feedings and throwing toys

We have to give them toys during feedings especially dd to distract them so they will eat. Both of them especially ds, throw them on the floor all the time, along with the food that is on their tray. I expected it with the food but with the toys, sometimes they land on me and hurt. How do you get them to stop this? Or is that not possible? I was not thrilled with the idea of toys during meals but it was the only thing to work to get dd to open her mouth and eat.

 

Mine still throw food here and I'm hoping that ends soon. Personally I would not give them toys when they eat. I have never let mine have a toy when they are eating and if they bring one over with them I set it down and say "no toy, it's time to eat".

 

Instead of big toys can you give them plastic baby spoons to distract them? I was having a hard time getting mine to eat anything off a spoon so now they get their own spoons and mainly just chomp on them and drop them on the floor. I pick them up for them because it isn't yet a game. They just really drop them accidentally (or so it seems but maybe they are that tricky that they have me duped). Oh and I also use Cheerios or some other finger food like little pieces of cheese to distract them. They love picking up the Cheerios so I put a couple in front of them and while they are busy trying to figure out how to get it in their mouths I can slip in a few bites of food. They may be way overdosing on Cheerios but at least they are getting lots of other good food as well.

 

I think the advice of plastic silverware or other utensil-type items would be a better start. Think long-term; do you want toys at the table when they are two? Probably not. So give them cool silverware, cups, bowls, or things that they can hold while you feed them.

When my children threw things at the table, it was a sure sign that they weren't hungry. So as soon as they started throwing, they got one firm warning. They did it again, and the meal ended.

 

Sorry, I am confused by your post. You give them toys to distract them from what??

NO TOYS ALLOwed during meals at our house. It's a strict rule! Toys are way too distracting to have about during meal times.

Also ANYTIME our kids throw toys, they get taken away and not allowed to have them again for a long while (few hours).

as far as throwing food...that's just parenthood! Grand isn't it!

 

Ilyse, I would definitely keep it to feeding utensils and cups at mealtimes. Once mine start standing up, throwing food, they get a couple of chances, and then mealtime is done.

 

Nevermind, it is too much to explain. Dd appears to have sensory issues and needs to be entertained and distracted otherwise she refuses to eat. So even though like I said I am not thrilled with the idea of toys, it is what I have had to use to get her to eat and how could I let her have one and not ds. We figured we'd have to worry about how to get them to eat without toys when they got a little older. We did try the utensils but when I give ds a spoon he likes to stick it in his mouth very far and when he finally made himself gag and throw up, we said ok we're not doing this again for now.

 

I actually have an idea...... what about those toys that suction to the table or tray. Suction's not that great on the plastic trays, but it MIGHT work.

I know I used to see people with them out at restaurants etc. and thought that it was ingenious because the kids could play while waiting for their food. My other idea was the "no throw" leashes that we used for sippy's. We used them for toys and stuff that we didn't want rolling away on the airplane.

Since it is what works for you, start checking it out on TRU.com or something.

 

QUOTE(~ilyse~ @ Oct 27 2007, 07:33 PM) [snapback]469908[/snapback]
Nevermind, it is too much to explain. Dd appears to have sensory issues and needs to be entertained and distracted otherwise she refuses to eat. So even though like I said I am not thrilled with the idea of toys, it is what I have had to use to get her to eat and how could I let her have one and not ds. We figured we'd have to worry about how to get them to eat without toys when they got a little older. We did try the utensils but when I give ds a spoon he likes to stick it in his mouth very far and when he finally made himself gag and throw up, we said ok we're not doing this again for now.


Ok, that makes more sense, I think! I have another idea for you. Do you have these? They are made so that babies can only put them so far into their mouths. Basically they dip them into food and suck it off.