I remember hearing this is actually a developmental stage when they are learning about cause and effect, up and down, what happens if I drop this, how big a noise will it make when it hits the floor etc etc.
I would be somewhat tolerant of it but if it is all dropping and no eating I would call it quits for that meal.
Don't forget that their appetite starts decreasing in the second year because they aren't growing so quickly. DS used to eat WAY more as a baby than he did as a toddler. Also make sure that your DS isn't drinking too much milk and therefore just isn't as hungry for food because he is filling up on milk. I always used to try and get half of the meal into his mouth before offering a drink because even a small drink would take the edge off his appetite.
I too heard that it was a developmental stage (from my wonderful mchn). So when DD1 started doing it at about 12 months, i just ignored it. She stopped soon enough, and doesn't do it (often) anymore. And if she does it now (20 months) it is more to try and get a reaction out of me, or she is bored and/or full, so i just take the food away, and don't make a big deal about it.
ETA- DD often has one or two bites of food for dinner, but still sleeps all night. i too thought sh'd wake, but she doesn't. She eats well through the day, but not really much for dinner anymore. Toddler tactics has a good chapter about food/eating.
We throw food, we stop eating. HOWEVER, we do have some small soft toys on the high chair tray so DS can drop them. And have a splat mat down.
Some food spillage is expected, even with DS who loves food. I thought he was devouring his naan bread last night but I found some on the floor, dropped accidentally. Rice generally goes everywhere even without help. Deliberate spills mean no more food though.
Thanks girls I thought I was alone on this one.
It really bothers me that he does it because one, he is making a mess, two he is wasting food after all my efforts and three because I worry that he isnt eating enough.
I am sure that if he was hungry enough that he wouldnt throw it but still... how can I not worry.
He too throws his toys and anything he can find out of the cot
Its drives me insane.
Yep I think at that age it's cause and effect so I was pretty lenient with DD.
But now she's had plenty of time to learn about cause and effect, so I'll stop dinner too because usually it's a sign that she's full. She's stopped doing that so much though and will instead try to put her bowl on the table (from her high chair) - that's her sign that she's finished.
It was pretty funny though when she'd throw food on the floor and then pat mine or DP's head when we were cleaning it up as if to say, "good daddy/mummy for cleaning up." Cheeky blighter!
I went to tough school on this one too. It is SO common - you should have seen the floors when I used to let 10 one year olds feed themselves! I don't even give chances - it's part of learning about cause and effect. They're too little to understand three strikes philosophy so they just end up getting mixed messages.
Sometimes it's hard to work out how they grow between the ages of 1 and 2, when hardly any food goes in their mouth, but they all do. Don't fret too much about it. You don't want to end up with food issues.
A plastic tablecloth under the high chair is good too. Hose it off, along with the baby!
I recently took dd out of the high chair and started letting her eat at the little table with her big brother and guess what - she pretty much stopped throwing food on the floor! of course a lot still falls down... and she still plays with her food... but she loves sitting there and so far she hasn't wandered off during dinner. so, maybe you could try letting your baby eat at a 'real' table and see what happens! or you could just ignore it and wait it out - they do stop throwing stuff eventually. a few sheets of newspaper under the high chair are helpful in minimising mess. good luck!
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