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Babies and toddlers throwing food is really not something uncommon. Learn how to deal with toddlers throwing food at mealtimes. 

When babies learn to eat on their own, you can expect all kinds of projectiles to be hitting those around them. But even though throwing food may be funny the first couple of times, you'll find it cleaning less and less funny as the days pass. 

So how can you make your little one understand that food is made for eating, not for throwing across the room? We put together a guide to help you deal with babies or toddlers throwing food.

Why Do Babies and Toddlers Throw Away Their Food?

The first thing you need to understand is that babies and toddlers don't throw food on the ground to annoy their parents. As they are learning to eat on their own, it's normal for babies to have a period of adaptation as they are perfecting their new skills.

And as parents will quickly notice, babies love to learn through play. What may seem like a terrible mess to you, for them it's a work of art of colors and textures. Throwing food is normal for babies and toddlers between 8 and 18 months old, so there’s really nothing to worry about.

There are actually multiple reasons for babies throwing food. Here are the most common of them:

• They are still learning cause and effect. Babies find it funny to see that throwing food on the floor or at someone makes something happen. For example, they may find out that throwing food at the dog makes the family pet come running to gobble it up and this could be an endless source of fun for them. 
• They want to communicate. It doesn't take a lot for babies to understand that throwing food is a very good way to communicate that they don't want to eat something. Whether it's because they don't like it or because they're already full, babies will let you know they're not into it by throwing the food.
• They are afraid of being forced to eat it. It's never a good idea to force a toddler to eat their food because this may result in a fear of being force-fed. Children who have been forced fed are likely to start throwing away all the food instantly as a defense mechanism. 
• It's their way of getting attention. Babies and toddlers can learn quickly that you're going to give them a big reaction every time they start throwing food, so they may do it to get your attention. 

Although this is a completely normal phase, it can be unpleasant for parents. In addition to having to collect food from the floor at all meals, you may also be concerned that your baby is not getting enough food. 

Fortunately, there are multiple ways to limit the damage and teach your little one how to eat properly without throwing food at every meal.

What to Do When Your Toddler Throws Food

No matter the reason your little one is throwing food, here are some ideas on how to handle their behavior while remaining sane during mealtimes.

1. Only serve small amounts of food

Even though it may look like your toddler isn't eating enough because they play with their food and keep throwing it everywhere, most of the time they are actually eating enough. Try to only offer them a couple of pieces of food at a time. If they don't have enough food on their tray, they will be less likely to throw it. It goes without saying that offering toddlers big helpings of food only gives them more ammunition.

2. Offer toddlers your undivided attention when feeding them

As a parent, you have hundreds of things on your mind, and it's not unheard of to try to clean the kitchen or unload the dishwasher during mealtimes. While multitasking is great, your little one might be very tempted to play with the food and throw it to catch your attention. Sit down with your toddler whenever possible and give them your full attention. This won't necessarily stop them from playing with the food or throwing it, but at least you'll be able to stop them from making a big mess.

3. Always remain calm

It's quite understandable that you may be annoyed by your toddler throwing food all over the place, but try to give them the illusion of calm, even if you're not. Remaining as calm as possible is particularly important for those cases when kids have the annoying habit of throwing food just to get your attention. If your little one senses that their habit sends you over the edge, they'll continue to do it.

4. Cut out snacks

One of the main reasons babies and toddlers play with food is because they're already full. To prevent this from happening, it's always a good idea to cut down on snacks between mealtimes and only offer your little one planned snacks and drinks. If kids are actually hungry at mealtimes, they'll sit down and eat, and they'll be less likely to have tantrums and throw their food. 

5. Remove their plate

If your little one continues to throw food and refuses to eat, remove their plate. Don't worry about them not eating enough; they're probably not too hungry anyway, and they need to learn that there are consequences to their actions. 

6. Make life easier for you by putting down a mat to catch food

Being prepared for the mess a toddler makes while they experiment with food is great for your own sanity, particularly if you're someone who's easily annoyed by the idea of a messy kitchen or dining room. Place a washable mat under the high chair, so you don't have to spend too much time after each meal sweeping and mopping. 

7. Don't take over

Many parents become exasperated by their little one's habit of throwing food, and they try to minimize the mess by taking over the feeding, so the kitchen or dining room remains tidy. This is not a good idea, though, as the more you feed a child yourself, the more you're prolonging the time they spend experimenting with food and making messes. Kids need a lot of practice when it comes to handling food, so it's important to allow them to do it themselves.

8. Create a family routine

Babies and toddlers love routines, and they also tend to behave when they know what to expect. In order to stop your little one from acting out at mealtimes, you should establish a family routine. For example, you can play some music and sit down with them every time you offer them food. If you have a larger family, make sure everyone sits down for a meal instead of getting their food to eat in front of the TV or with their eyes glued on their smartphones.

9. Teach your kid to us an all done bowl

Another idea that can help you deal with toddlers who are throwing food is to teach them to put the food they don't want to eat into a separate "all done" bowl. It may take a bit of practice, but eventually, your little one will understand that the food they don't want to eat goes in the bowl, not on the floor. 

10. Don't discourage playing with food

If you encourage your little one to play with food while eating, this may discourage them from throwing it. For example, you can use mealtimes to teach your little ones how to eat various types of food while also playing. If they avoid one of the items on their plate, like zucchini circles, for example, you can teach them how to stack the circles. This will keep your toddler occupied and distract them from throwing food.

What to do if nothing works?

The tips above should help you deal with your toddler's habit of throwing food. However, if you find that nothing works, the only thing left to do is ignore their behavior. Remember that your toddler is learning cause and effect, so they may find it very entertaining or at least intriguing to see you fussing about cleaning the food, making faces, or giving them a lecture.

Ignoring the food throwing may be the best way to end it. Do your best to ignore them completely while still being in the same room with them. If they're throwing the food directly at you, simply wipe it off and move further away without giving your little one any attention for it. 

Sometimes, kids will also throw bowls and plates, not just the food in them. If that happens, serve their food on a tray with no plates. Again, if they throw a plate, bowl or cup on the floor, simply ignore it. 

The goal here is to make the entire experience as uninteresting as possible. If your little one gets no reaction they can find entertaining, their interest in doing it again will fade considerably. 

It's always important to remember that babies are intuitive eaters, which means they know how much food they need and when to stop. Trust their instincts and avoid pressuring them to eat more. By offering them at least five eating opportunities every day with lots of variety, you can rest assured they are meeting their nutritional needs. 

Try to serve portions that aren't overwhelming because this is typically a trigger for food throwing and only offer more if your little one indicates so. The eating experience will be much more pleasant, and you will nurture your child's ability to eat intuitively.

Bottom Line

Babies and toddlers learn everything about the world around them by exploring. Playing with food and throwing it is all part of the learning experience, so it's really up to you to decide whether you're comfortable with that level of playing. It's essential to remain as calm as possible while also setting rules for your little one. 

Try to be as consistent as possible regarding the rules you set. Keeping your eye on long-term results is always beneficial, so do your best to create a positive eating environment that's free of drama and punishment.

The content and advice provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice for specific medical conditions. Always consult a pediatrician to understand the individual needs of your child.