Toddler throwing food: 10 ways to prevent it
Penelope Henderson BSc, MSc, RNutr
Children's Nutritionist at Nutrition 2 Nourish & Flourish | Supporting parents to nourish their child & enjoy family mealtimes (without the fuss!) Responsive feeding approach for happy, healthy kids
By Penelope Henderson, MSc, RNutr/ 08/07/2024
A Toddler throwing food and creating constant mess is one of the biggest tests of patience for parents, but understanding why they do it and how to prevent it can help make mealtimes much more enjoyable for everyone. From boredom to attention seeking, there are common reasons why toddlers may throw food.?
In this blog, you will learn the common reasons why toddlers throw food and I will provide you with ten practical strategies to help prevent it so that you are not losing your cool.?
Why do babies and toddlers throw food on the floor?
At around 6 – 18 months throwing food is actually developmentally typical and occurs out of curiosity and play. It’s incredibly frustrating but it will pass!
At around 18 months – toddlers begin to develop neophobia, best described as fear of new foods. If this is the first time they are presented with something new and find it scary, yuky or for whatever reason the toddler throws food on the floor.?
They are likely to be bored if they are sitting at the table for too long. Surprisingly toddlers can only manage to sit at the table for short periods of time before they want to get down and play. If they get bored and start dropping food on the floor then this is a sign they have finished and want to get down.?
Confusion or frustration over what to do with food they don’t want and how to communicate that or confusion over what to do when they can’t communicate.?
A toddler throwing food because they just love it! and they haven’t learnt what’s appropriate to throw and not to throw yet!
If you are not sitting with them at mealtime then this may be their way of communicating that they want some attention at mealtime and to be sat with you. A toddler needs connection and giving them some attention is possibly what they are seeking.
If your toddler dislikes the food they can instantly reject it and throws food. Building up more exposure to disliked foods outside of mealtimes with help build up more familiarity of these foods.?
Find out more about why toddlers throw things
10 Strategies to prevent food throwing?
Before mealtimes even begin there are some things you can put in place first to make them come to the table calmly, ready to eat and be less distracted.?
If you have pets, move them out of the room whilst it is meal times. As some children love to try and feed pets this can cause a distraction to them eating it and or moving around in their seat.?
2. Follow a mealtime routine
Mealtimes can often be a challenging experience when it comes to feeding toddlers. Creating a structured and consistent toddler feeding schedule can make mealtimes more enjoyable for both parents and little ones.?
Not only this but having a regular mealtime routine helps them to regulate their appetite and be hungry when they come to the table. They are less likely to become a picky eater and get on and eat what’s on offer.?
3. Organise a pre-mealtime throwing activity?
Having a short 5 minute throwing activity just before mealtimes begin can mean they have spent some energy throwing the right things and are ready to come to the table for eating. If your toddler throws toys and generally loves throwing things then we can teach them to do this in the pre-meal activity rather than at the table.?
Here are some ideas for throwing before the meal starts:
4. Support your child in their chair with feet supported
Ensure your child is comfortable in their chair and fully supported with their feet on the ground or a support like a foot plate or rest on a high chair.?
Ensure they are sitting in the correct position with a 90 degree angle to their hips, knees and ankles so that they have good postural stability and comfort. This is something often overlooked but really important if you want to ensure your child stays at the table and seated in a comfortable position.?
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5. Set a realistic meal length
Toddlers are very active and won’t want to sit at the table for long periods of time. It is better to have everything in place ready and keep mealtimes short so they eat what they need and get off to play.?
Keep mealtimes to around 5 minutes long based on their age. The older they are the easier it will be for them to sit for longer For example:
If they are comfortable and happy then you can increase the time for as long as they are to sit and eat.
6. Start with less food
If your toddler is overwhelmed by the amount of food on the plate then this can cause them to throw the food. Starting with less on the plate and adding more as required can be a good way to start. If you are unsure of the appropriate portion sizes for your child then check out these guides for 1 – 4 years and 5 – 11 year olds.?
If you have a child that just loves to continually throw food, rather than serving an appropriate size portion for the whole meal just offer a few small pieces or spoonfuls that they can have. When they finish, offer more small bites. They can fill up on as much as they want but it just reduces the opportunity for them to throw large amounts of food.?
7. Engage your child in food play instead of food throwing.?
By using some distraction techniques like food play this will keep them focused on the play rather than another reason to throw food. Some ideas for food play include:
8. Sit with your toddler at mealtimes
Sitting with your toddler and role modeling eating not only sets a great example but they learn other skills like social skills and table manners. If they don’t want it you can teach them to put it in a no thank you plate/bowl. Remind them that food stays on the table, not thrown on the floor.
9. Set clear expectations on what to do instead of throwing food
If your toddler doesn’t know what to do with the food they don’t want it just ends up on the floor. Toddlers are really good at knowing when they are full or had enough and we can learn to read the signs or teach them to tell us.?
Teach your child HOW and WHERE to put food instead. You can do this by:
10. Ignore throwing food
Food throwing can become a game for some toddlers and the more reaction they get the more they are likely to do it again. Simply ignore it and don’t comment or make any faces to begin with.?
If your toddler throws plates and cutlery on the floor then leave it. Food can be put on the tray or table without a plate. You don’t want to turn it into a repetitive game of toddler throws food, so mummy picks it, oh what joy it brings to your toddler and so it happens again.?
If you have put all this in place and they still keep throwing food then you can give them a warning before ending the mealtime.
Tips to stop throwing food in public places
Use the above strategies but also these tips can help when you are out and about at cafes or restaurants.?
If your toddler throws food, stay calm, relaxed and put in place the strategies as above such as ignoring the food throwing and giving them just a small amount on the plate so it doesn’t end up on the floor.
Pack a selection of wipe clean books or favourite small toys for them to have at the table. This will create a little distraction and keep them at the table for a bit longer whilst you are eating too.?
?If there is one available and they will sit in it then it will keep them in a comfortable position to eat a while longer.?
If you have the option of a place where they can play after they have eaten close by then it will be easier to release them from the mealtime if they are done after 2 minutes.
Seek professional help if needed?
Still struggling with all this and need some more support to help your toddler eat well? Consider a 1 – 1 consultation where we can work together on how to create happier mealtimes so they are eating a wider variety of foods. Book a free discovery call.