Toddler poor eating habits

[Motherofking]

At 6 months my baby got the hang of finger foods. He did great , only gagged 2/3 times ever and was eating a great amount . I was still doing a bit of both finger food and spoon feeding . When he had finger foods he would eat about 70% of his food and the rest would end up on the floor by accident . The plan was to reduce the amount spoon fed meals as his skills improved and was hoping ideally by 1 he would be having everything I have and only being spoon fed porridge or or yogurt . However now at one that is not the case , he doesn't feed himself anymore as he throws all his food on the floor. So about 98% of his food ends up on the floor and he might nibble a little that's all. He's currently being spoon fed everything due to that and now won't even sit in his high chair . I have to feed him on the floor upfront of the telly or whilst he's running around playing . Im not sure why he has regressed . Not sure what I have done wrong

Stop spoon feeding him would be my advice and definitely not in front of the telly. Sit him at the table with the rest of the family, give him some of the food that everyone else is eating and leave him to it. Do not be tempted to start feeding him or persuading him to eat. Talk to him and include him in the conversation, but don’t talk about the food. When the meal is done, it’s done. Clear his away and move on to something else. Persevere.

@SaveWaterDrinkGin thanks for your response . I get worried he won't eat enough and will end up hungry .

@Motherofking that’s kind of the point!

Is he still on breastmilk / formula?

He’s 1. My 3yo still can’t be bothered to feed himself sometimes and we spoon in cereal/yogurt/whatever. As a mum of two older children I can assure you it doesn’t go on forever! I’ve also fed kids while they play, as well as at the table.
My main aim has always been them eating enough and fruit and veg. How it goes in doesn’t matter to me. They do crack it and start having all their meals with the family at the table eventually.
My advice is to not stress about it. Plus offer plenty of nutritious food “on the go” such as bananas and cut up apple etc

@SaveWaterDrinkGin he's on breastmilk but he's nearly 13 months so I don't feel like that's enough when he doesn't eat enough

@DGFB Thanks that is reassuring. He does eat fruits and veg as snacks , I am not too worried about him eating little of that as it is a snack . it is just when it comes to his main meals which is nutritious i would want him to eat enough to be full

It’s not worth the battle. I’d serve his favourite finger foods for him to pick up but also be happy to spoon some in. My 3yo gets fed up of tackling cereal for example, so we spoon some in while chatting about our day after he’s done several spoons himself, then he moves on to a banana which he eats himself. It’s no stress. I’ve also sat on a floor and fed yoghurt while he plays! Like I say, two older kids feed themselves perfectly now. Nobody is overweight, nobody has been force fed. Just a happy combination of them doing it and us doing it for a while. Toddlers are very busy people!

@Motherofking if he’s still breastfeeding I really wouldn’t worry. Just keep encouraging him.