Suggestions on Self Feeding

I agree with both of these ladies. Although he does need to learn fine motor skills by picking up small things. I would say get a box of Kix cereal for him. It is a little sweet and little ones love it and they melt in baby's mouth, and they roll so he has to learn how to pick them up.

All you can do is keep offering them to him. Maybe place one in his hand and direct it to his mouth or show him how you eat it.
Don't worry...it will happen when he is ready.

While he is still eating jar food give him the spoon and help him guide the spoon to this mouth and when he does it say good job. Put the finger food on a plate or a bowl that suctions to the table and show him by picking the food up and bringing it to your mouth.

I agree with Gale, my son went through that stage a bit too, but once we started "helping" him guide the spoon, he really got after it. Keep offering those finger foods--just maybe only a couple at a time so that fewer get wasted. Don't let him be lazy, you'll need to be strong about encouraging him to hold his own spoon and not let him get away with conning you into doing it.

As with anything involving kids, you'll need plenty of patience! Good luck!

I agree with the other Mom's but I would add one more thing...do you encourage him to pick things up and learn his eye hand coordination in other settings than meals?? Does he reach out for toys and things that catch his eye?? You need to encourage that...and it will cross over into meal time. I have an 9 month old grandson and I know that things learned in one setting will very often be valuable in another setting.
R. Ann

Have you gotten him one of those spoons that look like the handle has been bent in half so it's easier for the infants to get their hands around? I think Oneida used to sell them. This is sorta what I was thinking about...this is the lot number on ebay 380066312727 and here is a new plastic version from Sassy 370088895186. Something like this that he could get his fingers around might help do the trick.

Other than that, it's patience in sitting with him and telling him no when he goes to play with his food. Show him how to pick it up and put it into his mouth. You might also want to test the waters with some of the biter biscuits...although be careful b/c they can break off into larger parts...Gerber did a lot of the graduate stuff that would actually melt in their mouth.

Another idea is to find a playgroup with other kids his age...sometimes just watching what other kids do is motivation enough for them...amazing the power of peer pressure even at that age! Good luck.

My only concern would be if he doesn't pick little stuff up. He should be pinching his fingers together to pick stuff up. Does he do this? If he doesn't, I would worry, but if he finds every little thing on the floor and picks it up, then I would let feed him to prevent the mess. LOL

Have you gave him his own spoon? He needs to learn to use his spoon to. Not just his hands it's part of development.Start with some applesauce or pudding in a bowl that will stay well on the spoon and let him do it.Ya it'll be messy but this is how they learn.If failed try and try again.Sahm of 2 and 1 more on the way.

Hi S.,
It's possible he doesn't know what to do with it. Perhaps change the scene...sit him on your lap and let him eat cheerios like you do, out of a bowl...pick them up and if he wants you to give him one, make him "help you"...or pick it up himself. Show him how to bring it to his mouth. Once you're sure he knows what to do, then it's just a matter of desynsitizing him...Maybe he doesn't like the feel of wet food. My 11 mo. old doesn't. If he'll take dry rice puffs or wheat puffs, give him a few, then smear a few in carrot puree or applesauce and encourage him to pick them up...Bottom line, if there's no underlying texture or sensory issue (which there probably isn't) if he's hungry enough, he'll eat it! Make sure you're offering finger foods first, so he's at his hungriest. And like I said before, I've found changing the scene helpful so it's not a power struggle. She'll pick up ANYTHING off the floor, but not her high chair tray! :) Good luck!

try putting the food in his hand and then direct it with your hand to his mouth. Also you do it in front of him get his attention so he see's you doing it.

I would worry less about the spoon, and more about getting him to try to eat finger foods. Perhaps break his routine, so he is eating somewhere else, such as "on-the-go", just hand him a gerber fruit puff or somethign as you walk around holding him. My daughter didn't feed herself with a spoon until about 16/17 months, but she was feeding herself table food/finger foods from 10 months. I started them as something that was different than eating in her highchair, they were for snacks while we were out. Try to find something he really likes, she loved cheese, lunch meat, peas, fruit puffs, those were some of the first things she ate. Good luck!

I would enjoy it while it lasts because once self feeding occurs, it becomes very messy! That said, I would try a "non-mushy" food as a finger food. Try cheerios or one of those toddler snack puffs. They are easy for little fingers to grasp and they practically dissolve in the child's mouth so they will not be a choking hazard. Good Luck! Have a great day! K.

just start with finger foods that you KNOW he'll eat, like cheerios or whatever,and give him time to transition. or just give him the spoon and let him try; my kids were very independent and wanted to actually FEED themselves, not pick it up. just a thought; good luck!

Try giving him the spoon. My son PREFERS using a utensil vs his hands. I like it, he has better table manners than his older sisters! ;-) Also try handing a piece to him, so he has to grab it. Show him it's okay to use his fingers to eat. Make it fun! For my son, having the spoon was VERY important. He wouldn't eat unless he had one. He would use his fingers to eat a lot of the times when he first started, but the spoon was still in the other hand. He would also pick upt the food and place it on the spoon. I guess he wanted to eat like everyone else. Keep encouraging him and offering the table foods. He'll get it. Good Luck!

Soooo your little munchin - not wanting to eat. Suggestion, be patient, show him how to place the spoon in his hand and guide the spoon and have him feed you a few times, then place the spoon towards his mouth and he should eat hopefully from your example. I'm sure he will get it and make it fun-and great opportunity to share more time together! Good Luck!

You could start with fun snacks instead of the mealtime foods. My grandaughter loves to pick up her own cheerios and fruit snacks and though she doesn't always get her mouth, it's fun watching her try. Hope that helps!

Oh you are a first time mother.Is'nt it lovely being a Mom.I believe your child is a little to young to master the art of using a spoon.My grandson was close to 2 yrs.old before he used a spoon , then comes the fork which took more time to conquer.Relax its ok....J.

This won't happen after the first time, and most likely will take a little while unless he catches on fast, but try putting the spoon in his hand, help him scoop the food, and then place it in his mouth. If he starts to get excited about the guided spoon and wants to tap it in the jar and then go to the mouth, YAY! Let him! Messes clean up, but he will have the idea. Try this with his loose tray food as well. Feed him the tray food with your hands so he understands that food can come from something other than a spoon or a bottle.

It just sounds like he has a bit of "tunnel vision" and needs a different perspective. The big key to most things in parenting is to be consistent. This will take longer, but the results will be worth it.
Good luck!