11 Month Old 3 Qs

1. At that age, I started using a plate. It was always a mess, and DS loved to turn it over when he was finished. But I used one, because that's how we all eat. I started giving him utensils around 15mos, and by 18, he was pretty good with them.
2. Kids are different. They're constant balls of energy. Mine lives on pasta, and my doctor recommends that as a meal. I wouldn't worry about it.
3. I dropped formula completely at 12mos, and just started giving whole milk in a sippy instead. DS didn't seem to care or even notice. So I think this one depends on how picky your little one is.

My DD is now 14 months and she does the same thing if we allow her to have a bowl or plate in front of her so yes we just plunk the food onto her tray and allow her to pick at it. You can buy bowls that have suction cups to the bottom so that he isnt able to throw/pick up the bowl and that might help him to understand the concept. As for the whole milk, yes we just started with about an ounce of whole milk to breastmilk and day by day added another ounce and another until it was just whole milk and she transitioned beautifully
Good Luck

Yes, I put the food right on the tray! But, I disinfect the tray after every meal!

It is a lot of carbs at this age, but there are also a ton of finger foods that are not carb-ridden. My 13 m.o. loves diced ham, turkey, hamburger, hard boiled eggs, cheese, fruit, and veggies.

With my first I began mixing 1/3 whole milk and 2/3 formula at 11 months. I gradually increased the milk over about 2 weeks until he was just on milk. He was in daycare and they only served 2 % milk so I asked Ped. if it mattered and he said 2% was fine. With my second, I did the same thing, but with 2%.

at that age i just used the tray and gave them a spoon. they will hand eat mostly anyway. i do alot of carbs to no reason in paticular other than they are easy. but i make sure there is alot of protien there. and on the milk i would use formula first and milk if i ran out of formula. wic will put him on milk next month anyway

Yep, I too just put the food on the tray at that age. I think many toddlers are carb creatures too! When I started the switch to milk, I did it similar to how you describe. 1oz milk and 6 oz formula for a few days, then 2oz milk, 5 oz formula etc. until it was all milk. They seemed to do fine with this transition. Good luck, sounds like he is doing just fine!