How can I teach ds to bite?

[AlarmOnSnooze]

I know, I know, usually people are asking about stopping biting!

Ds is 21 months, has most of his teeth through, and can chew well. But he cannot bite. So eg a sandwich, he just tries to cram it all in instead of taking a bite.

I cut up into finger food size pieces for ease as have to help dd1 as well (and often dd2) but I aware this is not really doin him any favours.

Fruit is the same - cut up into pieces he managed ok, but if I have him apple slices instead of apple pieces (for eg), or a whole banana, he would just try to shove the lot in.

I just tried with his sandwich, and cut it into strips instead of bits. I held the strip with him (so he couldn't cram it all in and choke), and he just couldn't bite it. On closer examination, he sticks his tongue out over his bottom teeth still, which is a big hindrance I guess!

Any ideas how to encourage biting?

That's just it, Polter. I have no idea how late ds is doing this! Dd1 couldn't do it either, but by 2 she was having other issues which lead to all her food being spoonable/in liquid sauces, so bypassed this one for a bit. This food reine continued well past dd2 being 2 as well, so can't compare there.

I do know that other 2 year olds manage sandwiches/fruit, so obviously this is manageable by 2 year olds. But I don't know how to encourage it, or whether t comes eventually anyway etc.

I watched a Tanya Byron program years ago called the house of tiny tearaways, in it she taught a little girl how to bite using quavers and a mirror. She and the little girl faced the mirror and she chomped on the quaver and the little girl could see her doing it. After a few goes she tried it herself!!

I dont know if the clip would be on you tube or something similar but it could be worth a look.

Of course it could have taken days to get the little girl to try it but the power of tv made it take a few goes.

Could be worth a try

Bite and dissolve foods are good, I have a list somewhere. Ds's favourites were the hard sponge fingers you use in trifles. He still hasn't got a great bite though, because his tongue is nearly always out.

To be fair, he is still quite little, I work with 2-5 yr olds and lots of the diddy ones dont bite food very well when they first come to us, especially as polter says if the food looks like it will all fit in.