1 Year Old Throws Food

I totally agree with those that said once she throws the food you take the food away and meal time is done. After a few times she'll get the message that throwing food is not ok.

For what ever reason neither of my children ever did this, but my good friends son who is 15mo does this. As with everyone else he is usually done. I found that if she puts a little bit of food at a time this does not happen as often. Also, think of all the things a child does/learns in their first year. Never underestimate what they can learn. They are great manipulators early on. Just remember that they are one and that the discipline should fit the age. Good Luck!

If she throws her food, take her out of the high chair and she is finished eating for that meal, also tell her that food is for eating or you may not throw food etc. Also, I would make her clean it up like another post said. Good luck.

Hi R.,

My daughter, 15 months, does the same thing and has been for some time. For her is usually means that she does not want to eat anymore. I will sternly tell her NO three times, giving her three chances to change her behavior, and then if she does it again I take the food away. I don't think this is expected behavior, even though they are still so young I beleive we should still have behavior expectations and throwing food is not acceptable to me. They also do understand to an extent, and if you keep telling her that we don't throw food it will eventually sink in. My daughter does it less and less now. Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be.

I turned the tables on her. Instead of making a big deal when my (now 16 month old) daughter threw food on the floor, I made a big deal when she put food in her mouth. Lots of cheering and clapping and saying "Yay! Food goes in your mouth!" She really liked all of the attention, and I was happy to say it all the time since it was positive reinforcement. She stopped throwing her food pretty quickly. I cheer less now, as putting food in her mouth is an expected behavior, but I still let her know that I like what she's doing. Good luck!

It is entirely developmentally appropriate. She is just seeing what happens. All children do it to varying extents and it is good for them to experiment. It is how they learn. it is totally a waste of time to tell them to stop. The only "no" they should get at this stage is for things that are dangerous and even then it is better to just avoid that situation. A great book to read is "Smart Love" by Martha Heineman Piper and William Pieper. You will find that once you know what is developmentally appropriate and just go with it, you yourself will also be much calmer and enjoy your child even more.

We follow our pediatrician's advice: once the throwing starts, the meal/snack is done. Period. Now that he's older, our son will push his plate/bowl/cup away or hold things out to us to take them away for him. He still goes through bouts of throwing occasionally, so we whisk everything away. Within a meal or two he goes back to gesturing that he wants us to take things away.

Good luck.

You *can* discipline a toddler. It's just really really important to be consistent. That's the tricky part.

I had the same thing. One time I just ignored her and kept eating like nothing had happened. Only took once and she stopped.

I think they do things to get a response

Every 1-yo does rthis but that doesn't make it ok. I would give her 2 chances. first time say no and warn her. Second time end the meal. she'll learn fast. my son did.

Hi R.,

I remember that trick fondly. Yes it is a stage; you will find she will start to do this with her toys as well. I think of it as "let's teach mom how to fetch". She is learning how to control her environment, you! It helps to put a drop cloth or a plastic sheet underneath the high chair. I found the less I picked up, the less my girls through things so your instincts to ignore it are good. Enjoy!

My daughter does this, and I learned from a Dr. Phil show from before I even had kids that this is normal. He suggested having the child get down and clean up the food once the meal is over. My daughter does it. It hasn't really had an effect on stopping her from throwing food, but at least I don't have to clean it up! When she's older, she'll understand the cause and effect of it all.

As soon as she throws it, she is probably done. A happy ALL DONE, clean her up and send her on her merry way. =) If she complains she is still hungry, tell her when the next meal is. You cannot reason with a 1-year-old and they do not have the vocabulary necessary for a discussion but you can still read them. My first babysitter would always go on and on about how my oldest would not eat anything and she was worried about him. My main concern was always fluids. He would eat when he was hungry. Starting and ending every meal with a "Just one more bite" is annoying. Not hungry? Don't eat!

As long as she is getting enough to drink, she can go without eating. I'm sure it won't take long for her to realize you do not play her game and she would rather eat her food than go hungry. Worked for my kids.

Good luck!

This is a very normal behavior. I agree with everyone's post below. But for future reference try to not say "please don't do ....." It is better to say "No hit" or "No throw food" and change your tone of voice.

J.

Not only is it frustrating, it's annoying! Wait til she develops some strength and accuracy and can fling it across the kitchen with great precision!

