How should I react when DD (12 months) throws food?

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DD always starts eating well, but at some point starts throwing food on the floor. She will pick up something, take a bite then throw the rest. I don't want to make mealtimes stressful so so far I/we have just ignored it and given her more until she stops taking that first bite.

But, it's getting very frustrating, and I've been wondering whether it's time to do something about it. Is she too young to learn that if she starts throwing food she's not going to get any more?

It's very deliberate, throwing rather than dropping, and she dodges my hand if I try to catch anything.

The set up is a plate of food on the table which we then transfer to her highchair - a lot at first until she starts throwing, then a bit at a time because if there's any food on her tray while she's got her mouth full she chucks it all overboard. This rationing seems wrong too, and I've been wondering whether she's getting frustrated with it. I'm thinking of getting a bowl that will sucker on to her high chair so she has access to all her food at once, but maybe it will all just go on the floor at once?

a) throwing things on the floor is a developmental stage
b) she's probably too young to learn that the meal will be over if she throws things on the floor
c) put a shower curtain on the floor to make cleanups easier.

Thanks colditz, all those reasons are why I've been chilled about it so far. But the phase is lasting a very long time!

The worst is when she picks something up, goes to put it in her mouth, looks me in the eye and throws it half way across the kitchen

What do you think about rationing the food out - sensible or controlling?

I don't mean rationing as in restricting food, but just giving her a bit at a time instead of all at once.

I find I get more success by emptying the whole load out on the highchair tray rather than doling it out. More gets eaten and less gets lobbed.

No idea why this is though?!

i second the shower curtain, also the rationing, bit at a time.

tis a phase, it will pass, they all do it and yes it is frustrating, but id be worried if they didnt all do things like this.

bright as a little button is your dd

Ignore, ignore, ignore.

Do not clear anything up whilst she is still eating. When she has finished and is down from the table clear it up with the rest of the detritus.

Do not provide extra food - she'll see it as you giving her more amnunition.

It'll lose it's appeal. Shosh (I think) gave me that advice and DD was cured within a two of three days, when she realised that:

A) it wasn't as fun if she got no reaction, and,

B) she was still hungry, 'cause her food was all on the floor.

I agree - we have similar probs with our 15 month old and I have vowed to ignore (as hard as it is when you have spent ages cooking it). Ignore and don't provide more. Agree she could be too young to realise cause and affect of her actions but not too young to understand what No means.

Our other phases at the minute seem to include spitting food out and randomly eating with hands (mashed potato and gravy?!)

Think it's payback because apparently I was so so fussy when I was little!