Some Questions Regarding My Son 10Months Old...

I have 3 kids, the youngest is 10 months old. My 10 month old started in with the self feeding at 7 months and only wanted table food then as well (in fact he wasn't happy unless it came from my plate). 10 months sounds like he is right on time in my option.

My DD went through that, she didn't like much baby food but she loved cooked veggies... I would say that as long as he is eating healthy things that you are eating than I wouldn't worry about it... as for the eating with his hands that sounds perfectly normal in fact awesome! He is showing independence and that he wants to learn for himself... eventually he will want to use the spoon himself (which by the way is messier:) As for his sleep patterns you were lucky he has been such a good sleeper this long, My DD slept from 8 until 7(waking once to eat) at 5 weeks but only lasted until she started teething at 5 months. She didn't start sleeping completely through the night until 10 months and at that time she pushed back her bedtime until 9-930... to me it seems like you are doing great! and that your baby is doing things that are perfectly normal.... I always remind my Mom that things were different 30 years ago...haha:)

Table food is fine as long as it's prepared without added salt or sugar for him.

Here is a great site for infant feeding ideas and info:

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/index.htm

But always make sure you nurse or offer formula *before* solids. BM or formula then solids in between. Breastmilk or formula is primary nutrition for the entire first year.

It's fine for him to use his fingers at this point. It helps develop his pincer grips and well as fine motor skills. I would certainly put infant fork or spoon on his plate each time but let him do his thing right now.

Yes, the sleep pattern will def. change. Infant sleep is never static and particularly at a year old. They become much more aware of the outside world and when they wake inthe night theydon't want to miss out! It will pass though.

I've never put my kids in daycare and they are exceptionally smart and well-rounded. My son attended a preschool ( a real school-preschool-grade 5-not a daycare saying they were a preschool) right before he turned 4. he went 3 mornings a week. It was a good preparation for his entry to pre-kindergarten the next year. We attend lots of activities like storytime at the library, playtime at our local rec center, music class, we do at home learning activities, go to museums, etc. Moms groups are a great resource for lots of social and learning activities.

Kids this age want to feel what they are eating so fingers are a natural. I would get a food chopper and chop the heck out of the table food you are giving him. I didn't give table food until older except mashed potatoes and other very mushy foods though.

It is my belief that babies need the vitamins and nutrients from the formula before food until the age of 1 year or there abouts. Their little tummies are going through so much change and then you transition them to regular milk and they need the extra nutrition from food. It's just a lot for their digestion. Take it slow. I gave the formula then fed the food so they got the nutrition from the formula first. The food was a supplement.

My favorite cookbooks for babies and toddlers are:

Idiots Guide for Feeding Your Babies and Toddlers
Baby and Toddler Meals for Dummies

I found them at our local Library and borrowed them lots of times until my husband finally got them for me from Hastings.

i think around a year he can go to a day care i personally would wait until 18 months or two years but make sure he is getting a veggie a fruit and some protien at each meal if you can buy fresh fruits and veggies do it. also you can even make smoothies too (ice fresh fruits like strawberrys and bananas and some water or juice and some sort of soft veggies) and try and get him to use a kid size spoon and fork to eat his meals with instead of fingers

I think for a first time mom you are doing great and need to tell your mom to butt out. as far as the preschool at least by age 3

My 9 month old eats a lot of table foods.... She has just recently started turning away from the purees. She is at the point now that she gets finger foods at every meal. I think it's GOOD to let himself feed with his fingers... it's great for developing fine motor skills. I usually let my DD have a spoon of her own while I'm feeding her... I thicken up some of whatever puree I'm feeding her with a bit of baby cereal so it really sticks to the spoon. Sometimes she eats it, sometimes she just waves it around. Either way, she's learning. I don't think it's a big deal how he eats, so long as he's eating and growing!

It's great he is eating table foods as long as they are healthy. We skipped the baby food for my second 2 altogether and went straight to mashed real food by about 10 months.

I wouldn't worry at all about the spoon. Let him feed himself until he starts using utensils on his own. The important thing is that he eats.

The key to sleeping through the night is making sure he eats enough all day, so as long as he's eating lots, he should sleep, and if he's waking, he needs to eat more healthy snacks during the day.

Almond butter on tiny soft pieces of bread (always stand by when eating choke sized things) and mashed avocados or scrambled eggs are good for protein. My kids all loved soft sweet potato fries. Slice sweet potatoes, stir in a bit of olive oil until coated and bake in oven on sheet until tender-about 20-40 minutes depending how thin you slice them.

Don't rush the daycare if you don't have to. Mom is the best teacher and kids don't really "need" socializing with other kids until after 3 years old.
You're doing great!

As long as the food is not a coking hazard--let him have what he likes. You'll be glad you did. My son always had what we had--I was determined not to have a nugget/pizza kid and we do NOT! He eats EVERYTHING under the sun.
When he was about 3, he was asking for asparagus.
As for the table manners--sorry grandma, this is not the time for Miss Manners, it's all about strengthening fine motor skills and self feeding right now. So let him feed himself however he likes--and expect a mess.
Usually nursery schools have a "3 and potty trained" rule. But the most important thing you can do right now i read, read, read to him!
Sounds like you're on top of it and on the ball, Mama!
Enjoy that little boy! Boys ROCK!

Both my sons started eating table foods & feeding them selves with their fingers around 7 months. They were eating completely independently (no help from me) by around 9/10 months. I made sure I cut everything up really small. I think this is fabulous. Sometime btw 10 months & 1 year I got rid of the high chair, switched to a booster seat & the boys started eating off plates (instead of high chair tray) and I would give them their own fork & spoon. Around 1 year they were using adult forks/spoons & our adult (ceramic) plates. They still occassionally use their fingers, b/c its easier & requires less coordination (my oldest is 3 1/2). I encourage you to let your child work on feeding himself. Meals are easier when they are feeding themselves & he will switch to a fork at an earlier age. When you do switch to a fork, use an adult one early on. The baby ones make it impossible to stab anything. My kids never hurt themselves with the forks (make sure you are watching at all times). And now I often give them knives with dinner as well.
My boys eat well (lots of variety of foods) & neatly & have very good table manners. There is no need to hold him back.

I think you're right on track! That's great he wants table food AND wants to feed himself! My little guy is 17 months old and really only wants me to place food in his mouth. Ha ha... (He'll feed himself for Daddy and my Dad... but he wants to be babied by Mommy)...

My little guy is addicted to blueberry Eggo waffles... He LOVES grilled cheese sandwiches... or any kind of sandwich that I 'grill' up in the George Forman grill...........He loves pizza... yogurt... animal crackers... any kinds of crackers... and chicken nuggets.

My son's sleep patterns change occasionally when he starts teething (again) or has an ear-infection...... When he wakes up in the middle of the night for extra bottles it's usually teething... just to cry... it's usually an ear-infection.

Good luck! Sounds like everything is on the right track!

My son eat what we ate (in a form her could easily manage) around 9 months.

There is a major developmental leap at 10 months. His sleep will change over the course of the next two months, and when it settles down, it should be for the better (i.e. he should sleep 12 hours). Whatever you do, don't assume he needs a later bedtime. Chances are, he may actually need earlier. Just watch him. You know bedtime is too late when they wake early.