I have been dealing with this issue. Here's my post and a few more responses you might find helpful:

http://www.mamasource.com/request/3584446464249561089

I really like the '3 chances' method - after the third throw, the meal is over and the food is gone. Your child won't starve, but she will learn about cause and effect. She throws the food, it gets taken away. Avoid giving her an audience if at all possible, because it only serves to reinforce the behavior. Keep your words short and simple "no throwing" or "food stays on the tray/plate". Otherwise they end up hearing "blah blah blah blah blah throw blah blah blah".

Good luck to you and keep a dustbuster handy!

Hi R.!

I remember this stage all too well, but fear not, THIS IS NORMAL. This is literally your toddler learning about physics. She's not doing it to make you angry - she's learning about cause and effect, something she won't master until she's in the preschool years. Don't take it personally and don't punish her (I strongly disagree with swatting the hand of a one-year old). You can continue rewarding her good behavior and IGNORE the negative behavior. Praise her every time she uses her spoon -that's what will ultimately drive change. But, developmentally, she'll do this for a little bit longer. Once she reaches 2, you can start lovingly disciplining her. I would suggest reading up on childhood development so you know what to expect and realign your expectations (my husband has this issue with our 2-1/2 year old!).

Good luck!

if they throw their food they are done eating. you need to take them out of the highchair and if they are not really done taking them out of the chair and not letting them finish just once will end that game. good luck.

Connor is 13 months old and he does this too. It usually means he is done eating and we haven't been paying attention to him. So, we try to watch for clues that he is done before he throws the food.

it's certianly a game, and a fun one at that! my now 19 month old did the same thing. i gave her 2 chances to get her act together and then took her food away. it may sound harsh, but i figured that she eats every 2 hours or so anyway and isn't going to waste away any time soon. plus, you're building table manners AND if she's playing with her food, chances are she's not hungry anymore. i still take her food away if she's playing and she gets down and plays--she hasn't cried once about it! good luck!!

Hello! I know this is very frusterating! Believe me I know! But at this stage it is very normal for her to be doing that! And normal that she laughs and thinks it is a game! You can go two ways with this! You can ignore her and then she might stop if she is not getting a reaction! Or you can keep telling her no in a firm I mean business tone and even make her help you pick it up and/or remove her food when she starts it. Did she just turn 1?
S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

Children start to understand 'no' and discipline as infants. It's just different communication when they are younger. For a 1-year-old, a sweet voice doesn't communicate that it's wrong. I recommend a meaner voice saying 'no' and/or slapping (like a tap) her hand. Also, if she's not "responsible" enough to feed herself, then take the food out of reach and you feed her.

how about feeding her for awhile-not allowing her to touch her food and explaining that to her...until she can behave.

This is a common developmental stage.....your daughter is realizing that her actions cause actions in others. She is learning to be an agent of change in her environment. My one year old does this too....mostly likes to throw her sippy cup repeatedly so that I have to pick it up. I give her three throws a meal until I no longer pick up her sippy cup. My one year old also throws her food and plate off her tray when she is done eating, so I would suggest just watching for signs that your daughter is full, and grab the plate and food before she has a chance to throw them on the ground! Trust me...they do start to eat neater...my two year old eats off her plate and I am so amazed that there is never a big mess afterwards!

Also, I completely disagree with Holly J....one year olds are babies this idea that they are not responsible enough to feed themselves is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! Feeding themselves develops their fine motor skills, and if you feed her until she is "responsible enough" to feed herself, you will be feeding her until she is in kindergarten. Babies learn through doing and it takes time like everything else. When was the last time Holly J did something perfect the first time she tried it?

It is such a normal behavior for her to be doing this and you are exactly right, it's a game to her. Sometimes the word 'no' becomes a game with children if it is used too often. It works to say you may not throw your food. Toddlers do not understand conjugated verbs like don't. Say you may not will be easier for her to understand. Also give her an action to perform after telling her what she shouldn't be doing so she has something to do instead of what you don't want her to do. For example, put the food in your mouth, keep it on your plate. Also I would only clean it up when she is done eating. If you are bending over cleaning it up every time she dumps something it entertains her. She may be trying to get your attention. Do you sit with her while she eats or do you take the opportunity to get stuff done? If it's the latter (which I totally do) you may need to just sit with her for time until the behavior disappears. While you are sitting with her you can also catch her before she throws it and tell her you may not throw food. Good luck!

She'll grow out of it. Continue to say, "Don't throw food"; however she is just learning "cause and effect" right now...when I do this, this happens.

Good luck and count to 10 :)

J.