Wont Eat off a Spoon

He might just be getting very independent and not want to be fed anymore. I'd just start giving him finger foods - peas instead of mashed peas, really soft carrots (we used canned) instead of babyfood, etc. He can probably start to handle really small pieces of most foods at this point, especially if he's been eating for a while. Your other option is to get him to feed himself. Try bringing two spoons to the table - you put a little food on one, hand it to your son, take back the empty one. Prepare for a huge mess, but it might be that if he's holding a spoon, he might let you put some in his mouth. Good luck - pretty soon he'll be totally feeding himself!

Hey M.
My son at 9 momths of age didnt want to eat off a spoon either , one he never liked baby food, and another he was just way to independant for me to feed him off a spoon he would just get mad at me even if I tired or he just would refuse to eat and I would just let him eat with his hands and most of the same things I would eat because he already had a few teeth in. Your son is at that age and stage of his life that he getting independant and wants to do things for himself so put his food on his tray and let him use his hands to explore & to eat his food it will teach him motor skills and how to be independant at dinner time that way you can eat while he eats.It will be messy but thats ok because hes learning and its not so bad my son who is 1 now loves to eat with his hands and it gets messy but it doesnt bother me because he loves to eat now . Dont force him to eat of a spoon if he doesnt want to becauase that will just be a battle for you and you dont want that because later on when you want to teach him how to use his utensils he will want to more if you dont fore feeding him with one now....
Good Luck
Happy Holidays :)

Hello,
We had the same problem when my son was about 8-9 months old. All we could do was start him on finger foods, which he loved because he could feed himself! We started with fruits and veggies and then waffles and toast.

My son at this age refused to eat baby food period. He would spit the baby food right out at me. Is it the spoon he doesn't like or the baby food? I started giving him foods that we ate. The softer ones. I would put them through the blender and he would eat them. Patti

He might get a kick out of the dipping spoons - I think Gerber makes them - he can practice feeding himself. Really anything can be finger foods - we did oatmeal, cottage cheese, avocado - it's messy but they learn so quickly. My son was the same way, and what a great eater now -would try anything as long as he could do it himself.

Yes. My son was like that. He wouldn't let me feed him, but now he's 14 months and he lets me feed him, as long as he has a spoon in his hand to play with. I'm finally starting to learn (as a first time mom) that the very things that make me anxious, get solved a few days, weeks or months down the road. Good luck.

Hi... my son is the same age and has been doing the same thing since about 8 months or so. He is almost 10 months now and is on all table food (since 9 months), he eats what we eat, but obviously just very small pieces, etc. Everything that was a puree, I just give him the real thing (to an extent). But, he eats broccoli, spinach, soft pears, pineapple, banana, toast with all-fruit, bagels, turkey, chicken, corn, beans, peas, carrots, etc. (and he only has 2 bottom teeth!). Sometimes he'll have yogurt (yo-baby) off a spoon, but that's about it lately. ;) So, personally I wouldn't force spoon feeding him if he'll eat finger foods, eventually he'll come back around, I'm sure!

We had the same problem with our son. He wouldn't eat anything I offered him from a spoon starting around 8 months. Now he's 11 months and I've learned that as long as he has a utensil to hold, spoon, bowl, cup, top of jar etc. he will eat from a spoon. When I forget the utensil he won't eat from a spoon. We offer him a variety of finger foods and then something from a spoon usually some baby cereal (for the iron) with some of our food pureed and mixed in and he eats it. Now I hold the bowl out for him to try and get his spoon in the bowl and then into his mouth while I feed him with my spoon. He loves that. Good luck.

Hi M.
I agree with the other Moms. My son sid the same thing around 10 months. He would spit the food at me:) Its kind of a akward time for them cause they cant handle a lot of foods but are eager to be independant. There isnt alot of selection. If he has teeth then you can give him soft finger food ( including some soft veggies and fruits) My so is almost 2 and still prefers figner food. Good luck!
K.

M., Hi, I haven't read the other responses yet but have you tried giving him a spoon to see if he wants to feed himself. Even if he just holds onto the spoon and maybe distracted a bit it might help. I know my daughter likes to hold something when she eats and likes to be involved. It will probably pass just keep offering! B.

May daughter would only eat off the spoon if SHE held it and put it in her mouth. Yes, it gets messy, but they love trying new things and putting things in their mouths! Give it a try. Scoop some food and then lay it on his highchair tray. See what he does with it! I bet he will eventually try it. Good luck.

Is the spoon soft? He may have sore gums and hurt his himself and now is afraid of the spoon. Put something sweet on it like some icecream and I'm sure he'll change his tune, plus it will feel good on his gums. :)

Im interested to know what you mean by "wont" eat off a spoon. Does he turn his head, refuse to open his mouth, etc...? Im thinking that if you really want him to eat from a spoon, you need to make that the only option, because he needs to eat eventually! Especially because the healthiest foods, such as pureed fruits and veggies, need to be eaten from a spoon. If hes hungry enough, im sure he will eat from a spoon eventually.

Okay first off he is only 9 months old give the kid a break!
Second practice, practice, practice! Keep giving him the spoon even if he doesn't use it much just give it to him with every meal he will get it trust me! My son is 24 months and will use a spoon but not very well, uses a fork great though. Early intervention said he does great with a spoon for his age. So no worries just keep giving it to him & let him "play".