How to Teach 11 Mo Old to Feed Himself Finer Foods.....

Hi D.-
My little guy did the same thing. He wouldn't put anything in his mouth, including food. At his first birthday, we thought maybe the cake would get him to use his hands...but it was a no go. I don't ever give him sweets, but even cake didn't work. He was probably about 13 1/2 months old before he started to feed himself. I was desperate, so I got a sucker. I put the sucker in his hand and forced him to put it in his mouth. Once he got a taste of the sucker, he would put it in his mouth. Once we mastered the sucker, we tried cheerios. My aunt was actually the one who got him to put a cheerio in his mouth. She had toy pots and put cheerios in them. She would eat out of them and say "um, those are num num's" Then she would pick up another one and say "num num!" Eventually, he reached in and grabbed one and stuck it in his mouth. After that one encounter, he never turned back. I couldn't believe that I had worked so hard for so many months and one day playing with my aunt, he finally got it! By the way, was your little one a preemie by any chance? Mine was and I've found that this is more common in preemies. Just something to think about. Good luck!

My son just turned 10 months, and he's been eating the gerber meltaway finger foods for a few months, now, on his own. The only problem I've had with him is that he will not, under any circumstances, hold his bottle. He holds his sippy cup with the handles and drinks from it, but I think the thing with the bottle is, he associates that with sleepy time, so he just assumes I should hold it while I rock him to sleep! haha I wouldn't worry too much about it, all babies develop differently. Looks like you got some good suggestions to try, though...hope they work for you! :) Good luck!

He will get it when he is ready. My SIL used to give me a hard time about my oldest because she never wanted to feed herself. She is now 3 and would still let me feed her all the time. My 22 month old on the other hand, throws a fit if I attempt to feed her and has wanted to do it herself pretty much since she started eating solid foods. They are all different and no matter what you try, you really can't rush it. If he will at least play with the food and touch it, that is a good sign that he will figure it out soon.

I started with cheerios and the little stars that gerber makes. I put a few on the tray while I was making the rest of the meal to keep my girls contained, and entertained while I was cooking. That will help develop the pincer grasp, an importaint fine motor skill. Other than that, I think that it has a lot to do with personality, and development. Ever child is different, and develops at thier own pace. You can give him a spoon to play with also durring dinner, so he can get used to picking it up, putting it down, (and throwing it lol!!!) Let him have fun with his food, he is learning even if it just looks like he is making a mess. ;-)

Just to let you know all children are dufferent and if you suspect a problem ask the pediatrician but it is important skill to learn it has to deal with fine motor skills.My kids did well my son was self self feeding in his highchair around 6 months with all foods for baby and the sippy cup he was into that as well with water juice and breastmilk or formula my daughter didn't want anything to do with a sippy cup until she was well over 6 months.You may think that is to early for a sippy cup not really when your baby learns to sit up it is a good idea to introduce it.Now that she feeds herslf she likes to use her hands and that is fine to an extinct it is important for them to learn to use silverware and eat with them.I know you don't want to think about the spoon but he sees you using it give it a try that may be all he wants and is unsure how to communicate and that could also be a new word to teach him today.Good Luck it gets messy