Doesn't put anything in her own mouth!

[lazzaroo]

My DD, 7 months, rarely puts anything in her own mouth! She studies things intently with her hands, looks closely at them, tears them apart and then just puts them down.

I hadn't really thought much of this until we started weaning. Apart from when she has had trouble with her gums and no teethers etc would help. She sucks/chews on her own fingers but that's it.

I have gone down the puree route, mainly for this very reason, and she will eat from a spoon like a little baby bird (most of the time!). I always give her a spoon while I'm feeding her and when I give her chunks of food, like banana, pear, toast etc I make sure she has some of her own in the hope it might one day make it in the right direction!

Is it unusual at her age not to be experiementing with her mouth?

I bet she gets it any day now. Carry on as you are. Maybe put some food on her high chair tray while your getting the puree ready at each meal time and give her a chance to experiment while she's still hungry?

I agree. I wouldn't worry.
I would carry on as you are and give her time.
Eating food is something new for her and she will probably get increasingly interested in her mouth as she realises that it's something fun and positive.
Keep offering finger foods while you spoon feed and before too long she'll start trying them herself.

My dd1 has always loved her food, right from weaning just before 6 months and even now is a great eater. (she is 6 years now)

Anyway, we did purees (blw was less common when she was small) and she ate them and enjoyed them. She never put toys in mouth or had a dummy (her choice, dd2 has a dummy she is mad about!)

When she was about a year old, the nursery staff (very nicely and diplomatically) asked would we like to consider offering more finger foods. (we had kind of just gone with the purees because she didn't put stuff in her own mouth)

She was v reluctant at first. She would eat finger foods as long as it wasn't her fingers picking them up. She would even put her hands firmly behind her back and lean forward with her mouth open, in an expectant manner. After about 2 months I left her in her high chair with a few chocolate buttons. She really wanted them but I refused to feed her and she quickly got the idea.

Thank you. Like you, she doesn't put toys in her mouth. Refused to take a dummy or a bottle! she is a determined little mite! It's just such a difference to all her little friends who literally put everything in their mouths.

Will continue to let her have food to play with and carry on as we are. She does like finger foods as long as we feed them to her! in fact much prefers to chew on a whole banana than to eat banana puree!

Thanks again

Thank you. Like you, she doesn't put toys in her mouth. Refused to take a dummy or a bottle! she is a determined little mite! It's just such a difference to all her little friends who literally put everything in their mouths.

Will continue to let her have food to play with and carry on as we are. She does like finger foods as long as we feed them to her! in fact much prefers to chew on a whole banana than to eat banana puree!

Thanks again

OOps, don't know why that appeared twice!

my dd1 didnt put anything in her mouth at all. ever. it turns out she is quite lazy! she is now v nearly 5 and will still let us feed her if we would only just do it! so some children just arent orally stimulated i guess. i wouldnt worry but i would encourage her to start feeding herself somehow as early as you can or you might end up in the situation i am in too!