When does the throwing of food stop????

[FormerlyFrikadela01]

I'm at my wits end with my 17 month old. I know he has to learn to eat properly but I can't give him a bowl of food or a plate without him launching it off the high chair. I literally have to give him each bite one at a time and no way can he be trusted with a spoon without it ending up on the floor a million times. Any attempt at spoon feeding is met with him batting the spoon away or trying to grab it where it inevitably then gets thrown on the floor. He's also gotten incredibly fussy in the past month or so. His diet basicslly consists of toast, apples, pears, corn on the cob and fish. Everything else instantly goes on the floor.

I just can't see past this stage it's just driving me insane.

[Rainycity]

Hi, my DS is younger so I don’t have personal experience of your son’s age but he too is grabbing the spoon and eyeing up the bowl to throw! Have you tried ditching the plates and spoons? This week I’ve been putting food directly on his tray (noodles, pasta, bread) so he can eat it as he chooses, which has made for a less frustrating experience - I think he likes to control the pace rather than me.

[FormerlyFrikadela01]

Ive tried the food directly on the tray... food ends up on the floor.

I know it's just a phase but every mealtime feels like it's turning into battle whichbi know is the complete opposite of helpful.

[Jjpeston]

My DD is 17 months and we have this issue. Doubly tricky as i am 6 mths pregnant and not too well with it so picking everything up off the floor is really hard.

I try to not always hand her the spoon or bowl, most of the time feed her, but with things like petit filous yogurts she enjoys getting the little spoon in it, maybe as it's quite easy. maybe try really small bowls like that, i dont know? i think the sight of a big bowl is really tempting for them to chuck. On the plus side, if theyre a big thrower it means they're strong and have good motor skills :) good luck x

[skippybobobo]

Dd still does this at 21 month old .
Older kids where between 2-3 years when they stopped doing it

[Phoenix76]

My first rarely did this so when dd2 came along, now 20 months, and launched food left right and centre I was in total shock/dismay! It's almost like a game at times and I noticed the more upset I became the more she enjoyed it. I found ignoring that behaviour (really hard) and praising good behaviour (ott praise) helped a lot. Eggs seem to avoid being launched as apparently they taste too good and perhaps get yourself a plastic sheet and put it under the high chair so when food does go on a flight test it's easy to gather up and tip into the bin.

[AlfieandAnnieRose]

May sound slightly crazy but how about trying a different approach and letting him sit at the table with you. You could lower his high chair or use a booster seat and have his plate on the table. Put just a little food on his plate that he can pick up himself. Could be a nice way of him understanding what mealtimes are about as he sees you all eating at the same time.
Mealtimes sound stressful, and understandably so, but I'd just focus on your own dinner and let him get on with feeding himself.

[FormerlyFrikadela01]

We always eat at the same time and his high chair is as close to the very small kitchen table as it can get. My dp did mention a booster seat but we'd have to buy a new chair since we only have 2 dining chairs. We're very very limited on space and having proper mealtimes is one of the many things that's prompted us putting the house up for sale.

I think it my own feelings I need to manage. He definetly does it's just me and him Because he obviously reacts to me reacting to him. My dp is much better at staying patient and paying it no attention .

Thanks everyone for posting though... It's nice to see other going through it sister have perfect kids who just ate nicely apparently

[Notso]

The only times mine threw or dropped food was when they weren't hungry were showing they had eaten enough or when I tried to give them food on their own rather than with the rest of the family.
We always used regular dishes and bowls rather than plastic baby ones, sat them at the table and as pp suggested just put a little out at a time and sometimes removing the focus solves lots of eating issues.

[Bella8]

My 9 month old has started plunging his hand into his food bowl and he's taken to flinging spoons across the kitchen. I'm not looking forward to him feeding himself anything apart from finger food. Don't want to see my lovingly prepared food on the floor