Messy Mealtimes & Menu Ideas

My son is a brand-new one year old. He loves to throw his food. It is normal for little ones to do this, and normal for them to not eat a ton either.
Even though he is so young, we put him in a booster at the table with us (it straps to the chair, and straps him in) and he is less frequent with the food-flinging.

As for the expanded menu, I use this website:
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/
There are wonderful finger-food recipes for little ones!

Good luck, and p.s. a towel under the high-chair helps with clean up!!

We went through the same thing when our son was around that age. I know you said you don't want to end meal time when she throws her food but that is what worked for us. He learned very quickly that that is not acceptable behaviour at meal time. You could also try ignoring it. Don't even tell her no. Just pretend that you didn't even see it happen. At 13 months life is about pushing the limits and gaining a little independence.

My child as well as many others around that same age did the same thing. It's a phase like many more to come. I just kept telling her no, we don't throw food on the floor, then at about 1 1/2, on several occasions I took her out of her highchair and put her plate on the floor and said, we need to clean up everything we just put on the floor. Sometimes the connection seemed to be made and other times not. Like all phases, it will pass. Even still at 1 1/2mos. shy of 2, she will on occasion toss something overboard and wait for a reaction.

Hi, I laughed when I read your problem with your daughter feeding your dog. My little girl did the same thing when she was around 13months old. I was afraid that she wasn't getting enough food at the time because all of it was going on the floor. I tried to ignore it most of the time and also didn't let the dog eat it. She finally got over it a couple months later and doesn't throw food at all. As far as her being unable to make the connection..I don't think that is the case. Litte ones are much more observant than we think. They pick up on everything..she made the connection that when I throw food I get moms attention..right? I think consistency is probably the most important thing. As far as the diet goes I don't have any experience with a grain & milk free diet. Are you not having her eat these due to your choice or has she reacted in the past? I was lucky with Sage, she eats everything and hasn't developed any allergies at all. If you want to try eggs, she is old enough..just give her yolk at first and wait a few days. Good luck..oh a good book to check out is Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron..it tells you at what age you should introduce certain foods. K.

First of all, the throwing things on the floor is a stage -- keep on doing what you're doing by keeping a straight face and saying "no" and it should pass in a couple of months.

Secondly, I do NOT recommend feeding your daughter asparagus -- I did with my son around that age and boy, was I sorry! That particular veggie makes pee really stink and I just about passed out at the first diaper change after giving it to him, lol! He did like it, but he wont be eating that again until he'd potty trained. ;-)

I have kids that use to do that and I bought a booster seat for the table and then they sat with the family and think they are big kids.

Good luck!!

When my son did/ does this, I tell him very sternly, "No. No thros food!" Then I say and do the sign for "all done" with him to show him the behavior I'd like to see instead of food throwing. And quickly take him out of his chair. If he's hungry again soon after, I let him try again. Sometimes it makes for lot of in and out of the chair, but it doesn't take him long to realize that if he throws food, he doesn't get to eat anymore. Usually within a few days, the throwing food behavior stops.
Good luck and good for you to sticking to such a healthy diet for your little one!!

It's a phase that most kids go through. They start to learn how to push buttons at this age and the more reaction they get out of it the more fun it is.
I would just act like it didn't even happen and wait to pick it up until after he's done and out of the high chair. It also helps to only give a little bit of food at a time so that when he throws it you can add more (after a couple of minutes) from the plate and not have to pick it up off the floor.
They do outgrow it and move on to the next annoying habit :o)
J.
Mom to 4 kids ages 5,4,3 and 1 and just started the adoption of a 6 year old. The 3 and 6 year olds have Angelman Syndrome. www.angelman.org

Throwing food is SO SO normal. Irritating, yes, but so normal. I guess it depends on how much it annoys you. It used to annoy me some, but not so much that I wanted to end mealtime (nutrition was more important to me). Also I was not convinced that a 13-14 month old was really ready to understand consequences. We mostly tried to ignore it and, like other annoying phases, he just outgrew it. Your daughter will too. Also, the more you say no and make a big deal out of it, the more fun she might think it is (if she has a personality like my son!)

Just bring the dog back in after mealtimes and let him do some of the clean-up. We did that too. I always thought the throwing was worse in our house b/c our son loved the dog and wanted to feed him, but I have other dog-less friends and their kids chuck food too.

Good luck!

B.
Momma to a crazy toddler

Not only do I feel for you (because I remember how I hated that phase with my first son), but I'm dreading coming up on it with me second! This used to come up all the time in ECFE classes, and what the teachers always said is that they do start to learn "consequences" around that age. And by consequences, I don't mean punishment, but rather, when you do A, then I do B. In other words, when she throws food, tell her very calmly that we don't throw food, and take her out of her chair. Give her a couple of minutes, then try again. It might take a few tries over a couple of mealtimes, but hang in there. Babies and toddlers won't starve themselves, and right now she's testing your will.

As for the healthy, foods, I'd say that except for the allergy stuff, she's not too young for the things you mentioned if it's cooked right. Soft, small pieces, and you should be fine. Can she do tofu cubes? Those have good protein, I think. Another thing my son liked at that age was hummus. It's tricky because you can't use grains to spread it on, but maybe even a little smear on a really THIN carrot stick? Hummus has lots of nutrients from the chick peas and good fats in the olive oil. Cooked carrots and peas were always a good thing, too. Good luck!

Hi Allison,

I didn't read all the responses to you, but I wanted to suggest just ignoring your daughter throwing the food. Hard to do I know (and hard to keep a straight face because we all know it's funny some times especially with what they say)anyhow...I was suggesting ignoring it..not even looking at her when she does it. What I've found with my son, is attention, weather positive or negative, is all he wants. If we don't pay any attention to it he tends to stop doing it.

Might be worth a try.

I have to admit that all three of my children have gone through this phase. I also have a 13 month old girl who recently thought this seemed like a good idea for meal time entertainment. It is quite simple to remedy. When she throws stuff intentionally, you take it away. If you do it the first time she tosses the food, you don't even have to mess with her testing you. I also have a small girl, and I like her to eat enough at every meal, but, she only tried out her new-found fun for a couple of days. In all honesty, I don't think your daughter will suffer either.

One quick note, I would keep her in her chair until you are actually finished with the meal, especially if it is family time. My kids all sit until we are finished eating, yes, even if their food was taken away. It is a great reminder as to what she is supposed to be doing instead of getting down and finding a toy or another distraction.

Best of luck, I'm sure it will work out just fine!

Oh, with the food ideas, all of my kids LOVE any kind of bean (black, kidney, red, black-eye peas, whatever). They all started eating them before a year and still love them today. Try lunch meat or small bites of chicken or turkey too, they are usually soft enough to chew. Olives are loaded with fats, mostly good ones, those are usually a hit. Potatoes are great, I am sure you've tried those.

Sgsin, good luck and enjoy your little girl, they really are so precious!