Does it matter DS won't pick up food ??

[minibmw2010]

DS is 9 months and just has no interest in picking up food. He wasn't a great eater in beginning (colds, chest infection, etc) and now he'll only eat with me spoon feeding him (which I don't mind but I'm worried he's falling behind). At breakfast I give him toast & banana to play with (and hopefully one day eat) while I make his porridge and then sit with him and eat my toast verrrrrrry slowly so he can watch me but no, nada, bar squished up bread and bananas. Same kind of thing at lunch and dinner.

He's never put toys in his mouth (except his soft ones when teething) and he's one of the few children I've ever seen who doesn't when picking up a ball put it straight to his mouth.

Is it a problem? I'm worried as he's missing out on textures and tastes. His little friends are having sandwiches and raisins and proper fruit but I just don't know what to do.

I think that DS was 10 or 11 months before he realised that he could pick up the things I gave him, put them in his mouth and actually eat them!!!

Before that I just broke bits off and fed them to him myself so that he was getting the different textures. He was never really one for putting things in his mouth either.

Don't worry too much as they're all so different at this age, and once he finally twigs that it is for eating there will be no stopping him.

Then just wait until you get to the point were he won't eat anything unless he is feeding himself!! That's a whole different battle

I would put bits in his hand (dry foods to start with) so he gets used to the idea of tasteing what he is holding. I would also 'play' with food when it is not meal time to get him used to handling it, food art cooking,veg printing etc. Make sure you are not cleaning his face and hands too much as this can make children anxious about messy food. Try giving him bits of your toast even just to hold. he will get it eventually and will still learn by watching others so don't feel the need to pressure him just keep it light hearted.

I agree with candr. I would start off with some dry foods and put them in his hand. To begin with, my DD would touch anything wet or slippery and cringed if her hand touched it. So I started off with toast, rice cakes and breadsticks.
Try not to worry (I know, easier said than done) he will feed himself in his own time.