11 Month Old Throwing Food. How Do I Get Him to Stop?

Michelle, I have 25 month old b/g twins. Ignore it! I think they enjoy the reaction from you.

Unfortunately this will not solve your problem fully. Mine still throw things on the floor. It is still cool for them to see the splatters, etc.

I am working on timeouts if they throw things on purpose. But I don't think would work with an 11 month old unless they are really really smart and understand cause and effect.

Good luck!! I KNOW how frustrating it can be to feel like you spend your day constantly cleaning!!!!!

K.

My first boy did that and now my 2nd boy is doing it too. He is 1 year. It is a phase they do grow out of. My dr told me its a learning experience for them, as well as an attention getter, if you let it excite you. It has something to do with motor skills or something like that. So i would ignore it, or tell them "no", but dont get carried away because that will make them do it more. But they will grow out of it. I know its a pain but dont let it get to you, if possible. We have a dog, so that helps with the food on the floor! And I try not to give him bowls of stuff or full containers of anything he can throw. I just put a little bit on his tray at a time.

Someone I work with has a 1 year old son who has been throwing his food on the floor. Now, whenever the son begins throwing his food, the father takes it and eats it all in front of his son, making sure to "enjoy" it in his presence... "Mmmm, this is good," etc. He said his son at first looked at him confused, but is now making the connection that when he throws his food he will not get to eat it. I thought that was a pretty unique idea and it appears it's working for him.

You stated that you think he does it to gain your attention. Get them int heir seat and ready to go and down't offer them their food until you are ready to sit down with them and teach/assist them. When he throws it on the floor. Take the food and jsut say calming "Tommy (insert your child's name) all done." He may actually BE done. I know my girls only tossed their stuff when they were bored and not hungry anymore. If this doesn't phase him - clean him up and get him down. If he protests and indicated further hunger. Then say "NOOOO throwing", and return the plate and pay attention. If he repeats the behavior. Clean him and get him down. This is a phase. They see cause and reaction. He drops soemthing - you pick it up. Don't make a big deal out of it. Don't pick it up. (clean up later. The less reaction he gets out of you - the quicker it will loose it's novelty.
We still use this technique with great success and no tantrems. For instance my twins will play in their big girl cups. They know better. So I say "You must be all done - you are playing. Mommy says No fingers in cup" and the cps are removed. The next time they get their cups (usually the next meal b/c we don't use cps 100% of the time yet)I remind them and the play is gone - if it's continued they loose their cups and get sippers - or have to wait.

I do not use corporal punishment and would not connect it with meal times and foods.

E.
Momma to a 3 year old and 2 year old twins

Jen's right; it could take 1000 reminders but keep at it! Be painstakingly consistent in whatever method you choose and the child will learn that each and every time you WILL follow through.

You could take away the food when he throws. Just take the plate and say in a stern voice "no throwing" and make him wait a minute. You don't want an overly dramatic response; you're right on the mark when you say you think he does it to get your attention. If you respond with a huge reaction, he may repeat, repeat, repeat the behavior to get you to react again. He's not trying to be a pain in the butt; he probably just thinks your reaction is cool. After waiting a minute, return the food to the tray. He throws again, you take it away again. Same stern but boring warning. Another alternative would be to only put one chunk on the tray at a time. He has a choice - eat it or throw it.

Good luck and know that this stage does totally pass. Doesn't make it any less annoying though! Buy a dustbuster - trust me; it'll come in handy once you give them spoons and forks!

11-month-old twins sounds like the cutest thing in the world! Wow. But lots of work, I'm sure.

I think throwing and playing with food is developmentally normal, and probably typical (happens more often than not.) For this question, and the other about pulling hair, I think the answer is going to be to encourage/describe the desired behavior, but you will have to do a lot of prevention and distraction. By prevention, I mean that you will have to anticipate what might happen and plan for it - for example, put a big plastic sheet under their high chairs, feed them separately, feed them so they can't see one another (facing away), etc. Whatever seems to make sense, but basically to plan for damage control instead of trying to get him to stop doing it. There's just no way around it with that age. Eventually, after 1000 repetitions and reminders, it miraculously starts to "take" and that's one of the coolest moments of parenting! But 11 months is very young . . . you may have to wait a while. Good luck! :-)

Have you tried smacking his hand and then taking his food away?
I suggest...smacking his hand ...take the plate away...and say "NO"...keep it for a few minutes and then give it back to him. Do this every time and before long he will get the message. I promise! Especially at that age. That is what will speak to them. They cannot reason yet.