23 month old throwing food - how do I stop him?

[bohemianbint]

He is driving me up the wall - if he decides he's finished with something he can't just put it to one side, it has to be out of his eye sight completely. Tonight we've had sweet potato and rice up the kitchen wall and bits of half chewed spat out carrot all over the floor. He's going to have to learn because he can't do this at other people's houses/in restuarants etc.

What's worse is that I'm 34 weeks pregnant and bending down is a real pita for me now. I've tried telling him firmly, and he knows he shouldn't, because sometimes he looks at me and says "floor - no no no", waves his finger at me then drops it and laughs.

So what do I do?!

He thinks it's a game. You have to retrain the little darling. The minute he's finished or has thrown one thing take the rest away and don't reward him with your attention.

Lol, avenanap. Would you make him get down from the table as soon as he threw anything, even if he hadn't eaten anything yet? He'll often do it with part of his meal if he doesn't fancy it, but will go on to eat other bits of it, IYSWIM.

I'd take it away and leave him there for 5 minutes. Then take it back. If any is thrown then take it away. He will catch on that if he throws his food it will go away. 5 mins is a long time for a small child. Don't let him get down from the table though as this looks as if you have given up and let him off. If he wants it then he won't throw it because he knows you'll take the plate away. See how it goes. Good luck.

we have this problem too - trouble is that he's too quick for me. He can chuck a bowl of half eaten rice crispies across the room quicker than I can get there...

put a little pot on the side and say if you dont want put in pot

if throws it ignore it it's probably for a reaction pick it up and put it in the pot if keeps throwing it persume he has finished and take him down from table

if he cries and says he wants dinner put him back up but say calmly to put food on side of plate or pot

a few times of doing this with ds he stopped as he knew id remove him from table but most of all i ignored and didnt pay him attention for doing it just picked it up and put it on side of plate or in pot

Cheers for all the tips. Will try taking the food off him, followed by ending the meal, and see how that goes.

Meanwhile I'm off to clear up more half bitten bits of cucumber and cous cous from under the table. It really pisses me off because it's such a massive effort to bend down these days!