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8MO DS just won't feed himself

13 replies

HumunaHey · 26/03/2022 11:59

We started weaning him at 6MO. Tried a mixture of baby led weaning and spoon feeding. He has took to being spoon fed just fine.

But other times when we've put food on his tray, he just plays with the food. I didn't think this was much of a problem at first, just part of his experimenting and learning. But it's been two months now!

Things we've put on the tray are brocolli, boiled sweet potato/white potatoes (in chunky finger slices) cucumber sticks, boiled carrot sticks, watermelon sticks, rice cakes. At very best, he has self fed for a little while after us bringing the food to his mouth, but it doesn't last long and this has only happened on 2-3 occasions since we began weaning.

DS1 was not like this, he got stucking with feeding himself straight away, so DS2's lack of interest is strange to me (and tiring - would be very good if I could eat while he does!)

He puts toys other things in his mouth sometimes, although not very much, but way more than actual food!

Has anyone else had this when weaning? What did you do to encourage DC to self feed?

We all sit around the table to eat and show him how it's done but to no avail. I think a problem is introducing the spoon feeding too soon. He plays with his finger foods then eventually gets fed up and cries until he is spoon fed.

I try to keep breakfast at finger food only but he then just doesn't eat.

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Fivemoreminutes1 · 26/03/2022 12:30

I would have to sit directly opposite DD in her high chair and eat my breakfast or lunch off her high chair tray, and exaggeratedly open and close my mouth and gulp! It must have been hilarious to watch. Eventually she copied me and took handfuls of what I had on her high chair tray.

SoupDragon · 26/03/2022 12:37

DD wasn't interested in feeding herself either. I took her lead and spoon fed her instead. Other than being more time consuming for you, there is nothing at all wrong with spoon feeding.

I think she finally deigned to feed herself somewhere around the 1 year mark. She's 16 now and feeds herself 😂😂

MissyB1 · 26/03/2022 12:39

its fine to be still spoon feeding, we did that until about 12 months, then ds suddenly grabbed the spoon and that was that! Your baby is till very young.
You can spoon feed whilst also letting them have food in their hands, so finger food and spoon fed at the same time.

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BertieBotts · 26/03/2022 12:41

It's fine to just keep spoon feeding. He will definitely learn to feed himself. Don't worry :)

HumunaHey · 26/03/2022 13:39

Thanks for the replies!

I'm not so much concerned as I am frustrated tbh Blush. I remember with DS1, once he started weaning, things got markedly easier as he fed himself for the most part, so was occupied. He was a high needs baby so it was great to finally get to eat in some level of peace. DS2 has been pretty full on too (especially with DS1 in the mix) so I was very much looking forward to this stage, but it's been such an anti climax.

I know all babies are different but I had no idea lack of interest in getting to stuff their faces was a thing! You live and you learn, aye.

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BertieBotts · 26/03/2022 14:19

I know what you mean, DS1 was fully BLW although happy to be fed, but didn't want to eat much, and then DS2 hated it and got so frustrated I had to spoon feed him but he ate loads, now DS3 hates being spoon fed and just wants to feed himself Confused I didn't think I'd miss the mashed up food but I do!

SoupDragon · 26/03/2022 14:49

I think with DD it was that she didn't like the feel of the food in her hands. She used to shove everything else in her mouth that's for sure.

Mommabear20 · 26/03/2022 15:03

Mine are the same! DD ate everything in sight at 6 months, but now with DS it feels like a battle every meal (except breakfast as he LOVES his porridge 😂) just keep going, they all get there at different times

carefullycourageous · 26/03/2022 15:05

Food before one is just for fun.

Relax, you are going to give your child a food complex!

They are supposed to play with it, it is playing with it that helps them learn to experiment.

RidingMyBike · 26/03/2022 15:26

Just do more spoon feeding than finger food. He'll gradually get the idea. I tried to do one finger food thing with each meal, alongside increasingly lumpy puree (so eg chicken casserole puréed along with some broccoli as finger food). Breakfast was something like porridge, along with some banana to hold. The puree was what we were having (cooked without salt) and I'd freeze into ice cube portions for convenience which meant v little waste and there was always something for her easily available.

She's a great eater now!

HumunaHey · 26/03/2022 16:31

@carefullycourageous

Food before one is just for fun.

Relax, you are going to give your child a food complex!

They are supposed to play with it, it is playing with it that helps them learn to experiment.

I think I'm the one developing the complex tbh 😬. He'll just laugh and smile at mine and DH's pathetic attempts to encourage him to self feed - a bit of meal time entertainment for him. . .sigh.
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HumunaHey · 26/03/2022 16:34

@Fivemoreminutes1

I would have to sit directly opposite DD in her high chair and eat my breakfast or lunch off her high chair tray, and exaggeratedly open and close my mouth and gulp! It must have been hilarious to watch. Eventually she copied me and took handfuls of what I had on her high chair tray.
Yes, we tried this for a while. It definitely must be hilarious to watch as, one time, it sent DS into a fit of giggles. Still, no food passed his lips other than that on a loaded spoon lol.
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WeirdlyKind · 26/03/2022 16:37

8mo is still very small. All kids are different, so as hard as it is, try not to compare them! LO will get their at their own pace 😊

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