If you didn't do BLW, how & when did you get your baby self feeding?

[NuzzleandScratch]

Just that really. I started dd2 off on purées, all home made, then soon moved onto lumper textures. She's now 10 months, and eats brilliantly, has never refused anything. She can happily bite & chew things I hold for her, such as pieces of fish, chicken, soft cooked meat, sandwiches, fruit and veg. However, whilst she's interested to touch & pick up food, she shows no interest in self feeding! I'm not particularly bothered about this, but I sort of feel she should be able to do this by now. I'll admit I'm not keen on mess, but I accept there will be some! Any advice would be appreciated, then maybe I can eat my food before it gets cold!

DS was like this until 10.5 months and one day just started eating a sandwich. I just kept offering things and per chance when i was paying no attention to the sandwich he started chomping on it so I'd say offer it but don't push it.

Thanks, that's good to hear! She has good dexterity with picking up toys etc, so I'm sure she could do it!

I did exactly the same as you with my DS who is nearly 11months now. Until the last few weeks he wasn't bothered about feeding himself finger foods etc but just this week seems to have picked up the idea and decided he wants to feed himself. He drops a fair bit but he's giving it a good go!

My DD is like this, she's 9.5 months and ends up giving it to the dog chucking it on the floor.

Hope this will change too so will hope she just decides to self feed at some point!

I did Annabel Karmel slavishly with DS, which included lots of finger foods early on. I also did the two spoons thing, one for him, one for me. I can't remember exactly how old he was but before 12 months he was having a good go at feeding himself. Most of it ended up on the floor, but no matter, he seemed to be having fun

Finger foods he liked were tiny little sandwiches, cheese on toast cut into fingers, rice cakes, potato/ other veg cut into wedges, broccoli florets, etc. IIRC fruit came later as he seemed to have trouble gripping it - I guess it was slippier than veg?

They get to a stage where all they want to do is copy everything you do, capitalise on that!

This is probably really unhelpful but around a year old he just started picking things up with his hands and refusing the spoon. Now he's 16 months and is trying to feed himself. Today we had tomato soup. I fear my carpet (formally cream) may never recover !

Regarding the mess, a friend of mine bought a huge length of oilcloth from Dunelm to put under the highchair, so she could just shake it outside and give it a wipe with a cloth after mealtimes!

We have wooden flooring in the dining room, wipe-clean surfaces are essential for weaning IME!

I think I spoon fed DS1 until he was about 3! he would eat sandwiches etc from about 18 months but we always had to feed him his main meal! DS2 however would not be spoon fed and babyled weaned himself from about 8 months!

oh and DS1 was never bothered about food at all whereas DS2 was and is very interested. DS2 will dismantle the food shopping when I get it home but DS1 is very meh about food

DS1 is 3. Still likes to be fed . He can do it but finds food boring and CBA.