baby ready to feed on her own?

[tiredbutlearning]

Hi ladies,

My DD is nearly 1 and I believe ready to feed unaided - what are your tips and how should I start it. I give her the spoon but it gets licked once and then splattered....is there an easier way? or cleaner way? or shall i just splatter proof my house??

Let her eat with her fingers and just leave cutlery within her reach. She'll start using the cutlery by watching you eat with yours. Folk's are easier than spoons because they can stab the food rather than scoop it up. With runny food, load up the spoon and put it in her hand and guide it to her mouth. She'll get the hang of it eventually.

Ds1 has been feeding himself from the very beginning. Using just his fingers at first . He's 18months now and using a folk competently although does go back to using his hands sometimes and using a spoon fairly well but yes, a big plastic mat under the chair is always a good idea!

Finger food - small slices of soft bread and butter, soft (cooked) veg like small carrots, squares of cheese, small branches of broccoli etc. If you put a few pieces on a plate in front of her, she'll definitely pick them up and eat them (unless she hates the food in question). Less wipe up than spooned food, too. good luck!