic you posting this. So yesterday morning we were eating breakfast and she had thrown food on the floor. I was ignoring it and then clearing up the banana on her tray that she was not interested in. As I was doing this she picked up a piece of banana and plopped it on the floor. I instinctively reacted and smacked her hand. I felt absolutely terrible the moment I did it. She paused at that moment and then started wailing. And so did I. It was probably my worst mommy moment. And you know what? She still put food on the floor at lunch and dinner. Which tells me she doesn't get it. So for me it is a balance between not allowing it to continue repeatedly (by using tactics like taking the food away and feeding things one by one) and ensuring your child gets a decent meal. I still think it is too young for her to understand. I think I learned the biggest lesson here in terms of my comfortability in reprimanding, but do know you are not alone in this.

AlissaCell701 · July 2011

CHI-06:
I tell her no...which doesn't work. Then I take the tray away and set it on the table where she can still see it. I tell her we don't throw our food...she usually gets upset when I take it away...so I explain and let her be upset for a minute and then try again and put the tray back explaining that if she throws her food I will take it away again. If she throws it again I remove the tray quickly. If I have to do this a few times I end the meal.

This! He gets really mad when I take the tray away..so this works..I am hoping that it's just a phase..Yeah right!

I am also getting so sick of him FEEDING the dogs..now he does it on purpose and looks at me when he does it. Reilly has gotten two belly aches now since all this food has been dropped on the floor.

xtencornfield · July 2011

Thanks for posting this. We're dealing with it too. DH isn't on board with ignoring, so it often turns into a no-fest which isn't working.

As for the dog, he's not allowed in the room while we're eating...ever. This has been the case since before Ethan was born. We trained him to wait outside the kitchen until we let him in. It's I think our only sanity during meals. Otherwise, I would have lost it a long time ago.

LVBlvd · July 2011

Nothing. It was a phase that went away on its own.

She doesn't throw food at all now unless she is mad for a specific reason and wanting to be defiant. Of course, now, she goes to time-out for that behavior.

laura1 · July 2011

DD will do it occasionally - when she doesn't like the food or she is done. I tell her no - we don't throw food. Then DS tells her, too, because he repeats everything I say. Then DS starts throwing his food, because he apparently thinks that it is a good idea, even though I have just said no, and he repeated after me. Then I clean up and end everyone's meal time.

Sometimes I just ignore the original food throwing, so then DS won't start as well, and I only have to clean up after one of them.

Oh, the joys of having 2...just you wait Wink !

dusk42 · July 2011

xtencornfield:
As for the dog, he's not allowed in the room while we're eating...ever. This has been the case since before Ethan was born. We trained him to wait outside the kitchen until we let him in. It's I think our only sanity during meals. Otherwise, I would have lost it a long time ago.

Definitely this - having a conspirator doesn't help the food dropping.

CandT · July 2011

I've noticed DD does this when the dogs are hovering, but not as bad when they're out of the room. I also taught her "eat it" or "in your mouth" and she will follow those directions (this usually comes after a toss or two though). Also, when she really starts tossing, I just take her plate away and only hand her a piece or two of food at a time.

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