When baby refuses main

[lancslass17]

What do you do when baby refuses main?
Just offered 12 month old ds fish pie ( he does like it) and he is now wanting to feed himself.

So tonight he has his spoons is messing ends up with it all over and only 1 spoon went in his mouth before we give up. Do you offer something else or leave it?

You need to let him feed himself and also spoon it in yourself while he is learning aka messing about

I’d offer a few spoonfuls in case he’s tired/distracted and needs help. If he doesn’t want it then assume he’s not hungry and leave it. Maybe offer something like a banana in a bit if you’re worried about a bad night due to hunger.

I'd just let him feed himself. It's only food so isn't that much hassle to clean up. It's a skill they need to learn so why not now!

I tend to offer something dull like an oatcake with cream cheese if my DS hasn't eaten much but sometimes mine just isn't hungry.

I've been wondering this too. Baby only wants to feed himself but if I give him something that requires a spoon I'm concerned about how much he'll actually ingest, and then whether to top up with finger food.

The whole thing is a minefield!

Thanks all he refused when I tried to feed him so offered fruit which He ate a little then threw on the floor so I went with not hungry!

I don't want to get in the habit of offering something nicer if he doesn't eat his main though is my concern

Yeah I think its definitely good for them to try and feed themselves, this is them learning (its blooming messy 🤣🤣)
I think it's a good call offering him the fruit.
I went through this and at a weigh in I asked the HV if I would be making a rod for my own back if I offered a different food. Her advice was
As long as it's a healthy option like fruit or yoghurt at this age you cant go wrong, so long as your not then offering crap like "crisps or a Gregg pasty" it's fine.

I've tended to give mine his yoghurt when he doesn't eat much main. He still seems to eat his main. He's 19 months. Today he wouldn't eat much of his roast dinner. He just has the sweet potato and carrot and ignored the potato and chicken. He still had his yoghurt (I make it with Greek yoghurt, babanas, cherries and blueberry in blender).
Sometimes he's fussy, sometimes he isn't. I don't think withholding his yoghurt would make him eat his main and I haven't really seen any negative impact from allowing his yoghurt. Sometimes he eats a lot and sometimes he doesn't.

When they feed themselves, unless they’re having real issues, they do tend to eat just enough for their appetites. So don’t worry about it.