Weaning Finger foods

[Diamond345]

My DS is 9 months old, he has been challenging with weaning so far and never been overly keen on food. He is mainly spoon fed, iv been trying to get him to have more finger foods.

So far he will only hold and eat - fruit, sweet potato and pasta.

Iv made him toast, baked croquettes (sweet potato and carrot) , beetroot fritters, spinach fitters and pancakes. He wont eat any of these foods iv made him.

Can anyone recommend any finger foods or techniques i can try to encourage him? He just flings them straight onto the floor! 😔 i'm trying to widen his pallet and teach him how to eat himself a little.

If I make DD (who's 10 months old) a pancake for example, I'll rip little bitesized bits off and put it on her tray. I give a few at a time so it doesn't all go on the floor. It's taken her a while to start putting them in her mouth but the last 2 weeks or so she's done great with it!

I don't know if you've seen the solid starts app but it's helpful, and I'm sure from 9 months they can have bitesized pieces of things.

Is he trying to use the spoon to feed himself ?

@Lammveg thank you for the suggestion

I tried small pieces of toast - he chucked them all on the floor again!

Do i just keep trying ?

@DustyLee123 he does do that too , i let him have a few spoons himself holding it

Just keep trying with anything! Bits off your plate etc you don't need to cook special things.
Try letting him have a few bits on his tray while you spoon feed. Try giving him his own spoon while you spoon feed. Try giving him longer sticks of food to hold and chew. Let him dip pieces into puree . Let him play with food - explore it's texture etc. It will come.
At this age food is just another toy. They don't understand the connections between food, eating and hunger.

@Seeline i worry about giving him food off my plate due to salt content?

If he’s eating with a spoon I don’t see the need for finger foods. The fact that he is feeding himself is enough. It’s good hand eye coordination.

There's not going to be much salt in a piece of carrot, a green bean, strip of chicken or a piece of pasta unless you really over-season your food 🙂 If you are intending to give a portion of your meal, remove his before seasoning yours.