Finger Food Problems

[Pans10]

My nearly 9 month DS was happily eating finger food (toast, veg etc). He now will hold the food, bash his toys with it and break it up but won't eat it.

He had a heavy cold a few weeks ago around the time he stopped eating it. Also he is cutting approx 5 teeth all at the same time. I am not sure if both or either of these have had a bearing but I am worried that he seems to have forgotten what to do with finger food.

He is dealing with lumps in his other food with no problem. Has anyone else had a similar experience and what can I do to encourage him to eat finger food again?

Tink went through the same thing at that age. She had a cold so bad she ended up in hospital and her eating was messed up from it for a couple of weeks. She was also cutting teeth at the time.

Keep offering food but don't stress if nothing gets taken and don't make a big deal about it with DS. He will start again in time.

yes the cold and the teething will affect his eating. i bet you don't eat much when you have tooth ache? as for the playing with the food, very normal, a phase if you like. why has he got toys at mealtimes?

Thanks very much for the advice and reassurance. He pulled a very funny face earlier while eating normal food too so I am sure its the teeth. I was confused as he seemed to be only refusing the finger food. At the rate he is going he will have a full set by the time he is one!

To answer ruddynorah's question he had a toy stuck to his highchair but I have recently taken it off and now give him his own spoon at mealtimes instead.

glad you're feeling better about it, it's so likely just to be a phase i wouldn't give it much more thought.