How to I get DS1 (nearly 3) to feed himself?

[IWillNotNeverEatATomato]

DS1 will only ever feed himself one or two mouthfuls of any meal, even the things he loves to eat, like ice cream

he is the sort of boy who would forget to eat if you didn't force food upon him.
so I (or his dad) always have to step in and spoonfeed him so that he actually eats

if I just leave him to it he wouldn't eat anything, he doesn't kick off, he would just not eat. He is not particularly fussy as long as you put it into his mouth he will eat almost anything.

He is very skinny, all his trousers are pulled in to the maximum, or need a belt, or just fall off him.
So I don't really want him to get any thinner - probably why I always give in and spoonfeed him, to ensure he is eating.

advice would be very gratefully received as it is getting a bit silly particularly as DS2 came along recently and mealtimes now consist of me trying to rock DS2's bouncy chair with my foot while trying to spoonfeed DS1 and shovel food into my own mouth.

I am sure this is not supposed to be so difficult no one else I know has a child of this age who won't feed themselves. But I have no idea what to do other than me not feeding him and therefore him not eating anything

dd was like this, just played with her food til someone fed her, when she then quite happily ate.

i now just put her food in g=front of her, keep positive conversation running if she eats and if she doesn't eat don't give her any attention. she will usually when not getting attention eat, but if she plays up and won't eat then i say that's fine, nothing til next meal time, and repeat this all over again. sadly, i found hardlibne has bbetter reults!

we had similar problems. First we said that by the time he was (choose good time goal - eg starts nursery, 4th birthday, easter at grandparents etc) he must feed himself - party of growing up etc.

A great game to play is 'hide and eat'. You close your eyes or feed DS2 / yourself and when you look again you have to guess what DS1 ate - obviously get it wrong plenty of times so that he has to keep going so you can try again.

also, chop up food and with him count how many items on plate 8 sausages (that's pieces not actual sausages and then he has to eat one and count again.

This obviously has a a two-fold bonus - counting and feeding himself.

Also, another game. As you eat 1 mouthful and you feed ds2 one mouthful, ds1 has to eat one mouthful - who can finish first mouthfuls first. Not about indigestion and finishing entire plate but winning.

He may of course feel miffed that brother is now being fed and why can't he as brother gets max attention from you and he'd like that too. So if he stays babylike, that'll work as it works for his brother etc etc

Frankly, I've got loads of games which we used. feel free to come back to me!! good luck

i am having this prob with DD two and a half.

Prob my fault. DD used to go to nursery and progressed well but since we at home now she waits til i finish and asks me to help her, prior to this she feeds herself, but will not eat further. but noticed today i was busy in kitchen and left "round 2" on the table and she did it herself. Guess that answers itself really.

Can seem frustrating cos we conditioned to get them to eat with us, maybe we should just leave them alone and they will do it in their own time. Its all for attention.