BLW for the baby who doesn't put things in his mouth

[backpacker]

My 9 month ds is really starting to enjoy his food and eats 3 good meals a day. He is spoon fed which I don't mind doing at all. I do hold bits of cheese and soft fruit to his mouth which occassionally he'll gnaw on.

I've read quite a few threads on BLW and it sounds great. So does anyone have any tips of getting my boy to self feed? He doesn't put anything in his mouth himself apart from his thumb!
Ta

[AlfredAitchcock]

you really need to be asking how you can get your spoon fed baby to eat more finger food, iykwim?

baby led weaning is really about leaving food in front of them and if they don't fancy it then you have to let that be and give them milk rather than spoon feeding them. to be honest it's as much a state of mind as it is an approach to weaning (just ask soupdragon)

doesn't he chew toys and things, is it really only his thumb?

the best thing to do, i reckon, is eat with the baby and offer him bits off your plate. but i wouldn't necessarily hold things up to their mouths, the point is for them to feel empowered to do it themselves. But again that's a BLW attitude so i don't know if it's relevant. Maybe just leave food on the highchair table every day and be prepared to waste quite a bit of it?

hopefully someone will come along with some more useful tips for you.

[backpacker]

Thanks for your reply. Yes he really will only put his thumb in his mouth. I have tried putting food on his tray. He picks it up fine but then either drops it on the floor or bangs it on his tray.

I do know what you mean by an attitude of mind. I just let him eat what he wants ( me spooning him obviously). However I don't think that he would be satisfied with just milk at this age especially as he now enjoys three big meal a day. I don;t want to starve into compliance!!!

You're right, it's probably tips on getting him to self feed finger food I'm after rather than blw. I guess he'll do it when he's ready, he's still only little. Will continue to leave bits on tray till then.

[AlfredAitchcock]

maybe try a question along the lines of my 9 month old only puts his thumb in mouth. no toys, no food... so how do i get him to self-feed? maybe someone will have encountered the same situation.






not even the remote control..?

[littlepiggie]

oh so it not only my lo that hunts out the remote control, the perfect blw food.