Mealtimes with a toddler...

[100Vicki]

My ds is 17 months old and the only problem I have with him is at mealtimes. As soon as his food is put on his tray he starts to throw it on the floor. He'll then eat a little and throw a bit more. It doesn't seem to matter what I give him to eat, most of it ends up on the carpet!
I've tried everything to get him to stop, I've shouted at him, ignored him, got him down from his highchair and not fed him, even tapped him on the hand once when I was really stressed but nothing I do seems to get through to him that it's naughty.
Any suggestions?

My ds is 2 now, but also went through this phase. Do you eat with him? I used to tell hiim, no throwing food on the floor, if you don't want it give it to mommy. Second time, would take the plate away, and remove him from the table. The rest of the family would continue with the meal. After a bit, he stopped.

Another friend whose ds is 20 mths also did this. Think he required being yelled at by his dad, taken out of his seat and placed on the naughty step. As I understand it, his dad really yelled. It shocked the boy so much, that he never did it again !

DS went through the same phase. He has a little chair and table so I put him at this to eat for a couple of days... after that he was happy to go back into his highchair.