9 month baby doesn't put stuff in his mouth - what does it mean?

[backpacker]

My ds (9 mo) is a thumbsucker and will gnaw his fingers when teething but that's it - wont bite a spoon, a toy, a teething ring. Will only take finger food from my fingers. GP told me to monitor this at 8 mo check and HV has also expressed surprise and said he should be doing this by now.
Not especially concerned but wondered if any other mums have had babies who dont play by putting stuff in their mouths? Did they get there in the end? Did it have any other implications for their development?

Tia

[Donbean]

OMG!
What ever has happened to each child as an individual?
Your baby might not LIKE putting things in his mouth, just because he doesnt.
Dont you agree?
If they dont all do things that all babies do then....there could be something wrong.
This drives me mad.

[AnAngelWithin]

count yourself lucky! i got fed up of removing things that they should have from their mouths, including garden worms and other bugs!!

I really wouldn't worry. Maybe your littles ones gums are just sensitive and he doesnt like the feel of things on them?

[AnAngelWithin]

should say SHOULDN'T have. sorry!

[backpacker]

Thanks DB and AAW.
Garden worms - excellent source of free protein why remove them?
Sorry I went off line, Ds inconveniently woke up and then had to go out.
A childminder I know suggested he might have hypermobility in his wrists but added it was too early to tell as many babies are v flexible.

Probably db is right that he just doesn't fancy it but I was curious to know if anybody else had a baby with the same behaviour and if they out grew it.

[pianomummy]

My DS is one and still doesn't feed himself and shows no sign of trying. I used to be bothered by this but now I've decided it totally doesn't matter. He does eat, I hasten to add, but only when we spoon or finger feed him.

Agree totally - these 'milestones' are to be reached in their own time.