Mums of 9 month (ish) olds, is this normal?

[quickchat]

I have a 9 month old DS. 3rd baby.

He doesn't seem to be able to pick up food and put it to his mouth. I swear my other 2, DS & DD, could do this no problem by this age.

I remember them eating bits of banana, melon sticks and toast before this age. I have pictures to proove it!! Im sure by now they were even attempting (not very well) to take shots of the spoon.

Now, im imagining your thinking he probably just isn't interested but he is and very frustrated with it.

He loves toast and melon and I either put a finger of toast in front of him on his tray or hold it out in front of him and sit patiently.
He is desperate but his hand just sort of bats at it on the tray and ends up flicking it further away and can't work anything out if it is held out in front.

If I put it in his hand he automatically opens his hand and it falls and he gets upset.

I then just hold it at his mouth and he sucks away enthusiastically. If I then remove my hand it hangs out his mouth until it falls and he gets upset again.

His hands spend most of the time just waving at the sides of him. I can see he wants to hold it but can't work it out.

This seems very behind with fine motor skills to me. I know they are all different but I feel this is a basic.

I will speak to the health visitor but I was just curious to see what other mums said about their 9 month olds in this department

Bumping for you as mine are teens now and I can't remember exactly how they were at that stage.

If you still feel concerned after seeing your HV, I'd make an appointment with your GP and ask for a referral to a paediatric doctor, just in case.

Hi this may not be what you would like to hear butmy 7 month old ds and the other 7 month olds I know are all able to pick up finger foods and eat them. The only one ds would struggle with is melon due to the slippiness of it but if I put it in his hand for him hecan then put it to his mouth to eat it. Does he pick his toys up? I don't know if picking finger food up is a developmental milestone but I would mention it to the health visitor next time you have him weighed.

My DS didn't self feed till he was one he just wouldn't touch the food before then, i worried at the time but he's fine now and self feeds everyday, i wouldn't worry they all come on at different times

My DS didn't self feed till he was one he just wouldn't touch the food before then, i worried at the time but he's fine now and self feeds everyday, i wouldn't worry they all come on at different times

He seems fine with toys. Tonight I took my older two out for dinner and DH said he sat DS on the floor and put his toothbrush in front of him, he reached out and picked it up and and got it into his mouth. DH then put a peg on the floor and he looked at his hand with the toothbrush, dropped it and picked up the peg. DH thinks im worrying too much!

Maybe the food thing is down to something else but im still a little shocked he can't just pick up toast that he desperately wants.

Does he have his pincer grip yet? That usually comes in around 8 months.

If you put the item in his hand and his grasp reflex kicks in to hold it, what happens?

iijkk that's the weird thing, he automatically opens his hand.

I have been trying all weekend to get him to pick up small objects and food. He does seem a little better and has managed a piece of toast and a taste of strawberry.

If I put them in his hands he drops it.

With smaller objects not food related he seems to pick up easier and swap from hand to hand and put to his mouth.

He is maybe just a bit slower with this but something about it seems strange to me.

My DD3 is 9 months old and has only just figured out self-feeding this weekend. Much later than her two older sisters.

My friends 9month old has been doing this for a month already. Another friend has a one year old who can't self feed yet.

I would not worry about it give him a little more time.

I have a weird feeling that I read something about the wires getting crossed; basically they have an automatic grab reflex, yeah?

So then they have to learn consciously to open their hand.

The problem at this point is they haven't learnt to consciously grab at something (because it's always been a reflex). So in other words, dropping is easier than holding, to start.

it all has to do with the brain getting its wires straight. And might be extra tricky when it involves coordinating getting item into mouth.

Don't hold me to that.

Best thing would be to chat with your HV about it.

Hi my dd3 is 10 months and only just got the hang of it. Most food ends up on the floor!