Need Help Teaching My 11 Month Old to Eat by Himself!!

My son is 13 months and also thin and long - and the best advice I can offer is just relax and let his develop at his own pace. My son also eats things on his own, but more with my help - and that is perfectly ok for his age. He loves to play with a spoon, but mastering the skills of using it to put food in the mouth is still a ways off. But playing with it is a good way to encourage those skills. He enjoys playing with pieces of food, and sometimes they end up on the floor but I think that is part of the learning process. Remember to make sure mealtime is enjoyable for BOTH of you, and if that means a messy kid then so be it.

Hey M.,

11 months old is still a baby and very young to expect him to feed himself. It really doesn't matter how big he looks if he has not developed the skills to feed himself he will over time and practice. I would keep offering him finger foods and continue to help him out. What we do at my daycare is give them little utensils and that sometimes peeks their interest in feeding themselves. I use a small fork and grab a piece of food onto it and show them how to put it into their mouth. Keep doing that and eventually he will learn to do it on his own. Some kids take longer then others to learn to feed themselves they have to develop their fine motor skills. I still have some 15 month old children we help to feed. There are activities you can do with him to help. Big pegged puzzles, picking up blocks and putting them into a bucket, sorting large objects (nothing small enough to choke on), etc. Be patient he is still a baby. Good luck!!

I agree that 11 months is still pretty young to expect them to feed themselves. Just because a child looks bigger and acts more mature it is still physical/emotional developement that rules. I would keep showing him how to hold the fork anf get the food in his mouth and he will start on his own when he is ready.

Hi M.,

I have two children and at 11 months old I think its to soon to expect him to eat meals on his old. My son started around 18 months old to start really eating on his own but with me watching him at the table. So I would say for right now it is to soon. Some BABIES are faster then others but in all I still consider Toddlers babies. I feel people think just because they say a few sentences and walk they are good to go. No, they are still babies and need guidence at all times. That is just my opionion. They have books on stages of developement and what most chidlren are doing or are going to start doing next. Good Luck! :)

Tough love for an 11 month old? Are you kidding? You will still be helping him eat a year from now. You should be making meal time fun and nonpressured or you will have a real problem on your hands.

Hi M.,
The truth? He is too young to have those expectations. And the more we 'force,' the more they don't do! My son is 3 and knows how to use a knife, but there are times I'll feed him while we're chatting at the table just because. I don't mind and it doesn't mean he's not 'grown up!'

Best,
S.