Baby Throwing Food on the Floor?

Throwing is common and normal, but can feel so frustrating. When it comes to food throwing, there is good news and bad news.

The bad news: Food throwing is going to happen. A lot. For a long time. Prepare yourself.

The good news: You can minimize food throwing by coaching your child and controlling your reaction. And remember: it is truly just a phase.

Read on for tips from our pediatric pros on what to do in the moment, and how to help your baby learn that food stays on the table.

Having problems with your toddler throwing food? Check out our How to Stop Food Throwing guide, which is also part of our full Toddlers bundle.

Why do Babies Throw or Drop Food on the Floor?

Young babies tend to drop food–they aren’t exactly sure what to do with it, it’s not easy for them to pick up, it’s too slippery, or they are still getting the hang of their fine motor skills. If your 6-9 month old baby seems to be flinging everything off the table, first, consider this a mistake and that baby is learning.

For some younger babies and most who are 8mo+, dropping and throwing food is simply an exploration of cause and effect. At this age, they are little scientists. There is so much to discover, test, and explore. Dropping or throwing food? Whoa, gravity!

Babies may also drop or throw food as a way to communicate. It’s important to chase the “why.” Let’s explore some of the common underlying reasons babies drop and throw food.

Common Issue No. 1: Baby doesn't know what to do

When you first bring baby to the table, they may not have any clue what they are supposed to do. Some babies may drop or throw the food at first as they think it’s a toy. Eat with baby, show them how you pick up the food and bring it to your mouth. Let baby learn to bring food to their mouth on their own by watching your model. Remember, self-feeding helps keep baby safe at the table. 

Common Issue No. 2: Baby has a hard time picking up, holding, or chewing food.

Babies sometimes drop or throw food that is challenging to pick up, hold on to, or is challenging to chew. It’s hard work! Some babies thrive on a challenge, while others may lose interest quickly and clear the food to the floor out of frustration. Make sure you're considering safe food shapes and sizes to meet baby where they are at, and make sure it isn’t too slippery. You can also try a loaded utensil. Finally, provide opportunities for fine motor play away from the table (knob puzzles, flipping board book pages, pointing, grasping small items like straws).

Common Issue No. 3: Baby is not hungry, too hungry, or tired

If baby is not hungry, too hungry, or tired, they may not have the drive and motivation to participate much in the meal. Self-feeding is hard work! Remember it's totally normal for babies to not eat much solids when first starting out, and this is fine while babies are working on exploration and skill building. Throwing and dropping food in this instance may be baby communicating "this is too hard for me right now. Now's not a good time." And that's okay.

Common Issue No. 4: Baby feels overwhelmed by the sight, smell, touch, or taste of the food. 

Food comes with a variety of different textures, sights, smells, and tastes presenting a new and unfamiliar experience for babies. Sometimes exposure to these sensations can be a bit uncomfortable right at first, which can prompt baby to throw or drop food as opposed to bringing it to their mouth. The idea here is: "I am not sure about this right now - out of sight, out of mind."

For more on how to navigate these scenarios, check out our tips for what to do when baby won't touch food.

What to do in the Moment When Your Baby Drops or Throws Food

Now that we’ve chased the why behind throwing food, let’s talk about what to do in the moment.  

First, it’s important to create a positive experience when your baby starts solid foods. Try to let go of any stress about your baby eating or not eating the food you serve and approach behaviors like food throwing with calm confidence. Your baby can develop picky eating habits or refuse to sit in their highchair if they feel reprimanded, controlled, or pressured during meals.,,

1. Don’t react.

Leave the food on the floor for a minute. Let your baby realize that when they drop food, it goes away (cause and effect). After a minute, and without emotion, say, “Is your food on the floor? Let’s pick it up. Food belongs on the table.” (Using a splat mat here can be helpful).

2. Replace the food two or three times.

Pick up the food and replace it so your baby can try again. Verbally remind them in a calm and pleasant voice that food belongs on the table. Replace fallen food two or three times; anything more can cause your baby to feel pressured to eat or lead to the pattern game of “I drop, you pick it up..” Again, chase the “why” here. If your baby is dropping food, rubbing their eyes and appears tired, simply acknowledge, “Looks like you’re all done. Next time you can tell me, ‘all done’ ” Then pleasantly end the meal.

3. Show AND tell.

Some babies need to be shown and told. Stand next to your baby and gently “catch” their arm as it shoots to the side to drop the food and coach their muscle memory to bring the food back to the plate/table. Calmly add the line, “food belongs on the table” to help your baby connect the ideas. Remember to keep it gentle, so it’s a pleasant experience for your little one. If you see your baby repeat this motion, this is when you want to react: praise and reinforce the skills and behavior you want to see (placing food back on the table) as opposed to reacting at all to what you don’t want happening (throwing).

Bottom Line on Food Throwing

Children learn by exploring. Playing with food, smashing it, squishing it, pouring it, and yes – throwing it. It’s up to you to decide how comfortable you are with what level of play. Set the rules and be consistent about reinforcing them.. Even if your baby seems too young to understand, remember that babies learn through consistency with your actions, and any words you use will be understood before baby is able to speak. 

No matter what you do, remain calm and keep your eye on the long-term goals you want for your child and eating. Create a positive eating environment free from drama, shame, or punishment. When in doubt, put on your coaching hat and see what teachable moment is presenting itself. And remember, this phase will pass. 

Written by:

M. Suarez, MS, OTR/L, SWC, CLEC. Pediatric Feeding/Swallowing Therapist.

J. Longbottom, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC

K. Grenawitzke, OTD, OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC, CNT