self feeding......what age?

[ninkynonkpinkyponk]

My DS is just 9 months and loves his food. My concern is that he will not self feed and has no interest what so ever!
He is not a baby who explores with his mouth and never has done, he much prefers to just chew on his fingers. so of course BLW has not really been an option. I do offer finger foods but they just end up on the floor.
I do not mind feeding him, but with everyone elses babies around the same age and some younger self feeding to some degree, i worry that he is behind and that by now he should be taking some interest and know what to do.
Does anyone else have any experiance of this with their babies? and at what age did they pick it up?

Do you eat with him? So he can watch you and know how he's supposed to self feed? I can't remember when DS started - but we did BLW so he did self feed straight away but spoon feeding himself took longer.

I'd eat your meals with him, let him grab stuff from your plate and see how he fares. Encourage him to get messy - it's all part of the learning and fun!

Hi, to be honest I don't eat with him, because I spoon feed him it's hard to do that and eat your own, perhaps I should change my whole approach and do like you suggest and both eat off my plate! I can definitely do that at lunchtime but tea time would be much harder for me.

I think one meal a day is enough to start with. I have breakfast and lunch with DS but he has tea early so just him!

i agree eat at the same time, he'll have to wait while you have some if he wants it quicker he'll learn to do it himself Perhaps have a spoon for you and one for him. My ds got the hang of self feeding once at nursery and had to wait for his turn amongst at least 3 other babies for his next spoonful.

There was a thread on this a few days ago from a mum of a 17 month old asking the same question. Most of the responses were saying that their baby didn't spoon feed themselves until about 16 - 17 months old. So if you are asking what age will your DC start spoon feeding themselves i think you have a while to wait.

I gave my DS finger food from 6 months but did the traditional purees as his "main" food. I remember he was rubbish at feeding himself this finger food until one day he was 7 months (not sure if just 7 months or almost 8) and he just did it, he ate a piece of toast really well.

He is 13 months now and vastly prefers to feed himself but I remember thinking we would never get here.

Just perservere if it is what you want.

Good luck