Help How Do I Get My 12 Month Old from Throwing Food on the Floor?

Just about every child does this. They don't understand well enough at 12 months to change much behavior. It's just so exciting to learn about physics, falling and watching you pick stuff up. My son did this for a while, then when he was about 2 he decided to break every breakable dish in the house. It wasn't a malicious act, he was interested in cause-and-effect. Each phase only lasts for a while and you wish you could have them back once they're gone. Good luck.

Honey I was a private nanny for 15 years before becoming a mom, my dd is 30 months and we just found out we have another on the way. GIVE UP!!! The more you try to change this behavior the worse it gets. I've tried the "you threw your food your done method", distraction, 1-2 bites at a time, nothing really works. In the summer and when the weather is nice just feed your lo in the backyard in their highchair, that way you can hose it off and feed the birds.

Something I did with my daughter and son that was helpful, althought not preventative, was to provide laminated pictures of family members (photos that were laminated) and let the child "feed" the person (maybe even make a placemat)(they laminate at Kinkos by the way). Your 12 month old may be a bit young for this, but maybe it will work. It was distracting and even if I had to use a lot of prompts to make it fun it was more enjoyable to me then cleaning and getting frustrated.

ps. I did a home birth too and it was the best!

It's true that it's just a phase. However, there is a piece of advice I wish I'd tried earlier: make them help you clean it up.

Mine was a thrower from 8-20 months, and I ignored this piece of advice, thinking nah, it wouldn't work. When I did try it at 20 months, it worked in 2 or three MEALS, not days! I could have tried it months earlier. Maybe yours is ready too.

If he can follow a basic command to pick up or give you something, try it. Don't comment during the meal except to say once or twice that afterward, we have to clean up. Don't stand over him and make him clean it all up--just get him to do a few. I was shocked at how little it took for my girl to finally GET IT! Now she puts stuff back on the plate, or maybe on the table. YAY!!!! Good luck & best wishes.

Oh R., I promise you it is completely normal for your little one to do this. It's his way of exerting control over his world, and is an important part of his development. He will get past it. Please be patient. Don't punish him or deprive him of his food. That's not healthy for him. If you can't stand it - and you certainly are not alone here! - just walk away. The more of a response he gets, the more he will probably repeat the behavior. Remember, he's only 12 months old. You can get through this, I promise! Good luck.

At 12 months they are completely aware of Mom's reaction and the "toss and retrieve" game is one of the favorites! Without drama explain if he throws his food, he will be done. Then FOLLOW THROUGH! Calmly pick up the thrown food, remove his dish, and get him out of his highchair. Restate "you threw your food so you are done". Toddlers will not starve themselves! It won't take more than a few times for him to realize that meal time is not the time for that game. Try playing the "toss and retrieve" game at an acceptable time (he on the couch and you on the floor, etc). This works for the bottle (toy, etc.) being thrown from the stroller, too.

Thay have what is called a "splat mat" to cover your carpet or just go buy a shower curtain and put it under. I would just take away his food when he throws it on the floor and had a saying when he does it like "Uh-oh we don't throw our food on the floor, I guess you are not hungery." Eventually he will get the picture. My daughter tried this too and it stopped very quickly when I empathecically told her "Uh-oh" and took the food away.

Hi R.,

Thankfully, my daughter did not do much of this. When she did, our dog was happy! The reason they do it is to get a "rise" out of us. They are looking for cause and effect. If I throw this, mom will react. I think the best way is to CALMLY say "Food is for eating, not throwing. If you throw it again I will take your food away." and then follow through. It won't take long for him to understand you mean it and then he will stop. Consistency and non-emotional response are key. Good Luck!