Plate Dumping

TJ1979 · February 2014

So E has this new habit of taking all of her food off of her plate, dumping it onto her high chair tray, handing me her plate, then eating.
Sometimes she does it at the beginning of the meal, sometimes in the middle, and sometimes when she is clearly done. Usually I thought plate and food throwing was a sign that they were full, and would take away the food. But if she hasn't even started eating yet, and she is clearly hungry, what do I do? How can I make it clear that this is inappropriate behavior without depriving her of food?

CarrieB. · February 2014

I would ignore it and assume that it's just an annoying phase that will hopefully end soon.

BabyKsMommy · February 2014

Can u just stop giving her food on a plate for now and just put it on the tray? I would do that for a while then reintroduce the plate in a month or so.

mdiblasi10 · February 2014

G does this too. Not every time, but sometimes. I try to stop him before he dumps it and get his focus back on eating. That seems to work for us. Otherwise, I would just let him eat it on his tray if we are at home. Good luck!

pb_bride · February 2014

M is younger than E, so obviously I have no idea what M will do in the months to come.

When we first introduced M to a plate, he would do something similar. I spent probably a whole week holding on to his plate (like planting it firmly on his tray) so he can't move it. Some days it took 2 hands to do that which means I couldn't really eat at the same time. But after a while, he got the idea and left the plate alone... at least at the start of the meal.

Hopefully it's just an annoying phase!

mcgeeva · February 2014

DS does this as well. Lately it's at the end of his meal. He says all done, throws or just drops it. But if I try and take it he takes it back after playing with his food and starts eating it agian. We just tell him no throwing or playing with his food and will take it away and hand back if he is hungry. That is all we have done so far.

TJ1979 · February 2014

Sorry to post and run, work got busy suddenly. Thanks for the suggestions. Is it not going backwards developmentally to go back to not using a plate? And what do we do at restaurants?

mcgeeva · February 2014

I wouldn't take away the plate. Better to teach her we do not mess with our food rather then her just make more of a mess putting all her food on the table. Just a phase I promise

kmc84 · February 2014

We have never used a plate yet. I know it'll turn into a battle that I don't have the energy or desire to fight. We go out probably 2-3 times a week either for lunch or dinner. I bring babyganics hand wipes everywhere and use one to wipe down the table where A sits. I put her food right on the table. This has always worked just fine for us. (I do use a wipe to clean the table when we are done too

). I don't think it would do any bit of developmental backsliding to stop using a plate. When E gets a little older and can follow directives a little better, try again. It can be a 'big girl' thing, maybe that will make it more appealing

laura1 · February 2014

I wouldn't bother with the plate. Or they make plates with the suction cups on the bottom like this: https://www.amazon.com/Sugarbooger-Divided-Suction-Plate-Hoot/dp/B002NMBSOK/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1393554152&sr=1-2&keywords=plate+with+suction+cup

We have a couple of these bowls, but my DD will often spend her time trying to get the bowl off the tray and fail to eat her food. If I can get it really stuck, she will eat just fine, though!

At restaurants I use those sticky placemats - table toppers like this: https://www.amazon.com/Neat-Solutions-Count-Neat-Ware-Topper/dp/B00119MR2S/ref=sr_1_4?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1393554297&sr=1-4&keywords=kids+stick+on+placemats

I order her food, and keep the plate near me. Then I just put her food right on the placemat. They also have a kiddopotomus one that is reusable: https://www.amazon.com/Kiddopotamus-10313-Tinydiner-Placemat-Blue/dp/B0006BAJK4/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1393554297&sr=1-3&keywords=kids+stick+on+placemats

Maybe I am just lazy, but I say ditch the plate for now then try again when she is older and understands more. I didn't do plates with my older ones until they graduated from using the tray and sat in a booster at the real table.

Good luck!

pb_bride · February 2014

TJ1979 said:

Sorry to post and run, work got busy suddenly. Thanks for the suggestions. Is it not going backwards developmentally to go back to not using a plate? And what do we do at restaurants?

@TJ1979, I think you were the one who introduced me to the tinydiner placemat, no? When we go out to eat, I don't bother to bring his plate, so I just put M's food directly on the placemat. The only time we use restaurant's plate is when we go for dim sum b/c the restaurants have tablecloth and the placemat doesn't stick to the cloth.

Mr. & Mrs. Woodtick · February 2014

DS does this as well. Lately it's at the end of his meal. He says all done, throws or just drops it. But if I try and take it he takes it back after playing with his food and starts eating it agian. We just tell him no throwing or playing with his food and will take it away and hand back if he is hungry. That is all we have done so far.

This is EXACTLY what happens in our house. It drives me crazy, but in our case 90% of the time it means he is done eating. I am going to assume it is a phase and that he will grow out of it.

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