Eating

[Nel81]

Hiya, thanks to everyone for the advice I've had on other threads. We're now 7weeks in to placement and he's settling in well. What I'd like advice on is his eating if anybody could help please. I don't want to cause any issues with feeding so looking for some tips. He insists on eating with his hands. sandwiches, chips nuggets are fine to do that with but he eats beans, gravy, yoghurts etc in the same way. How can I get him to eat with a fork and spoon please? He's almost 4.

Congratulations! For me I would try not to worry and aim not to make an issue out of it. My ds nearly 9 still uses his hands even for roast potatos with gravy on and other friends that age dont like to use cutlery. So would think that at such an early on stage Id let him just always give him a spoon and see how you go. You can use the little suckies yogurt pouches maybe? There could be lots of reasons - maybe he needs more practice, maybe he needs more babying, maybe its what hes used to, maybe its sensory, but just being supportive rather than getting worried about it will work best maybe? You could give him spoons and cups etc as toys as a tea set or in the bath, or mud or sand play etc, so he can still get the skills without putting the pressure round food?

@Nel81

7 weeks is such early days and he is a baby really, some regression is to be expected.
If he will accept it I would feed him myself

Congratulations !

Congratulations!

I wouldn’t worry, as long as he’s eating. When ours were first placed they would hardly eat anything and we had to really take a big step back so we didn’t make it into too much of a big deal.

Ours did like to be fed by us though. So we would do the whole cho cho train, aeroplane thing with a spoon and yoghurt - maybe you could try that…it’s fun and nurturing, but I wouldn’t force it.

Mine are 6 & 7 now and if they can get away with it, they still eat with their hands. I think it’s quite a sensory experience and instinctive - we get a lot of information about food and whether it’s safe from touching, smelling, tasting (and possibly throwing) it.

Yep another one saying don’t worry about it - he’s eating which is the main thing. Try giving him a spoon to help with messy food but let him choose. There are lots of reasons why our kids can struggle with cutlery but he’ll get there in his own time. This isn’t a battle worth picking.

Definitely wouldn't worry about this after 7 weeks you can work on that when he more settled. Invest in some sleeved aprons for now!