Throwing Food On The Floor

[SandeeAR]

I have a 16 mo old, that constantly throws food on the floor. My 20 mo and 12 mo old don't due this. I know she understands what she is doing, b/c of her reaction when I get on to her.

The problem is she does this at home and gets away with it. I know this b/c the Mom is a friend of my daughter and has been to the house when she is eating. They have 2 dogs and she "feeds" the dogs. They think it is funny. I do not.

How do I stop this when she gets away with it at home? I want to approach the Mom about it, but wanted your input on what YOU would say to her.

Thanks!

BTW, she is a great eater. She just seems to do this when she decides she doesn't want something. I've not found but 2 things so far that she "won't" eat! I think I'm going to just give her about 2 bites of each food from now on at a time. Does anybody have any other ideas of how to stop the food on the floor? B/c she knows better.

[NiNi.R.]

I know how you feel..I too am having the same situation going on. Little girl is 17 months old. Throws food on the floor when she doesn't like it, chucks her drink across the room when it's empty. I can't get her to stop and I'm at a loss. Hopefully somebody will have some good advice!

[MG&Lsmom]

I know how you feel..I too am having the same situation going on. Little girl is 17 months old. Throws food on the floor when she doesn't like it, chucks her drink across the room when it's empty. I can't get her to stop and I'm at a loss. Hopefully somebody will have some good advice!

I had a 2.5yo who did this. She left for many reasons, but this was one of them.

I'd only give 2 bites at a time until she stops. All of my kids did this around this age and eventually grew out of it. It just stinks to have to take the time to feed her that way when you have so many others needing your attention. Hopefully she will get that the behavior is not acceptable at daycare even if it is at home.

[cheerfuldom]

The meal is over as soon as the throwing begins and little one is removed from the table. Most of my daycare kids have very poor table manners at home but they soon understand that that does not fly here.

[sharlan]

My 3 yo had a big problem with this. I still catch him once in awhile. I would make him get down and clean it up with a paper towel.

[youretooloud]

The quickest way to cure this, is to take the lunch away as soon as she does it.

Around here, once you start purposely dumping, you are "allll done" (being messy and purposely throwing on the floor are totally different)

It takes about two days at the most.

[SandeeAR]

Guess, I should have said, I DO take away her food. She is in a booster, with a tray. As soon as she throws the food down, I take her tray and clean her up and put her in the den. (I have an open style kitchen, so I can see her).

I was mainly wondering if you guys would bother with saying anything to the Mom or not? I have a very good relationship with the Mom. We talk openly about the issues with the kids.

They have dogs at home and they think it is funny that she "feeds" them.

[SilverSabre25]

Guess, I should have said, I DO take away her food. She is in a booster, with a tray. As soon as she throws the food down, I take her tray and clean her up and put her in the den. (I have an open style kitchen, so I can see her).

I was mainly wondering if you guys would bother with saying anything to the Mom or not? I have a very good relationship with the Mom. We talk openly about the issues with the kids.

They have dogs at home and they think it is funny that she "feeds" them.

Mentioning it to the parents probably won't change anything. This is the kind of thing that you have to make clear to the child is not acceptable at your house, regardless of the rules other places.

I would NOT get her down from the table...take away the food, pull her back from the table, but leave her strapped firmly in her seat until everyone else is finished. Get right at eye level with her and tell her in a deep-pitched, serious voice: "NO THROW FOOD". Put on your frowniest face. She'll probably cry...and probably will throw the food again tomorrow. and the next day, and the next, and the next until you realize that she isn't doing it anymore.

[kidkair]

I'm with SilverSabre25. I'd take away her food the second she threw anything and she'd stay in her seat until the end of the meal. If she started throwing a fit I would face her away from the table/other eaters and she'd get no attention until the end of the meal.

[dEHmom]

same age group (between 15-17 months) both boys...

like to feed the dogs as well, throw the food on the floor or hand feed the dogs so I normally have the dogs outside now because they think it's ok to take food all the time now, and it's driving me bonkers. The dogs are evening stealing food off the counter now grr....

these boys like to throw the food on the floor, or place it beside them on my bench (i have a big leather pub style bench in an L shape with a big tall table). They are constantly throwing their plates, forks, cups etc on the floor even though i refuse to give them back. usually I don't bother with cutlery or bowls/plates with them, but sometimes I have to like today we had chicken breasts, potatos and corn on the cob. I didn't feel like slopping that all on the table, but that's what ended up happening anyways. i dont' give them much and usually give them 2nds and 3rds (they are very good eaters), but for the last 2 weeks I haven't given anything more when they throw their plate or whatever, i clean them up and off they go. They usually sit there at my feet BEGGING for more food, and trying to get back up in the boosters but I don't let them. They are not starving, they just wouldn't stop eating if I let them.