How to keep my 18 month old from shoving handfuls of food in his mouth at one time?

Question

My 18 month old son is going to give me a heart attack one day, if I feed him and give him the plate or bowl he will shove handfuls in his mouth, I watch him, like tonight he started off good, and then started taking handfuls of food but then dropping them back on his plate, figuring he was playing, until about the fourth time he tricked me and instead of dropping it shoved it all in his mouth. I try taking the stuff away and then he cries with a mouth full of food. I've tried only giving him one item at a time, but then he screams for the whole plate, I've tried hiding the plate-he's not fooled. I taught him "bite", which does no good, because then he just bites until it's all in his mouth. I taught him "one" and he puts one after another in his mouth. I've tried everything, and I just can't seem to get him to eat right, he wants to shove everything in his mouth, and when it gets bad is when he screams, because he usually has something in his mouth at that time. Any ideas? Thanks

This is my second time posting this, just want to get other ideas, but I wanted to clear up my question, also.. I'm not worried about table manner, I'm worried about him chocking. Also, when I say I give him one and then he screams for the whole plate-it's not him screaming, it's the fact that he puts the one in his mouth and then screams, he doesn't chew it or anything, he screams with it bobbing up and down on his tongue, then I'm trying to fish it out of his mouth so he doesn't choke when he's screaming-I just don't know what to do, everything I try seems to make another reason for him to choke

Answer 1

I don't have an answer for you. I'm going through the same thing with my 18 month old daughter. So I feel your frustration.

I just wanted to say that you shouldn't listen to a word that hushnowju...wrote. You are not going to cause your child to be obese because he stuffs his mouth full. I don't know a child his age that doesn't do that, and how he eats now isn't going to effect his future eating habits. I don't think they understood the part about not worrying about eating habits but more so about him chocking.

I brought this subject up with my pediatrician and she said that as long as we're feeding her stuff thats safe for her to eat (cut up small enough) that I shouldn't worry about her choking. That baby's are built with excellent gage reflexes and that she's 99% more likely to cough it up or puke before she'll choke. That was a little reasurring to me.

Answer 2

Wow you really got blasted by some of these people who obviously didn't take the time to read the whole question. Funny how we tell our kids if they can't be nice don't say anything at all. Anyway.. when my first son got old enough to start eating solids I was worried about the same thing and I talked to my doctor about it. He seemed to feel as long as you aren't giving them something like nuts or hot dogs just watch them closely. My second son is even worse about this but I have relaxed a lot more this time. I try to give him bread or those Gerber veggie and fruit puffs those pretty much disolve in their mouths. They are going to shove it's just what they do. Then you can give him a few bites of the other things you want him to eat AFTER he has done a little bit of shoving. A lot of people are going to disagree with this opnion but you are right making him mad will just make him choke on the one thing he has in his mouth at the time. And it's part of the learning process. Just like they say it's good for kids to chew on their toys. It's part of development! Best of luck to you!

Answer 3

First, take a deep breath. When you are dealing with a toddler all ideas of table manners and such go out the door for a little while. Try to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner a time for you both to interact with each other. My daughter and I have the same routine. We sit side by side and enjoy our meals together. Kids sense a lot more than we give them credit for. If your stressed out about your son choking, he is going to sense it. Maybe he is shoving the food in his mouth because he fears your going to take it away, and he's trying to get as much as he can. Try making food fun. Give him a few bite sizes at a time. Spread it out so that it looks like more. If he likes to shove food in his mouth then just make the sizes smaller. Buy him his own utensils. That will help slow him down too. Most kids that age don't need that much food. His stomach is only the size of maybe 2 tablespoons. Remember, meal time with your kid is not only about how much is he going to eat, but it's also about spending time with them. Set aside a good 30 minutes for each meal. Remember when he's a teenager he wont want to sit down for a meal. Relax and just enjoy his company.

Answer 4

I had a child like that. I cleaned the tray of his high chair well and then put just a mouthful of food down on it. Once he ate it, I put down some more. When he got used to taking in smaller amounts, I was able to put down more and have him be reasonable. Don't let him see the rest of his "plate." Don't use a plate. Put in down from a large pan he can't see into.

Answer 5

I think at 18 months that's normal...my daughter did the same thing...I just thought it was funny...I would just keep an eye on her to make sure she didn't choke..now if he's 2 and still stuffing food in his mouth with his hands...then you should probably worry...at this point, just let him be a baby...

Answer 6

Yeah, dont give it to him just because he screams. You're causing the problem and grounding the behavior into him by letting him repeatedly stuff his mouth.

Give him only two or three small pieces at a time until he eat them completely before giving him anymore. Never give him a whole plate of food.

If he wants to stuff his face he can get down and not eat until later. He wont go hungry, and eventually he will take food one piece at a time from you.

It may take a few days of consistant battling, but it needs to be followe through.

Just because he screams and carries on doesnt mean that you just give him whatever stops that behavior, youre the parent, you have to teach him good behaviors. Its not easy and its requires being consistant. If you give in once, he expects you to give in every time. So stop giving in.

Give him acouple pieces until he eats them, if he doesnt want to eat them and he wants to scream, take him out of the high chair, or take the food away, and let him eat later when he's calmed down. Tell him he cannot have his food until he can eat it nicely.

18 months is NOT to young to understand basic safety instructions, and you need to be teaching them to him.

If he's screaming with one piece in his mouth that you give him, you can try fishing it back out first, before taking him away for the rest of meal time. Putting him in his room or crib and telling him he can eat when he's ready to be nice, will help. But you hae to be consistant about it.

The liklihood of him choking himself on one toddler sized piece of food is pretty small, he's more likely to swallow it, or spit it out while having a fit. But you can try making him spit it out first, or just fishing it out if you will feel better.

but be consistant.

Answer 7

He is only 18 months old, that's what they do. let him have a little fun. He'll get over it soon. Just keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't choke. and let him see you eating. Kids are not dumb,
he will pick that up.

Answer 8

You can't outsmart an 18 month old baby?

Right now you are formulating your child's eating habits for life. Do you actually hate your child so much that you are going to make them face a life of obesity because you are screwed up?

You know what a proper diet is and if you don't - learn. If your child cries it's because you have already taught him that if he cries long enough he will outsmart you and get what he wants from you. Now you have to undo that IF you want to raise your child properly.

Unbelievable.

Answer 9

That's how babies eat! He's not going to choke. You're the one driving HIM crazy.