food substitute required

[dobbin]

My ds has started to show an intense interest in food and I think it's a social thing rather than hunger. I'd like to avoid starting solids until 6 months but don't want to exclude him at mealtimes. He watches me like a hawk when I'm eating, staring at my plate and fork as I move it to my mouth and sometimes becomes upset, even if I continue interacting with him. Does anyone have any ideas for how to make him feel like he's joining in at mealtimes? He's only 17 weeks so we've a way to go til I can give him food and I don't want him to lose the urge.

He won't lose the urge! Everybody eats in the end
Give him a toy or even a spoon to play with maybe?

Boob cube

these are suggestions from the kellymom website:

Let baby sit with the family at mealtime - in a lap, booster seat or high chair.
Give baby a cup of water or expressed milk. Your baby can entertain himself at mealtime while learning to use a cup. 1-3 ounces of water in the cup should be plenty (often for the entire day). Many moms choose to use only water or a small amount of breastmilk to avoid wasting the "liquid gold" while baby learns to use the cup.
Offer baby sips of water from your cup or straw. Even if baby hasn't figured out how to use a straw yet, you can put your straw in water, block the top end of the straw with your finger to trap a little water in the straw, then let baby drink the water from the lower end of the straw (unblock the top end once it's in baby's mouth).
Offer baby spoons, cups, bowls and other baby-safe eating utensils to play with during mealtime.
Give baby an ice cube (if it's a baby-safe size & shape) or ice chips to play with.
Offer baby a momsicle (popsicle made from breastmilk) or slushy frozen breastmilk to eat with a spoon.

Thanks for these suggestions. I shall certainly try them - I love the idea of a boob cube. I assume you mean frozen breast milk. I thought I could make a milk sorbet by crushing it for him. I'm pretty sure it's just the imitation aspect he wants so having his own spoon may well suffice for now.

Ds loved boob cubes for a couple of months before he could eat.