Ds is 20 months and spits out half of every mouthful

[fruitful]

Ds is 20 months. He has always insisted on self-feeding. He shovels the food in, chews, and spits most of it out. The only foods that he doesn't do this with are biscuits and Humzingers. So there is obviously nothing physically wrong!

I've tried chopping all the food into tiny bits - he just shoves lots in at once. And I've tried giving him one tiny bit at a time - cue a tantrum.

I am so fed up with the mess, the waste, and with not being able to feed him without a highchair, bib, floormat, and wipes. No sausage rolls in the buggy for this one!

What can I do? I've been hoping he'd grow out of it.

Nothing helpful to offer I'm afraid, but had to giggle as I read this because it sounds JUST like my ds (14 months). I too am sick of the mess, the waste and the concern that he isn't getting enough nutrition, although I do tend to think if he was really hungry, he'd eat something properly and he does have multivitamin drops (fairly standard here in the US, I think). Bacon is the only thing that gets eaten properly here! Oh, and Rice Krispies with milk.

Hope someone comes along with something helpful soon.

no advice but lots of sympathy

MIL with whom we live used to cook up "tzuk-tzuk" a uber-nutrious traditional rice gruel for ds2. Although I knew it would do him the world of good I also knew he would do exactly the same as your kid so I refused to give it to him, well refused to give in to the ensuing gooey savoury vile mess. Does that make me a bad mother

hope this is just a phase for you

Oh well! Thankyou for the sympathy!

I have to say I do enjoy taking him to National Trust cafes. The staff are sooo helpful and sooo obviously horrified at the devastation surrounding his highchair.

Ds is getting quite good at using a spoon to scoop the half-eaten mush out of his bib, onto his plate, for a second chewing. Won't use the spoon to put food in his mouth, but that's another issue.

It is just so gross.

LOL fruitful - I am so embarrassed when we go out to eat and end up scurrying around on the floor scooping up all the half chewed food. Yuk!

My ds picks the semi-chewed food out of his bib, puts it carefully on his spoon, brings it to his mouth then uses his fingers to pop it back in for a second go! Glad we're not alone.

Is this a boy thing, I wonder?