16 month old throwing food from highchair when finished a meal - how do I stop this?

[cupcakelover1983]

hi just looking for some advice and strategies to deal with my DS at mealtimes. When he has had enough he starts dropping the food off the side of his highchair.

any input would be gratefully received.

Pick the food up and put it in the bin. Remove child from highchair and go on to whatever is next.
I don't see the problem tbh? He's a baby and he's indicating that he's finished in the same way a great deal of babies do.

Can you teach him 'all gone' with a hand gesture. My DD also 16m used to do this but has stopped this andany more bad habits ad she gains words and signs. Also make sure your quick to remove the food when he is finished and give him other toys he IS allowed to throw.

My DD used to do that but now at 18 months says "no" when shes finished and just pushes the bowl to one side.

You need to be really vigilant and as soon as he starts to play with the food then ask him if he is finished and show him how to say no (or similar) and push the bowl to one side, when he does this take the bowl away. Eventually he will learn that if he has had enough then he can do this instead of throwing food on the floor.

For this to work though you have to be prepared to accept that when he says his had enough then thats ok even if it means only a little bit has been eaten.
My DD will still throw food if shes indicated she has finished but she is being ignored.

Get a dog. ds2 is an expert flinger of food, so the four legged cleaner uppers are worth having just for thAt.

Don t make a fuss . Eat as a family , so at some point the penny will drop that no one else does it.

Oh and get a dog - I do not understand how ANYONE can bring up toddlers without dog to magically clean up after them

Yes definitely get a dog lol. Apart from
Being an expert cleaner he has also averted a few tantrums by bringing the rope bone when we play tug together or throw s ball for him :)

I have to third the get-a-dog suggestion.

DS (17m) used to do this. But after months of me scooping all the food back into his bowl, saying "Have you had enough now?" and taking it away (to put in the dog bowl!), he now hands me the bowl and says "Nuff! Dog!" - so there is hope

thanks for your quick replies! I'll definitely try your suggestions. We'd love a dog but we're in a rental property and not allowed one. That's part of the reason I'm concerned about the food throwing - he's throwing it on carpets that are not mine!

Get a mess mat. Serious suggestion for the night.

I have heard of people putting a shower curtain down, and the high chair on top of that. But I have a dog.