11 Months Old

My kids wanted finger foods very early and didn't stay on baby foods for long. They wanted to do it them selves.

We actually started finger foods with graham crackers. They're fun and easily dissolve in their mouths, so they're not a choking hazard. When they were ready, we would spread a very thin amount of peanut butter on them (so they couldn't choke on it). I gave them as much of my own food as I could. Just make them small (pea size).

The first thing you need to think about is how small a baby's stomach is.

Definitely cut out the formula at meal time, but also cut out the cereal. They do not need it and in a way it's like chinese food - fills you up quick, but doesn't last and has very little nutritional value.

He should be eating a fruit/veg and protein and maybe have one or two ounces of formula or kefir or even diluted juice.

Stonyfield Farms makes Yo-Baby yogurt that you can give him as well, but any yogurt would be fine. Bananas are good, but you need to make sure you cut them into slices, then cut the slices in half or in quarters. They are soft and easy for them to mash in their mouth, but can still choke a baby if too big.

Pieces of peaches and plums, mashed avacados, pieces of scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes & sweet potatoes & yams, over-steamed broccoli and carrots, soups are good, spaghetti - cut up.

To be honest with you, you can give him whatever you are eating, you just need to make it safe for him so he doesn't choke.

Your choices are plentiful, you just need to remember to try only one different food per week in order to watch for potential adverse reactions.

Have fun, and don't be surprised if you end up picking food up off the floor for the next 10 years. They don't get any neater when it comes to eating :)

I agree with introducing a sippy cup and maybe a little bit of water or juice too. Don't cut out the cereal. If you son wants to eat it, LET HIM. It is recommended that infants and children up to 2 years old should eat it. I read in a parenting book of some nature that for the size of pieces, think about the size of a pinky finger. I would also recommend giving a drink after he eats his meal, otherwise he will fill up on his liquid and not eat much for solids. What I did with both of my kids, I gave them bits of what I was eating and soon after that they were done with baby food. Also you were wondering about serving size, generally it's the size of the palm of his hand. I hope this helps and Good Luck!

Honestly, you might have to sit for an hour and pick up a mess! I don't mean that in a harsh way, at all. They have to learn by doing. It will take longer, for him to get past the awkward fumbling food stage, if he isn't trying daily. Start with bits of cheese, peas, little bits of fruit. I started off with little chunks of things. Not a whole lot bigger then a cheerio. It sounds like he's eating enough. However, if you plan to wean off formula at 1 year, you might start cutting back on the bottles. He would be more hungry for real food, if he didn't have quite as much formula. It would make the weaning transition easier, as well.

I wouldn't be in a hurry to get to table foods; they are often harder to digest. My almost 1 yr. old gets 4-5 6 oz bottles each day with 3 meals and snacks. The meals are 4 T cereal or meat (depending on the meal) and 8 T fruit or veggie...and a bottle. His snacks are cut fruit, crackers, cheeriors, etc. Regular food should be cut small enough that he can't choke on it--for instance, at this age, bananas are quartered. My little guy also is slow with the finger foods, but I know he'll get better with time. At daycare, once his birthday hits (Friday), they'll try all finger foods for meals. We'll see how that goes. :) Good luck!

hi! you sound like you have a perfectly normal 11 month old=-- they ARE supposed to be experimenting and they WILL take a long time to eat sometimes b/c they are learning soooooo much during that time. go ahead and relax. enjoy him and watch what all he does. he will get neater and neater as time goes on but let him just be himself for now. this stage will pass and then there will be another one (and, in one way or another- to some extent at least- you will miss this one all of a sudden!) :)

I would suggest starting sippy cup during the daytime. your structure looks well organized but maybe try a little change in what you try for your child. Try giving all real people food instead of baby food now, you might find he enjoys eating what you are eating instead of something different. Sometimes seeing you eat what he has gets them to try it instead of play with it! Remember your child will eat when hungry so dont sweat it so! Good luck!

Try bananas, it's my 10 month olds all time favorite food. I just slice them in circles, then quarter the circles. They are soft and easy to gum, and of course taste yummy. I would also suggest cutting down on formula. My son's ped told us at his 9 month appt he should only be getting about 16 ounces of formula/breastmilk a day. All you can do is offer him the food at each meal, and eventually when he's ready he'll try it. My little guy has been on all table food, what we eat, since about 7 months. Another one he loves is mac and cheese. Good luck, and I'm sure he won't be eating baby food forever!

My Ped told us exactly what Bug B said. He said to cut back on the formula and he then would be hungry for solid food. Which he was already being put on a typical toddler schedule at daycare. It was rough for the first little bit, but we are now down to 3 bottles, breakfast, lunch, and bedtime.

You can give him anything you eat as lond as it is small enough not to pose a choking hazard and big enough for him to pick up. Of coarse it can not be anything hard. Make sure you only give him a few pieces at a time. This way it is more unlikely to end up on the floor. He can have fruit, veggies, small pieces of soft meat, bread, cherios, pasta, beans, etc. I never measured out for my kids. I gave them food until they did not show signs of hunger. I also offered drinks with the meals. You can try to give him a cup at the meals, instead of bottles after. He can have some juice. Sometimes I put this in the cereal.