Toddler Eating Tantrums: What To Do If Your Child Throws a Food While Eating

It is common for children to throw food on the floor or play with food at meal and snack times, but it is undoubtedly frustrating for parents.

This article will help you in understanding the facts about toddler eating tantrums and try to follow the suggestions to deal with your toddler from playing or throwing food.

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Countless times during mealtime and snack time, I have been pushed over the limit for cleaning because another piece of food, a complete plate of food, or a cup filled with water splattered all over the floor or smeared the food on their faces, hands, and even my toddler's hair. Because I had worked with hundreds of cleaning, it took a toll on my nerves and thoughts. All there eating tantrums, playing, and throwing food was perfectly normal. Even knowing the truth and facts may not help your patience, because there is always something new to discover about the toddler who throws food or plays with it at every meal. And, more importantly, there are certain ideas you can try to implement to reduce their eating tantrums and, of course, food waste.

What Causes Toddlers To Throw Or Play With Food?

During their development, throwing or playing with food is quite normal. This could occur due to a variety of factors. The following are some of the most common well-known  facts:

1. The Food that is Being Served is Unwanted

Toddlers frequently play with or throw away unwanted food. They are actually learning that they can make something different or new out of unwanted food. Throwing or playing with unwanted food is interesting for toddlers.

2. Their Communication Style

Throwing or playing with food can sometimes indicate that a little one is finished with his or her meal. When they learn to play with or throw food, they realize they can do it by sitting on a chair because they do not want to eat the food. If this occurs continuously, try to teach your children a positive way to indicate when they are full or done with a meal.

3. Trying to Grab Attention

Receiving any form of attention, even if the response is negative, maybe highly motivating for children. And if they have loved or learned that while they are playing or throwing food, you will give them a strong reaction, it may encourage them to keep doing the same. Although I was still likely to lose my cool when the toddler was thrown or played with food, knowing and understanding these facts helped me retain my cool. Now, let us go on to the ideas for preventing your toddler from playing or throwing food.

Ideas To Keep Your Toddler From Throwing Or Playing With Food

Throwing food on the floor or playing with food can become a habit for your children, and it can be difficult to break or change the behavior. No matter what age your toddler is, these ideas will help them stop throwing or playing with their food and move on from this phase without dreading mealtime.

1. Feed them a Small Amount of Food at a Time

Children enjoy playing with their foods, especially when we serve them with a variety of foods in different colors and textures. Sometimes, it is possible that they are throwing or playing with their food because there is an excessive amount of food in front of them. Giving kids less variety or just a cup of food on their plate reduces the amount of time they spend playing or throwing food.

2. Maintain your Cool, Even if You Are Not

Giving your children the feel of being can help them to learn that you do not respond to any food they throw or play with. This is quite effective if your child has developed an annoying habit as a result of the attention they receive when throwing or playing with their food. while you may have to fake your calm at first, it will help you to be more patient in the long run. This patience will set a positive tone for mealtimes, allowing your child to feel comfortable when trying new foods and eating until he or she is satisfied.

 Note: If the food is splattering all over the floor, consider putting down a mat or old newspaper under the chair for easy clean-up.

3. Teach them to put Unwanted Food on a Different Plate or Bowl

Yes. It is obvious that your child dislikes a certain food, which is why they are throwing or playing with it. Simply teach them to put the unwanted food on different plates or bowls. And say that as many times as you can for as many meals as you can. This idea cannot be done without your full attention, and if you are not calm and cool, take a minute to breathe because we do not want this to look like a punishment.

4. Provide Simple Choices

Aside from the meal, you can give your child a choice between two foods to make them happier with what you are offering. A choice between two might help a child feel as if they have a say in what they eat.

5. Sit with your Toddler during Meals

Sit with your child at mealtimes, talk to them(even if they do not talk much), and observe what they like to eat and how they eat. Maybe he or she requires extra help with the spoon or hands or something that is more sliced up so that it is easier to eat. You may be able to see an eating tantrum or unwanted behavior start sooner than you thought by focusing your child throughout a meal, and you can stop it right away by helping them clean up and move on to the next thing.

6. End the Meal, if your Child is not Hungry

This stage is quite challenging for parents of children who do not eat much, but children frequently play with or throw their food because they are hungry enough to eat. If your child begins to engage in any of these behaviors, give him or her the choice of playing or eating. If he or she wants to play, take them out of the chair and allow them. Yes, I can understand how difficult this is when you have to be somewhere!

7. It is Okay if your Child does not like a Food or not Feeling Hungry

If a child is not hungry or does not want to eat, he or she frequently throws food. It is not that your child is misbehaving; rather, he or she dislikes the food on their plate and refuses to eat it. Instead of treating it as bad behavior, take the food away from them.

Final Thought

Children can learn eating through exploration, playing, smashing, squishing, pouring, and yes, throwing food. It is entirely your level of familiarity with the game. But no matter whatever you do, stay calm, cool, and focused on the long-term goals you want to achieve with your child's eating tantrums. Create an environment that is free from punishment when it comes to eating.

Happy Feeding...!