1 year old won't feed himself :(

Annabelle7

DS can pick up puffs for example, but he will hand them to me to put in his mouth.  If I try to put his hand towards his mouth, or just sit there to see what he will do, he will start crying and then eventually just suck his thumb.  I don't get it.  The doctor suggests putting some puffs on his tray and walking out of sight.  Please tell me someone else has gone through this and has a suggestion? 

Shayna0182

We've been going through it since ds has started eating solids.  In fact, he's receiving ot for texture issues and learning to self feed.  He'll feed himself if we put it in his hands, but it seems like he forgets to pick it up.  One thing his therapist has told us, is to not do it for him if he's picking up food he likes.   Usually, he'll scream at us and make a mess on the tray, but he will evenutally put it in his mouth.  

LEFNCSU

Shayna0182:

We've been going through it since ds has started eating solids.  In fact, he's receiving ot for texture issues and learning to self feed.  He'll feed himself if we put it in his hands, but it seems like he forgets to pick it up.  One thing his therapist has told us, is to not do it for him if he's picking up food he likes.   Usually, he'll scream at us and make a mess on the tray, but he will evenutally put it in his mouth.  

How did you wind up doing OT?  My DS has texture issues as well and I am not sure how to handle it.  We go to his 15 month appointment on Friday and would love to talk to the Pedi about it.

ncbelle

Do you eat with him?  I think that makes a huge difference as kiddo's want to do whatever we are doing.  I'd also offer him a variety - puffs are kind of boring in the long run and don't give him much incentive to experiment.

I'd make yourself a nice healthy dinner and just give him a bit of everything to try.  Try to relax and make it a fun experience.  If you are stressed, he will pick up on that and won't try anything new.  And let him do it - just be patient and it's very likely that he'll watch you and try to do it himself. 

Shayna0182

LEFNCSU:

Shayna0182:

We've been going through it since ds has started eating solids.  In fact, he's receiving ot for texture issues and learning to self feed.  He'll feed himself if we put it in his hands, but it seems like he forgets to pick it up.  One thing his therapist has told us, is to not do it for him if he's picking up food he likes.   Usually, he'll scream at us and make a mess on the tray, but he will evenutally put it in his mouth.  

How did you wind up doing OT?  My DS has texture issues as well and I am not sure how to handle it.  We go to his 15 month appointment on Friday and would love to talk to the Pedi about it.

Definitely have a conversation with your pedi about it.  We got a referral for early intervention at his 9 month appointment, because it seemed like he wasn't progressing at all.  He wasn't even trying to crawl, and hadn't tried to put anything in his mouth.  Not toys, nothing.  So we contacted a EI group in Indiana called First Steps, and had an evaluation done.  They set us up with a physical therapist for gross motor skill delay, and an occupational therapist for texture and feeding issues.  I was scared to make the call, but it was super easy, and his therapists are so wonderful with him.  He is now crawling, and pulling up on his knees, and can also eat a variety of table foods now, and is getting better at self feeding. 

AngelaEsq

Is DS home with you or at DC? 

 I ask b/c DD would eat at DC but not for me. Frankly, she wanted me to baby her and I did. Eventually she started feeding herself at home. Then she had a major relapse b/c I had to leave the house for a week, because she had coxcaskie and I am under chemo.

 

So, I think it's something that he picks them up. He wants you to do it, because your Mommy and he's your baby. 

Annabelle7

Thanks everyone.  We don't really eat with him, but maybe that will help if we do.  I do snack on the fruit and puffs I give him to give him the idea to feed himself but he just won't.  He does it with puffs, fruit, etc.  Picks it up fine, chews and swallows fine; but he just wants to hand the food to me and not put it in his own mouth. 

I'm a SAHM so he's not in DC.  Who knows, maybe he does just want to be babied.