The grandparents are joining you and your family for dinner tonight and everyone is really looking forward to the delicious pot roast they’ve smelled cooking all day long. Everyone finally gathers at the table and before the first roll can be passed, your 18-month-old decides it would be much more fun to hurl his potatoes at Grandma’s head. His aim is pretty good and he not only hits her, the gravy that was once clinging to the potatoes is now spattered on your 4-year-old’s brand new dress. Sigh, here we go again. Toddlers may not say a lot, but they sure do know a lot, and one thing most have in common is testing the waters! Food throwing is not something they decide to do just to get you aggravated or to make a mess. No, they have much smarter reasoning—they want to see how you will react after it is done. Keep in mind that when they test you with any annoying behavior, such as throwing food or throwing a tantrum, you need to teach them that there are limits and consequences for these actions and then follow through on your words.
If you are tired of your toddler turning mealtime into a food throwing Olympic event, you are definitely not alone. This veteran Mighty Mommy has been there and done that 8 times over. So here are the 5 things I’ve learned along the way that can help your child keep food on their plate, rather than on your ceiling: When food throwing becomes a definite pattern at mealtimes, take a good look at how much food you are placing in front of your child. Is he faced with a giant pile of stuff that’s just begging to be tossed? If so, place just a few bites on her plate and encourage her to eat by sitting down next to her and modeling how you eat. Be simple and direct. You might say “Mommy loves her chicken,” then place a piece on your fork, eat it and smile and say “Yummy.” See if your child will imitate you. This may take several or more tries, but eventually kids get curious and want to parrot what they parents do. I noticed a pattern with my children who were the food throwers in our family—they weren’t hungry.
Because we have a large family, it was hard to get the toddlers to want to eat at our regular family dinnertime. The food throwing became a means of entertainment because they just had no desire to eat. So to counteract that, I started feeding my toddler-aged kids an hour after our family dinner and this cut food throwing down by nearly 75%! Sometimes there was absolutely no rhyme or reason as to what food my kids would throw. Most times it was a vegetable or something they were not interested in, but other times it was one of their favorites like macaroni and cheese. So I figured out a way to alter the trajectory. I put two empty plastic bowls on the high chair (or at the table) and when I saw my son pick up an item that I knew he was going to hurl, I tried to redirect the throw by showing him the empty bowls and saying “Connor, you don’t need to throw the food, put it in the bowl instead.” This took a few meals and my modeling it to teach him, but having two empty bowls gave him a choice as to which one he was going to put his unwanted food in, and within a couple of weeks, it worked like a charm.
(A few of times he did throw the bowls on the floor, and then I simply removed him from the highchair or table and told him that mealtime was now all done.) Try letting your child play with a spoon or child-appropriate fork when they are eating a meal. Learning to use cutlery certainly has its own challenges, but a new experience like learning to lift some yogurt or pasta from plate to mouth can temporarily take your little darling’s mind off of throwing the food and shift his attention to doing something different with it—feeding it to himself by means other than fingers. Kids love to model what they see and when they see the rest of the family using silverware, they are interested in giving it a try themselves. If you have older children, let them help your younger child learn the ropes of eating, not throwing. It helps build your older child’s self esteem because you are counting on them to be a role model, and your younger child now has one more reason to look up to his older brother or sister.
If you’ve tried any of the suggestions above and the food throwing continues, you need to take a tougher stance. When your gentle reminder that mealtime is for eating, not playing, goes unheeded, it’s time to end the meal. Clear your child’s place and remove him from the high chair or table. You can lovingly but firmly say “We eat our food, we don’t throw it. You must not be hungry right now so we’ll wait until dinner to try again.” Only do this, however, if you plan on being consistent. Don’t remove her from the table and then bargain with her that if she doesn’t throw the food, she can sit back down again. You are not going to starve her or cause physiological damage by doing this a few times until she gets the message. Kids are much smarter than we give them credit for. Once they see that you mean business, they will eventually stop the bad behavior (until they find something else to test you with) and you’ll be enjoying meals together in no time.
A child throwing food is one of the most normal yet frustrating behaviors that we parents face, especially when we dine out at a restaurant or when it continues for what seems like an eternity. Stay tuned in to your child when this happens. It could be as simple as him just not being hungry, or more likely she’s feeling her oats, not eating them. Try the tips above for a few weeks and remember to stay consistent and don’t let them see you get frustrated. This too shall pass, and someday you’ll be sharing these strategies with other parents who will be facing the same messy situation! Check out the Mighty Mommy Facebook page where I share lots of quick parenting tips all week long. where you can visit all of my family-friendly boards. Enjoy those family meal times with your toddler and as always—Happy Parenting!Edit ArticleHow to Feed a Baby or Infant Solid Food Four Parts:Knowing when baby is readySetting up a suitable feeding environmentChoosing the first solidsFeeding babyCommunity Q&A
Baby's growing up, and is ready for solid baby food! But are you prepared? Do you suddenly find yourself face-to-face with your first babysitting experience feeding a baby? Here is some help! Start when baby is ready. It is generally recommended that babies consume only formula or breast milk until about four to six months. Don't press solid food too early, as it has been linked to food allergies and even eating disorders.[1] It can be time for solids if your baby displays the following signs: Baby is able to sit by his or her self or can sit with some support. Baby's weight has doubled. Baby can turn his or her head away from you if you try to do something unpleasant to the face (like wiping a runny nose). Baby shows interest in others eating. Baby shows signs of hunger even after 8 oz/236 milliliters (8 fl oz) of milk. Baby can show signs of fullness by turning away the head or not opening the mouth, perhaps pushing away with hands. For absolute reassurance if you're feeling uncertain, check with your child's doctor regarding what foods to introduce and when.
