how do i stop my 23 month old chucking food on the floor?

[mollysmum82]

I must admit we ignored this as a baby as we didn't want to discourage her from eating/give her bad associations with being told off at meal times. But its being going on for nearly a year now and I'm starting to get annoyed seeing my home cooking thrown on the floor!

She eats the items she likes, until she has enough and then they get thrown on the floor. She immediately throws the items she doesn't like on the floor.

I've tried ignoring it, giving her positive praise when she doesn't do it, keeping her entertained during mealtimes so she's not bored (its much much worse when she gets bored), getting stern with her and I'm embarrassed to say more recently shouting. But nothing's working! I've tried getting her down from her highchair as soon as its happened but she's very low weight so I worry she won't have had enough then.

Has anyone had this and conquered it? Thanks in advance!

set an empty bowl beside her plate on the table and when you see her go to drop something on the floor, encourage her to put it in the bowl. you could maybe put some of your own food in to show her/set an example. i do this with my 2.2 year old. he doesn't throw stuff he doesn't like, he chews it then takes it back out of his mouth and tries to put it on my plate so i give him an empty dish and he uses it.

Admittedly my DD is much younger (15 months) but I take her plate away from her as soon as she starts throwing.

Then I offer her a little at a time just to check that she's still hungry. If she is I gradually give her more and then put the plate back in front of her and she's fine.

If she continues throwing it I take it as a sign that she really doesn't want it and offer her fruit and yoghurt.

No matter how much she's thrown I will always offer her pudding.

With Ds he used to throw the plate on the floor when he had enough but by me sitting there ready to grab it as he went to throw he gradually learnt to pass the plate to me when he has had enough.

When she throws food on the floor say 'No' firmly but calmly ? and take her plate/food away saying ' You must have had enough '
If she protests give it back and tell her that she must not throw her food away and if she does it again you will take the plate away and dinner is over.
If she does it again - Take the food away, remove her from her chair telling her she has to come down now because she threw her food again.
Ignore any protests or crying other than to say - Dinner is finished because mummy told you not to throw your food and you did.

You may have to repeat this over several meal times but she WILL learn and she will stop it.
Your child will not starve.