11 month old refusing spoon and won't pick up finger foods let alone eat them! Help!

[Futter]

Hi everyone
Just wanted to get some tips really as my DS has been a relatively good eater with spoon fed baby food but now is refusing me to feed him but won't pick up anything squishy let alone put it near his mouth so struggling for ways of trying to get him to try things! Any tips??

[fluffikins]

No idea but probably is teething so it'll probably resolve over time

[AcrossthePond55]

Fluffi may be right. Have you tried to feed DS cold foods? If he's teething it might feel soothing to him.

Does he put his fingers (or yours) in his mouth? It's messy, but you could try to put some smooth food (yoghurt, thick cereal, puree veg, smashed finger foods, something he really likes normally) on his/your fingers and see if he sucks or licks it off. If he does, do it a few times then offer the same food on a spoon or small bite. Once he gets the 'taste' on his fingers & wants more, he may be more inclined to eat either on spoon or pickup.

Keep it real low key. Make it as 'meal-like' as you can. Offer two or three bites whilst you're doing something else. TV, reading a book, playing. The point being to not build up a 'mealtime battle of wills' or that meal time is not fun time.

[AcrossthePond55]

correction; "Make it as far from 'meal-like' as you can!"

[Futter]

Thank you both! He's already got 6 teeth and it may be his side teeth causing problems but I think it's more about independence as he's recently started nursery so can see other babies eating etc

It's more about texture so if he doesn't like the feeling of something he won't put it to his mouth so if it's slimy or soft (basically lots of good foods!) he won't feed himself but now he's refusing to be spoon fed too so struggling to get anything nutritious in him other than carb based biscuit snacks ha!