So we've discussed this before but...

Re: So we've discussed this before but...

• MrsNoPhun

  May 2012

  D was really bad for awhile. I finally realized that a lot of it was that he really didn't like being constrained in his high chair any more. We have since moved him to a booster at the kitchen table and he really likes eating like a big boy. He enjoys it so much more and we have less food throwing. We also give him a plate and a fork, sometimes though he dumps the food all on the table and hands me the plate. He does still like to share with the dog. I have noticed that if he isn't super hungry or if he is really tired we have more food throwing. I generally take him down, tell him we don't throw our food and wait a little bit before trying again.

  Also I wait about 30 minutes after a nap or waking up before giving him breakfast. I have noticed that if he has time to fully wake up and let his tummy realize it is hungry, then he will eat more and throw less. 
  

  

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• pitterpatter129 member

  May 2012

  Nate throws food too.  Just here to commiserate.  This morning after breakfast, I made him pick up his cup, the rest of a breakfast bar, and clean up the spilt milk off the carpet.  That was the first time I've made him clean it up.  That's my new plan.  If I catch him about to throw food, I tell him to "put it back" on the tray.  If he does it, I get all happy and he claps for himself.  It's a start.   It's driving us nuts too. 

   

  

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• JoJoMama730 member

  May 2012

  I wish there was a manual that covered this!  I've been at my wits end too, but it's gotten better lately.  I started trying different things with G, and I don't know if it's been better recently because of the things I've done, or just the passing of time.  I did what you've been doing.  I've also tried some other things - sitting her on my lap to eat, giving her a few food choices and letting her tell me what she wants to eat, pulling her highchair up tight to the table so that she feels more like she's eating with us at the table, telling her she gets a sticker if she doesn't throw her food. . . . . blah blah blah.  Sometimes it helps, other times I think not so much.  Some days she gobbles up what I give her, and other days I'm dodging her dinner as it goes everywhere.  The most important thing I've learned is that the first thing I need to do when I get home (after hugging her and DH) is to change out of my work clothes, because even on a good day, dinner is messy business around here. 

   

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• bosha711 member

  May 2012

  I hate to jinx things, but I think we are moving past the food throwing phase. He does do it from time to time, but he mostly he now picks up the food & hands it back to me, saying "nah! all done!" lol

  We used to remove the tray from the high chair immediately when he'd start to throw & of course give the stern, "No! You don't throw food!". I guess this helped, but mostly, I think it was just that the phase passed naturally.
  

  
  
  

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• [Deleted User] member

  May 2012

  We've moved away from it as well.  We also removed the tray as soon as throwing started, so I think that helps.  Follow through is key.   So is luck.  
  

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• --halo-- member

  May 2012

  bosha711:

  I hate to jinx things, but I think we are moving past the food throwing phase. He does do it from time to time, but he mostly he now picks up the food & hands it back to me, saying "nah! all done!" lol

  We used to remove the tray from the high chair immediately when he'd start to throw & of course give the stern, "No! You don't throw food!". I guess this helped, but mostly, I think it was just that the phase passed naturally.
  

  This is pretty much us, too.  It used to drive me nuts because it seemed like all he did was throw food at meals, but I think he's pretty much done with it.  I also used to take the tray away and say "No throwing food!"  But I honestly don't think that helped.  Like bosha said, I think it was just a phase that passed naturally.  

  Now he only throws food when he is totally done eating and wants to play.   

  eta:  I hope your LO's phase passes quickly and that you can enjoy meals again!   

  I used to be a big deal.  Now I'm just old. 

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• Gidgetwho

  May 2012

  It also helps a lot to make sure that the dog is not hanging out under the highchair.  I've started making the dog hang out elsewhere when the kids eat because both of mine find it fun to feed her.

  

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• kat81again2 member

  May 2012

  we have the same problem and also no solution to it. I hate the "try the meal again in a few minutes" advice because we don't have extra time for breakfast (pre-daycare) or dinner (not delaying bedtime, and unable to start sooner b/c of work/daycare). On the weekends I have more leeway but otherwise there are no options. I can just cut his meal short each time but he will end up eating less overall. And you might have a situation like this morning when he woke up extra early and was in a super bad mood because he was so hungry. No ideas here....

  
  
  

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• klinky member

  May 2012

  It's getting better around here (but still not stopped completely).  Things that I think have helped:

  Keeping the dog away from the table.  She loves to give him food and get his attention or have him jump up to see her.

  If it's just harmless dropping (not throwing) I ignore it.  The dog will clean it up anyways! I think this has helped the most.

  I give her smaller amounts (like 4 blueberries instead of 30) so that if she does start throwing, then at least it's not as many.  If she does start throwing I assume she's full or wants something different.

   

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• lulu8109 member

  May 2012

  Sorry, can't help, but am here to commiserate too.  DS doesn't throw his food, but he drops it constantly.  We've tried taking the try away and doing the stern "Do not throw food" and tell him to put it aside, but it never sticks.  I really really really hope it's a phase because I don't know what to do about it.  He also likes to drop his sippy cup, which has caused a dent or two in our hardwood floors *siiigh*.

  I think I'll try PP's suggestion of putting him in a booster seat instead of the high chair.  Maybe he would rather sit at the table.
  

  
  
  

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• bumpuser260585 member

  May 2012

  I have a smoosher instead of a thrower. When he is done he likes to smoosh the food into his plate with his finger. I now give him smaller amounts, like a pp mentioned. He knows if he eats everything, then he gets more. If I notice him smooshing food before he's really eaten anything then I feed him instead of letting him do it himself. We started letting him sit at the table in a booster yesterday & he loved it. That might be worth a shot.

  

  
  
  

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