what to do when they don't want to be spoon fed?

kimarino13 · January 2011

My girls used to get down with Yo Baby yogurt. LOVED it. Then we started putting pieces of food on their trays and now they refuse to be spoon fed because they love feeding themselves via picking things up with their fingers. I wish I could get them to eat yogurt but they clamp their mouths shut and refuse it.

I think they are too young to feed themselves yogurt with a spoon. Or maybe I am just afraid of the mess...

Did any of you deal with this around this age? What did you do about it?

kittylove · January 2011

I gave mine the spoon long before 11 months, they are ready for it. Now YOU might not be, and that is okay but if you want them to eat the yogurt then I would try letting them feed themself. Other option is to get the orgnic go-yogurt freeze it and then give them pieces, or put regular yogurt into ice cube trays and then freeze and put into the mesh bagies.

desabean · January 2011

Garrison has refused to be spoon fed since 8 months. I tried buying her the "tuberz" (sounds more like something I enjoyed in college than a yogurt-- but it is a long tube with yogurt in it) it worked....ok but, like you, the mess potential scares me from it. Also, G was only luke warm about it.

I have a friend who does the dannon yogurt drinks with a straw in it (puncture the foil top with the straw so they can't spill it). I keep meaning to buy some and give it a try.

MNheidi · January 2011

I've started giving Tessa a spoon when I spoon feed her anything. If nothing else it distracts her but this is how the boys started to learn how to use utensils too.

laura&dan05 · January 2011

I let her feed herself with a spoon. I think we started around 9 - 10 months. It was a HUGE mess in the beginning but now she does really well (she can also use a fork).

For us the trick was having several spoons around. I'd give her one to play with or practice with and I'd use another one to actually feed her. I'd give her a small amount on her spoon and it would take her awhile to actually do something with it and in the mean time I'd be using the other spoon to feed her. It helped her build the coordination she needed to actually get the spoon in her mouth. Some stuff is still pretty messy but she does a really good job and will let me help if it's something that is difficult for her.

emmyloustu · January 2011

laura&dan05:

For us the trick was having several spoons around. I'd give her one to play with or practice with and I'd use another one to actually feed her. I'd give her a small amount on her spoon and it would take her awhile to actually do something with it and in the mean time I'd be using the other spoon to feed her. It helped her build the coordination she needed to actually get the spoon in her mouth. Some stuff is still pretty messy but she does a really good job and will let me help if it's something that is difficult for her.

Ditto! Eliza is still learning, but she does pretty good. Miss Independent hasn't wanted to be spoon fed in a long time. I started by loading up the spoon for her and guiding her hand over hand, now she is able to dip it in herself. We are still in the messy stage so I try to keep it to days where I know I can bathe her or we don't have to be anywhere.

kimarino13 · January 2011

Thanks, ladies! Looks like we should just star working with them on using the spoon themselves.

dundasgirl · January 2011

it is a huge mess! I always get Penny pretty much naked before she eats because she wants to feed herself...She does get it into her mouth, but then she runs the spoon through her hair, rubs it on her belly, across her forehead...and on and on.

I JUST started giving Reed actual milk in his cereal. Up until recently, it was always yoghurt mixed with cereal (less messy and easier for him to eat).

It takes awhile for them to catch on, but I agree with the others who said even if you actually feed them, give them a spoon to play around with. Sometimes with Penny, I will let her feed herself the last 1/4 of the applesauce/yoghurt/lasagna so it is less messy.

kirs10nBryce · January 2011

I've found that it helps to thicken the yogurt to make the self spoon feeding process less messy. I mix in rice cereal and it keeps it from being runny AND she gets more nutrients.

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