DS Doesn't Want To Be Fed, But Won't Feed Himself!

patchen30 · September 2012

DS has decided he doesn't want me to feed him with a spoon. He fusses and closes his mouth, reaching for whatever I'm eating and reaching for the pouch/bowl/spoon, etc.

However, when I give him finger foods (I've tried many kinds) he either a) doesn't put anything in his mouth and just plays with it or b) if he puts something in his mouth he gets freaked out by the texture and coughs it up. He's really hardly eating! Any suggestions?

SunnyD2011 · September 2012

Well that is a bit tricky but he is only 10 months. With baby led weaning the thought is he will eat as much as he needs. Just continue with breastfeeding or formula. He will get the hang of it!

jenb_99 · September 2012

A friend's baby went through something like this, and she finally just gave him his own spoon and a few chunks of food to play with. That kept him occupied and satisfied enough that he would accept what she was trying to feed him. Sometimes they just want to participate in their own funny way.

ns1 · September 2012

I was just about to post this exact same thing! I wish I had advice for you because then my own LO would be eating too, but I don't. I can offer you sympathy though! DD doesn't want purees anymore; she also turns her face away from the spoon, and she just shoves finger food around her tray. It's so disturbing! I've just been trying to convince myself that she'll eat when she gets hungry; she won't starve herself and will have to eat eventually!

I'll be looking for answers along with you, and if I figure out a magic solution I'll let you know!

HK2mom4 · September 2012

Girls, my sympathy goes out to you! It is most annoying to have one who starts being finicky - somewhat independent not eating when you want to feed them; but, sorry to say - it's that way sometimes! Usually starts at 9-11 months!

I've had that problem with each of mine; but, your first is for practice becoming the learning curve for those to follow!

Then my advice (which was from MIL) she said "Is there food in the house? for them? Then they'll eat WHEN they get hungry - so you quit worrying about that." She went on to say - "they all have an internal clock which tells them 'I'm hungry' let's eat. They won't starve - believe me, so stop worrying just enjoy your meal - let nature take it's course!"

Turns out she was right!!! GL in your feeding frenzy!

ns1 · September 2012

I'm taking comfort in that last response!

But, on another note, DD ate really well tonight (breakfast was another story I wish to not relive!). I had to put single pieces of whatever I wanted her to eat on the tray...one.at.a.time! She'd pick that piece up; I'd set another down. When she picked that up, set another down. It took her about an hour to eat, but she ate everything I put on her tray (which happened to be the exact same stuff I put in front of her yesterday night when she refused to eat)!

I don't know if this was just luck or if this is the method we'll be stuck with until she goes off to college...!

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DS Doesn't Want To Be Fed, But Won't Feed Himself!

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