How do you get a toddler to stop making a mess and throwing food around when he/she is eating?

Answer 1

They do that, that's what they are supposed to do. It's their job. Don't worry this is all part of the process of growing and learning. Put a plastic cover on the floor under their high chair and be ready to wash them down when it's all over. Lighten up, you did the same thing at his/her age. It's really very funny to watch (well, sometimes it's funny) and even though it might look as if they are not getting any food at all, they are.
Look at the bright side, it won't last forever.............it just seems that way.

Answer 2

Benign discipline...much patience
Do not give a child too much food - a child's stomach is about the size of his/her fist. If necessary, give only one or two bites at a time.
Discourage throwing by not laughing or over-reacting. Stop the child, clean the mess, then give the child only a bit or two again. If he/she is hungry, he/she will eat.
Decrease the food portion to only one bite at a time that you place before the child as he/she eats. If throwing continues, remove the child from the area and tell him/her that throwing food is not acceptable. Allow the child to return after a short time to see if it happens again.
If the child is hungry, he/she will eat eventually.
In discipline, it is the parent who must exert the utmost consistency.
It may seem at odds with what I have just suggested, but allow the child the opportunity to "test" foods, but only with you there to "teach" about the feel of different foods. So as not to be confused with "playing with food", talk to the child; he/she will understand more than you might think.

Answer 3

I am the mother of four. My youngest being 6 months. I don't remember any of my other three not throwing there food or making a mess. It is a part of learning and growing up. He will stop. Just be patient. If you still have him in a high chair they sell inexpensive mats to put under them for the food to drop on. (that's why they make the mats. They know all children do this.) He is not being bad. Just trying to become a big boy or girl.

Answer 4

How do you keep it from raining?
seriousl how do you respond. Disciplien consistently also depends on the age of the toddler a 1 year old tough one. 2 year old say NO in a firm voice and once the food is thrown do not give it back. Or take all of it away

Answer 5

discipline- you are supposed to be the example, so you say no, redirect them and show the proper utensil they should be eating with. If it's an infant, keep their plate away- feed them yourself, instead of having them do it- if it's a toddler they are testing your authority- trying to distinguish which things are allowable and what things would not be. This again is when you step in with a stern no, pat on the hand after the incident- if you are consistent the new found behavior will be as well.

Answer 6

Wait until she grows up, I'm just kidding! When your child starts tossing food while he/she is eating, take it away. Say "when you are ready to eat correctly, without throwing your food, I'll give it back." then give it back. If they do it again, remove the food from the table and say the same thing. They'll eventually learn that food is not a toy. They might get mad, but it works. I did it with my daughter, and she doesn't do that anymore.

Answer 7

minimise the amount of food you give them at a time.

ie if they are to eat a sandwich, give them only one quarter of the sandwich at a time.

If it is a casserole etc give them a small portion at a time you can always add more once they have finished.

accept that playing with food and throwing it is a part of discovering the world.

each time they throw food take all the food from them and clean up their place at the table / high chair they will fuss a bit but wait till the fuss passes and try giving them food again.. if they throw again take it away and wait for the fuss to pass... then try again..

Each time you see them lifting the food to throw lower their hand and say firmly, "No. Don't throw your food."

This whole process will take lots of time and energy but will be worth it in the end.

Answer 8

You wait until he is a teenager. I can promise she/he won't do it anymore by then. Until then, you have to put up with it!!

As with everything else in childrearing, there is no one answer... All babies will play with and throw food to a degree. That is how they learn. But if a baby is done eating, they may throw everything that is left in all directions. So, put your child down out of the high chair as soon as she/he is done.

In addition, most babies conduce "gravity experiments" while eating--"Let's see if *bananas* also go down when dropped...hmmm, they do... Let's see if *rice* goes down...yeah...that, too..." If this gets to be too annoying, give baby other objects for the experiments--"Do blocks also fall down? Do stuffed animals?" At least those are neater to clean up after!!

Answer 9

When he starts throwing food around, take it away and take him out of the highchair. Wait until his next meal time to feed him again. When he is hungry, he will eat without playing.

Answer 10

limit the amount of food at one time on the dish . . as they eat it, add more the dish . . they will still make a mess but it will be easier to clean up and eventually, they will eat more than they throw