Throwing cutlery at mealtimes

[boo64]

Every single bl**dy meal for the last few weeks (although not so much at bfast) ds (almost 2) throws his fork or spoon off the highchair onto the floor and then looks at me as, then asks for it back.

It's SO annoying!

I've tried ignoring him and giving it straight back in a matter of fact way, tried saying in a firm but not wound-up voice 'we don't throw our cutlery etc' and have taken his food away and said he can't have it back for a while.

He does it less when he is very hungry.

The only vaguegly good thing is that almost always he is kind enough to pour off/ scrape off any excess food before lobbing it down which at least minimises the splodges somewhat!

Any solutions? It's such a small thing but is really annoying!

how old is he

Lawks!

Give him chopsticks. He's doing it to get your attention. I would just completely ignore it and not pick them up, just carry on eating then at the next meal do the same - he'll get the message by teatime.

Just do finger food, forget cutlery for a bit

DD used to do exactly this.
I used to just pick it up and give it back with no communication at all and then ignore her for the next few minutes. Then when i gave her my attention again it was full of praise for how nicely she was eating, sitting still etc. As soon as she threw the cutlery again, picked it up, gave it back and even turned my body away from her slightly and sat silently or talked to DS. It took about a week i think but she soon got bored because as wmmc says, it's just an attention grabber.

fwiw, if I remembered at the start of the meal to engage her in the family conversation she rarely through at all.

Good luck

We had this a little bit and we delt with it in 2 ways

1. our son really worships the older boys in our street and we told him that evan doesn't throw his fork as he's a big boy etc etc.
2. I resorted to not giving him any cutlery and feeding him myself and telling him that i would have to feed him if he carries on being a baby.

My son has a high opinion of being a 'big boy' and thinks the older boys in the streets are gods.....

Hi
He is two the week after next.

Yes it is very clearly an attention grabbing attempt but I have tried ignoring him after he does it and he has continued.

Also we aren't doing the eating family meals together thing as dh is out at lunchtime and I don't eat that early (11.45) and then at dinner time dh isn't back from work yet.

I've also tried the daddy(who he so wants to be like - if I want ds to eat something I just tell him it's daddy's or daddy likes it and he gobbles it up - great!)

Like the idea of skipping cutlery for a while.....might try that and see if he forgets about this little 'trick'

do you sit down with him though Boo64?

Even if you aren't at the "family meals" stage I think it'simportant to sit down with them while they eat and have something with them. Have a cup of tea, some fruit -anything really so that he gets the idea that eating is a communal activity. Maybe if he knows he's got your full attention while he eats he'll stop throwing stuff. Well, I did say maybe............

Hi
I do nearly always sit with him - occasionally I do a few jobs but I still talk to him. That said he is as likely to throw it on the floor if I am giving him loads of attention and chatting to him as not....

Ooh the last two mealtimes he hasn't done it! Not sure why but he makes out he is about to do it by holding the cutlery over the edge of the tray, looks at me, and then doesn't. I heap lots of praise on at that stage.

Let's hope this lasts!