Throwing Food

Is anyone else having problems with food throwing? I feel like this has been going on forever. My dd finally stopped throwing food, but my son is worse than ever. It isn't just food....it is toys, etc... I am at my wits end. Any suggestions? Should I be concerned? Is it too young to remove him from the dinner table? Thanks!

 

I can't wait to hear the responses. We're right there with you!!

 

Throwing food is Beth's signal that she is all done - even though she can say all done. When the throwing starts, she is out of her high chair.

Jackie is my toy thrower, and toys that get thrown get put up for a while. She is starting to figure out not to throw them as much.

 

i'm right there w/ you too! zach especially likes to throw food AND toys. he throws food as a game though...he will still be eating while throwing, so i don't think it is his way of telling me he is done. i just keep telling him not to throw food the he needs to eat it. i think it is going to go on for a while though....i'm just dealing with it...as much as it is messy and i hate it!

it isn't going to get any better once they are using utensils!

 

QUOTE(imlodog @ Jan 24 2008, 06:57 PM) [snapback]588154[/snapback]
it isn't going to get any better once they are using utensils!

OOH - that made me remember - once I started then using a plate or a bowl, Beth dumps what is on the plate or bowl onto her tray, and back on, back of,... If it goes off the tray, then she really is done. It used to be all the time. Maybe using a plate is something to try if you aren't already?

 

Thanks for the responses. Anthony throws ANYTHING NEW. Poor Clare...she was eating his green beans off of the floor tonight. If this is a stage...I sure hope it ends soon!

 

QUOTE(EmilyM @ Jan 24 2008, 05:55 PM) [snapback]588149[/snapback]
When the throwing starts, she is out of her high chair.

That is my way of dealing with it, too. If they aren't done eating they get soooo mad, but the lesson is there. It's not going to kill them to not finish a meal to learn a lesson. Mine don't throw food anymore

Toys are a different story. With my brood, I've learned some kids are just throwers. But, they need to be taught what is OK to throw, and what isn't. Take the toy away and tell them no. Then go outside and throw a ball or something. Kids are VERY smart and can get it. It just takes consistency and (for me) a lot of prayers for patience!

 

Sean starts throwing as soon as the food hits his tray. He takes a bite, tosses a chunk over the side, rinse, lather, repeat. Then when his tray is empty he looks longingly at his brothers' and sister's food. It's enough to make me 8P !!!!

 

I remove my DS instantly if it starts...it usually means he is finished with his meal.
It helps to only put a few things on their tray at one time. He always throws his food if the tray is covered in stuff. If I only put 4 or 5 pieces of something on at one time...he will eat them instead of hurling them through the kitchen! Good luck!!

 

QUOTE(Her Royal Jennyness @ Jan 24 2008, 07:29 PM) [snapback]588204[/snapback]
Sean starts throwing as soon as the food hits his tray. He takes a bite, tosses a chunk over the side, rinse, lather, repeat. Then when his tray is empty he looks longingly at his brothers' and sister's food. It's enough to make me 8P !!!!

:rotflmbo: That's EMMA!!!!

 

QUOTE(MichelleL @ Jan 24 2008, 05:34 PM) [snapback]588212[/snapback]
:rotflmbo: That's EMMA!!!!

Well lets hope Sean and Emma don't get married! Can you just IMAGINE the incredible mess their children would make??!?!?! :icon_eek:

 

QUOTE(Her Royal Jennyness @ Jan 24 2008, 07:43 PM) [snapback]588228[/snapback]
Well lets hope Sean and Emma don't get married! Can you just IMAGINE the incredible mess their children would make??!?!?! :icon_eek:

:rotflmbo: :rotflmbo: You are SO RIGHT!!

Okay...back to advice for Kathy...once I get through the tears from laughing.

 

QUOTE(veggiehead @ Jan 24 2008, 07:33 PM) [snapback]588208[/snapback]
It helps to only put a few things on their tray at one time. He always throws his food if the tray is covered in stuff. If I only put 4 or 5 pieces of something on at one time...he will eat them instead of hurling them through the kitchen! Good luck!!

i think i'm going to try this....i think it might work!

also, toy throwing...one thing i do for these magnets i have on the fridge that works most of the time. i have a bowl there that i tell them to put the magnets in the bowl and they do...so they go between that and putting them on the fridge instead of throwing them all over the place.

 

I did find it got a lot better once they started using utensils.

Now they really only throw food when they are done and when they do they we remove the plate from them. Now we are working on instead of dumping the plate when they say "all done" having them put it on the table. Emilie is much better about this than Trevor.

But before we would either push them away or remove their tray for a few minutes. Honestly, I think it's just something they outgrow once they get it and understand not to do it. Although my oldest DD never threw her food. But Emilie and Trevor definitely played off each other with it too, if one threw food then the other one did as well.

 

For us the food throwing stopped when switched the girls from highchairs to booster seats at the table. I think we did it right around 18 months. It was almost instantaneous - one day they were throwing everything and the next they weren't!

 

Mine throw on occasion but that's when they are done OR they don;t like it which is basically the same thing. When they start that, they know the tray is coming off.

 

No new advice from me...mine do the same thing. They also use utensils, but those just get jabbed into my oak dining table.

With the toys, I take the toy away. Gabe is my biggest culprit of this. Tonight he got put in time out. It took 3 times and him laughing at me...but he stopped throwing the toys. YAY mommy.

 

If I don't respond immediately to "ALL DONE!" (which often occurs when I am in the kitchen when it happens) stuff gets launched.

Drives. Me. Crazy.

 

Mine are driving me crazy with this! ! !

I have tried everything. At home it just makes me mad but when we are out at a restraunt it's embarrasing.

I'm thinking about moving them to Boosters. When do you usually stop using the high chairs?

 

My ds does this too, my girls have never done this. Usually it means that he's done eating, so I stop giving him. He also throws toys and loves to throw everything out of the bath tub too ... I stopped putting it back in, which is kind of sad for his sisters. I usually take him out first, but he needs to soak at least a few minutes.

 

QUOTE(stephe @ Jan 25 2008, 09:47 AM) [snapback]588979[/snapback]
Mine are driving me crazy with this! ! !

I have tried everything. At home it just makes me mad but when we are out at a restraunt it's embarrasing.

I'm thinking about moving them to Boosters. When do you usually stop using the high chairs?

If you are talking about a booster that sits in the chair with a tray that you can either use the tray or push them to the table...then that's all we've ever used. We didn't even buy highchairs. We have 2 similar to this.

 

Oh my goodness, I haven't been on this site for a while (been very busy) and recently got on because of THIS topic. I key word searched and nothing came up and thought I was alone.

I have 18 month old twins in Fisher Price booster chairs that launch everything off of the tray. I have tried everything, utensils, no utensils, no reaction, reaction, positive reinforcement for the twin not throwing food, though this just gives ideas. The dog is a moving target, the 4 month old little brother is another target in his jumpy or bumbo chair. Something may have clicked in Luke's head when I took away his tray yesterday.

Glad to know I'm not the only one going absolutely nuts over this!!!!