Throwing Food on the Floor?

[Headtime]

My 16 month old boy expresses his dislike of food I serve him by throwing it on the floor or flatly refusing to eat it...

What is the best course of action; Give him something else that he may like. Or give him nothing else , except maybe pudding (he always likes that).

I don't want to be cruel to him, but also want, even at his young years, encourage food throwing.

Any ideas? Many thanks.

[Headtime]

p.s I understand that throwing food on the floor is a normal part of his behaviour, I just wanted advice on the best way to deal with it. Thx

[mystress]

I am sorry but I would give him nothing else,especially not pudding;he would see that as a reward(as he likes pudding) for throwing the food on the floor.

He will soon learn the value of food when he has none!

[mad_mum]

most 16 month olds throw food, i know mine did . its there age, i really don't agree with mystress i'm afraid when it comes to not giving him nothing else, but as for pudding, i wouldn't give him any if he carries on throwing . try to reason with him saying if u eat so much, then u can have a pudding. but at 16 months old there are not going to know the value of food !

[hellywellywo]

hi there headtime, I agree with mystress.  My oldest daughter did that and we made 2 or 3 different meals each teatime and she didn't eat anything so I would give her pudding anyway just to make sure that she had something in her tummy.  well she was a real pain in the backside to feed. so eventually at the ripe old age of 4 we had to put our foot down and basically train her into a regaular healthy eating pattern.  It was hard work and even 4 years on at times it is still difficult, although she does tend to eat anything you put in front her these days.

My son is about to turn 2 in a couple of weeks time and we decided that we would not be making the same mistakes that we made with his sister.  so when he throws his food on the floor we pick it and it goes in the bin.  And sometimes we might feel that he really does need something on his little tummy we will give him a slice of toast and a small yogurt.  but to be honest if someone is hungry whether they are a child or baby they will eat.  A child will not let him/herself starve.  Children are much more clever than we give them credit for, your son has learnt that he gets  pudding no matter what.  but the throwing food on the floor bit should be dealt with by saying "no you must not do that"  so that he can learn that it  is wrong.

[hellywellywo]

now ji've just put in my tuppence i have to say that madmum has got a point 16month old babies won't appreciate food in any way shape or form,  but they have to start somewhere.  also even if he only has a couple of mouthful of dinner he definately deserves his pud.  because sometimes getting any food down a baby is blooming miracle. lol

[Headtime]

Thank you all for your answers. The pudding is a dilemma. Hellywellywo your advice makes a lot of sense.

I don't want to let bad habits set in early, so thank you for sharing your experience.

Thank you all again.

[Otrere]

Don't react to him throwing it on the floor - he's doing it to get a reaction. If you don't react he'll get bored of trying to get attention from you by doing it.

Calmly clear it away and clean him up and get him down from the table and don't give him anything else till the next meal. Not even a snack.

Sounds cruel I know - and its really hard going on you and tough to resist giving him anything else - but give him a week and he'll soon learn that if he doesn't eat what you give him at the the specified mealtimes he'll go hungry!

Its what my Health Visitor recommended to me (and what i have read on many baby websites) and it works a treat.

Hope this helps.

[smee.tracey]

I agree with Otrere. I did this with my son and it worked. He's 5 now and will eat anything except asparagus and green peppers. I can live with that

[alli mac]

I totally agree with otrere, give him the  food if he throws it pick it up put it in the bin tell him he will now get nothing and then totally ignore him as long as you are responding to him you are giving him the attention he wants and is then getting his own way. My husband and i went through this with our first son we had someone up who taught us how to deal with it[like little angels] he is now 7 and is so well behaved we dont know we've him we now have a 6mth old boy and totally know what to do this time, kids are very clever and know how to pull the strings you have to be cruel to be kind but belive me it works.