15 month old refusing finger food

[Enigma999]

Hi. Need some help. I traditionally weaned my baby by spoon feeding and at one point was introducing things like liga, etc, for him to eat himself. He had no problem with me showing him how to bring it to his mouth and then was starting to master doing it himself but just wasn't chewing it and swallowing it, instead bringing the liga to his mouth several times, taking a bite until his mouth was full. That's where we stopped unfortunately. I became quite ill and was unable to look after him for a number of months. Now I'm back to the start and he has become more set in his ways and I'm afraid I missed the window. Now when I try to bring something to his mouth by wrapping my hand around his he resists so much that it just turns in to a struggle. I then try handing it to him and he takes it but just throws it away. I feel like an awful mother but I'm desperate for any tips as to what I can do. Obviously I don't want to create any negative associations around eating as he ends up getting upset. Please help!

Ok. So I don't think it's a good idea to use your hands to push his hands to his mouth. That's not going to show him how to self feed, and is currently causing a struggle. You also don't need to hand food to him.

Can you give him some of what you're eating on his tray and just let him do whatever he wants with it. It might be just touching it with his hands, moving it around, dropping it or whatever. Just let him do whatever, and don't make any comment on it. Eat your own food at the same time, and then just clear away when you're done. I presume you're also still spoon feeding him mashed/puréed food? I would continue to do that alongside giving him food on his tray each meal as well.

It may well take a long time for him to explore food and become confident in picking it up and then manipulating it in his mouth.

Hi. Thanks for your reply. Yes, he is currently eating textured food only, reacts badly to any lumps. It will probably take some time alright as he is that bit older now. I will try leaving a few bits and pieces on his tray and see how that goes.

Babies aren’t taught how to eat. You just give them food to play with and they eventually learn to eat it. Just give him what you’re eating at every meal and let him play. Keep offering milk as needed. He’ll get it eventually.

Oh. Great advice thanks. I got the idea of putting my hand around his from his then childminder as that was what she did with her kids and he wasn't resisting for me then. But I'll start afresh with the new way of allowing him to play with it, etc. Just so worried about. He is getting plenty of nutrition but obviously I need him to be able to eat something himself. Thanks again!