Throwing food / spoon etc ...

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   One more question ...

This is a typical breakfast -

While I'm feeding him his cereal and fruit, he has a spoon that he will throw (or play in the food on a good day!) ... he won't eat if I don't give him a spoon to play with, and he will stop eating if I don't give it back after its been thrown.  When we finish the cereal (both spoons thrown in the bowl means hes finished!) I'll give him some fruit while I'm making him toast  ....  he will eat most of it (or just a bite on a bad day) then throw it, if I pick it up he usually has another bite then it may get thrown again .... then he has toast - eats about half to 3/4 of it, but pulls bits apart, throws bits around  the highchair tray or on to the floor .... and generally they are all thrown or pushed to the side when he is finished (but its hard to tell, cos if I pick them up he will have another bite!).

He can eat with the spoon himself if I put food on it, but has decided he won't the last couple of weeks.

Some meals are worse than others.  And it doesn't seem to be when hes not hungry cos he'll happily keep eating after throwing!

I've tried telling him no, ignoring it, picking the thrown item up with no fuss and carrying on, taking the thrown item away (he doesn't care) ... even giving him less food in the hope that next meal he will be hungrier and throw less .... but nothing seems to work.  I don't want to have "food issues" or be making a big deal about it, as he is generally a great eater .... and making a big deal about it causes a tantrum in the highchair (not ideal!)

So my question - any suggestions on what I can do to stop the throwing?  Or is he a bit too young and I should just deal with it for another month or two and hope it stops naturally / worry about it then if it doesn't??

Thanks!!!   