Use a feeding chair. Spread out a drop cloth to catch spills. Get a bowl or two. You will usually need one bowl for cereal, and one for a "side dish". Generally, choose unbreakable bowls, because babies tend to grab and drop everything. Be sure any dish used is clean and safe. You may wish to be careful about choosing containers made from #7 plastic due to concerns about its bisphenol A (BPA) content, which is thought to be able to leach into food and drink and may be a form of endocrine disrupter.[2] Wide scale concern was expressed as to this type of plastic container in the late 2000s, although the research done thus far has not convinced major government food safety authorities as to its lack of safety.[2] Since babies' immune systems are developing, many people prefer to err on the side of precaution and many products now voluntarily state that they are BPA-free. Or, you can prefer glass over plastic or simply avoid heating anything edible or drinkable in a plastic container.
Use a baby spoon.Babies on solid food need some liquid. Find out if the baby prefers using a sipper cup or a plastic cup (or you can simply make this choice for the baby). Use clean, filtered water, or juice diluted by half. Do not get the baby too used to juice; keep it to a minimum, as it is sugar-filled and can harm growing teeth. Pick a finger food.Even experienced babies should have cereal at least for one meal––it's one of the most nutritious solid baby foods available. The cereal should be the central "entrée" (main part of the meal). Experienced babies will usually eat a variety of grains: oatmeal, barley, or rice. Prepare as per directions. You can add a little bit of baby food for flavor, or pureed fruit or vegetable. For a first-time feeding, rice cereal, mixed with formula or breast milk, is the typically recommended food. For the novice, be sure it is very liquid for easy swallowing. Always check the temperature of any warmed-up food before feeding the baby.
Avoid using contaminated or expired food. Put a bib on baby. Watch for grabbing hands. Know when enough is enough. Record the feeding, if wished.Clean baby with the towels, especially face and hands. Use warm, not hot, water. Prepare dishware and containers for washing. Clean the high chair area with mild detergent and water. Prepare cloth towels, bib, and any soiled clothing for the laundry. Show more unanswered questions Not sure what the baby likes? Typical favorites are applesauce, banana and carrots. Invest in a stain pre-treatment spray like Zout or Spray and Wash to treat clothes and washable curtains. Look for an appropriate cleaner for furniture or carpet if you are feeding a baby near those materials. Keep it in stock and don't delay in treating spots or you will have permanent stains. If possible, cover these areas with old towels, sheets, and the like when feeding the baby. Keep a damp towel handy and wipe any flung foods and little messes as you can.
You'll have less clean up when you're done. You may still have a lot of cleaning after but it does help when you get to food spills before it dries or hardens.If it's warm enough, you can strip the baby down to the diaper and feed him or her without getting more clothes dirty. It's sometimes easier just to bathe the baby afterwards rather than try to wipe them clean. If you are babysitting, consult the parent on what's on the menu. Is baby crying but still opening his or her mouth to eat? You may be feeding too slowly. It may be time for a diaper change. Check to see if any straps are pinching. It also may be the baby is missing mommy, is tired, or frustrated about something. Baby food can be used as puree in many family-friendly meals, avoiding waste, and often boosting the nutrition value of foods. If your dining area is carpeted or if you have fabric chairs you may also consider treating the area with Scotchguard or other similar fabric protector. Tired of the "Dropsie Game"?
Babies like to drop objects from their high chair and see what happens. This is a universal baby game that is endlessly educational and amusing for baby, but also annoying for the adults. This game can end up very messily, with a cranky child (who now wants the bowl of mush), obese pets, and irritated parent. There's no known "cure" for this dilemma, but keep aware of where things are, offer appropriate toys to drop, do not attempt to feed a full baby, and above all, have patience. When feeding Cheerios or other round oat cereal to a baby without teeth, break them in pieces first. Check with your medical provider about what foods to first feed your baby. Babies under 1 should not have honey or peanuts. Babies without any teeth should not be fed any food other than baby food. Never leave a baby alone in a high chair. Be aware of choking hazards, such as feeding a baby food that's too advanced, and foods like nuts, hot dogs, and grapes. Always check that a high chair has no recalls due to safety concerns.