Why won't he self feed?

[DebbieHelen]

My 11 month has no interest inself feeding. He won't even hold finger food let alone put it in his mouth.

He has just started drinking himself but only with encouragement.

Getting very concerned and desperate for help and advice

[vict17]

My 11 month doesn't feed himself either - I don't think at this age they are meant to. He will stuff a bit of bread in his mouth but loses interest quickly and just throws it on the floor. He definitely does not drink on his own - well done you for that!!

[zebra]

"Throwing on the floor is part of the fun", says my husband.
Just wait until he's 3, DHelen -- he'll want to be fed all the time!!! Complete attention seeking nonsense.

[flamesparrow]

He'll suddenly decide one day that he's going to feed himself from now on, regardless of what the food is, what he's wearing, and what you want! And believe it or not... you'll actually miss being allowed to feed him!

It will happen, just wait until he decides its time, and keep offering the finger foods.

xxxx

[PrettyCandles]

Do you ever leave him 'to get on with it'? When he's hungry - but not roaringly so - pop him in his highchair and leave an appealing bit of food on the tray in front of him. Do it casually, without asking him to eat it. Then get engrossed with something else in the same room, but mostly with your back to him, and see what happens. You may have to give it 10mins or so. It doesn't even need to be finger food, just anything you know that he likes.

OTOH, he may just not be ready to feed himself !

And when he is ready, you may look back to this time with a sigh...my dd has decided that spoons are for the birds - she uses her hands (fists! ) for everything, including soup and yogurt.

[bobbybob]

My ds didn't manage to get a piece of toast or a biscuit into his own mouth until 13 months. He did a cup on his first birthday. He is now an incredibly neat eater, and got the hang of a spoon at the same time as everybody else's child.

I was terrified and nobody seemed to know what was wrong. It turns out nothing was - it was just a milestone he missed by, well a mile.