Encouraging LO to feed himself

MissMeegs

DS loves pretty much all types of food, we love that he's such a good eater. But he just sits in his high chair with his mouth open like a baby bird and refuses to feed himself, ever. He loves to play with the food, especially "squishy" things, but he never puts it anywhere near his mouth. If we stop feeding him in hopes he'll start to figure it out, he just gets pissed and starts wailing at us. I know there's no timeline for this and it's not like it's a big deal, but it's one of those things I wonder about. Especially since the first thing he does with any and every NON food item is shove it in his mouth! What a brat. Any way to encourage him to feed himself without just ending up with a screaming baby squishing food in his angry fists?

NenaMarie84

Let me know if you figure something out because DD is the same!

aeh8810

I have no helpful advice, but I want to let you know you are not alone. The only things DS will feed himself are puffs and cheerios. I have started giving him the spoon when he is done eating in hopes that him playing with it will make him want to use it more often, but so far it is no help.

MissMeegs

I don't even need him to figure out how the spoon works yet, but it would be nice if he could figure out puffs/Cheerios and other finger foods! I might just have to suffer through the screams and let him figure it out. He really is such a stubborn baby!

Rebis58

I have no advice from experience because we have the opposite problem! I pre-made and froze so many purees and mashed up fruits/veggies and now DD wants nothing to do with being spoon fed. Not sure what I'm going to do with all that food, I'd hate for it to go to waste.

I would probably feed him a few bites, so that he's not starving (to prevent him getting too frustrated), and then try leaving some finger foods for him to play with/pick at. If he starts to holler at you, maybe help him eat a bite or two, then try leaving him again to feed himself.

If that doesn't work, I'd just keep feeding him. Maybe he's not ready yet. I guarantee he'll let you know when he doesn't want to be spoon fed anymore!

Roses87

Have you tried giving him food and walking away? Maybe he will scream for a few, then realize your not there to feed him and he will try it himself?? If you have tried this, I have nothing. Sorry.

MissMeegs

Thanks all! I will try out some of these ideas.

ChuggingWater

esd said:

We've done BLW so he's always fed himself but honestly I'd just put the food down and let him figure it out. You can give him a plate/bowl and spoon since that's what he's used to and see if that helps. Or maybe give him the first bite and then put it down for him.

this is almost verbatim what I would have said