Problems with 18 month old throwing food!!! Help!

[MellyG]

I'm a single mum and my 18 month old DS is driving me to distraction at meal times. About a month ago he started to throw food around his high chair and on the floor. Sometimes the whole plate of food gets thrown on the floor! He can generally feed himself most things and doesn't like it when I try to help him (very independent!). I have to work full time so he goes to nursery 3 times a week and my mum looks after him the other 2 days - as far as I am aware he doesn't behave like this when with them. I really don't know how to deal with this at all. Should I ignore him? Take the plate away when he starts? Any suggestions welcome!

has he usually eaten most of his meal before he throws it? My DS sis this at a similar age and I read that it meant they'd had enough and you should remove their plate.

My DS though usually did it before he'd eaten anywhere near a decent meal. Distraction techniques, like stories or a music cd, might take his mind of it and then he'll forget to do it anymore.

My DS did this for a while, esp when we had visitors and I was feeding him, also around 18 months. Thankfully it was a very short-lived phase, as once he threw it on the floor it was taken away and he went hungry...

ignore or he will have a lot of fun with you!

Hi i have a nearly 18 month old and he is the same. It is very common esp boys apparantly! As hard as it is I try to ignore it and also encourage and go over the top with praise when ANY food goes in his mouth seems to help as he thrives on praise! Get a messy mat for under chair if you havent got one already.

Have you tried suction plates? They help. Also try giving him finger foods for a few days to see if you can break his little habit. I tried cubes of food for lunch then peas, chips, any lumps of veg etc for tea just for few days as it was diff to plate and spoon.

ignoring is the key. either they are full or want to play with you. in both cases, remove the food, say no firmly, and try again at next snack / meal.

take it away when he starts - if he was hungry he would be eating - he is probably trying to tell you he doesn't want it - or enjoying your reaction.

Hi my DS was the infamous babybel thrower!! and I started a very similar thread a couple of months ago. I think it is possibly a phase as though it still happens - its not at the rate it was a few months ago (it nearly drove me mad and it hurt). I find it only now tends to happen when he dosent want the food or he is very tired. I try (though its hard) either to ignore it or if it happens more than once in a meal take the food away. If DS is really hungry food goes straight in his mouth. All the best with it - I know how maddening it can be

Thank you so much everyone for your words of wisdom and advice! I feel so much happier now that I am not alone