Finger foods....a joke for my little one

[Nessamommy]

Recently we have started finger foods, but my son doesn't seem to have any interest in it. When I place a couple of things (cereal or whatever) on his tray all he does is pick it up and throw it on the floor. This has been a big game lately whether he's in a stroller or wherever. He has put some pieces in his mouth sometimes, simply to just spit it out again...or if he does manage to get it into the back of his mouth he gags on it. Sometimes he just squishes the food in his hands and that's about it. Is this typical of a child who is starting finger foods? If so, are there any tips or things I can do to make this more successful? Or is it just something he needs to do?

Completely typical. Nothing you can do except to wait - and stock up on cleaning products I have started firmly saying "NO" to DS and looking stern when he chucks stuff on the floor - and just lately he's been looking at me when he's about to do it, to look for my reaction, so I think the message may be getting through. So you could try that, but really they're just learning about gravity and having fun experimenting with all the new foody toys to play with

Good to hear this is normal. I have visions of a 20 year old being spoon fed purees!

Sympathies, Nessamommy... how old is he? Ds is 11mo and hopeless with finger foods. I sometimes feel as if it is just him as all his peers seem to manage fine. Also, it doesn't help that he is big for his age and therefore looks 'too old' to be spoonfed. He is not very good with a cup either, it just seems that all he wants to do is throw things as far away from himself as possible. I have been reassured by various friends etc that it will all come in good time, it just feels like forever! You are not alone.

Thanks PinkPussyCat! He is 8 months old. I feel like I've started too late and now he has to catch up. Whether or not that is the case I don't know. It does feel like he's the only one in his group of kids the same age who is not doing this efficiently.

Hey my son has been eating finger foods really well from 7 mo he is now 11mo. He went through the "dropping food" phase and everything went everywhere for a while. I tried the stern looks, saying no, but he smiled and did it anyway.

He has got better now, and think its dawned on him that if he throws it, he can't eat it!!