Flinging Food

[FrenchWife]

How do you get your LOs to stop throwing food of their high chairs? My 11 month old is a picky eater and all he wants o do is squish stuff and throw them down. I can't get him to stop for the life of me. do you think i should even try or should i just give up and start mopping after every meal?

[jenniewren]

My lo does the same thing...not sure how to deal with it. I tend to give him a little bit at a time cos when there's lots on his tray he sees it more of an entertainment thing! He usually throws when he's had enough.

I'll be interested to see what advice you get 

[JayLeigh]

My 10 month old does the same thing, likes to lean over the side of his tray and watch things drop to the ground. Let me know if you come up with a solution.

[mmom]

Ladies, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it doesn't really stop.  I have to say they do get bored with it, so it isn't as bad.  But my LO is 18 months and will still chuck the occasional bite.  Plus, once he is done eating and if I am not paying attention, he throws it all on the floor.

[ladybits]

My mother in law recently commented that all babies do this.

Now that our little girl is having three solid meals and two snacks I spend several hours a day wiping down the kitchen units and floor - I am not joking. We have a big oil cloth on the floor under her chair but she always misses.

I find she chucks more stuff about if she isn't hungry or there is more on her plate. Sometimes she chucks it because she is experimenting with the texture and weight, which I suppose is a good thing to be doing.  Sometimes she just chcuks it for laughs, which I don't encourage.

I am hoping that in a few months time ( she just turned 10 mths) I'll be able to encourage her to eat like a big girl. She loves praise... so fingers crossed.

[*Jo*]

I have found that if i say to Caleb "If you dont want that then you give it to Mummy" and hold my hand out, then he usually takes his hand away from the side of the highchair (where he was about to drop the food onto the floor) and puts it in my hand instead. this has been the only thing i have found to work so far!

[First Time Mom]

Part of the reason they chuck food on the floor is that they are learning about cause and effect- "if I throw food it hits the ground and mommy picks it up and takes it away".

Great idea about teaching them to hand it to mummy, it's a great age to start and could prevent all that floor clean up time after meals!