I have an 8 1/2 month old daughter who loves food. She stopped eating baby food at 6 months and now is stickly on formula and regular food. She wont pick up any of the food infront of her and put it in her mouth. She opens her mouth and waits for someone to put it in for her. She will play with food, but never puts it to her mouth. We give her crackers and cheerios and she throws them and crumples them but will not eat them. I have also given her spoons and she wont put it to her mouth either. I was wondering how I could get her started on trying to feed herself. Any ideas will be well appreciated.
Thanks everyone for all the advice. It helps to know that even though all kids are different, they still act in similar ways. I will try some of the ideas and let you know what happened! THANKS
My second child was the exact same way! It was nice to know he would never choke on anything, but it didn't seem normal. He is 2 years old now and doing just fine. I think it's just a personality thing. My third who is also 8 months puts EVERYTHING in his mouth. I think it just depends on the child, but it is perfectly normal.
Dear T.,
Well, then, continue to feed her. It is better this way because she is not as likely to eat something that she shouldn't put into her mouth from the floor or anywhere else.
She is just a little baby, and is enjoying it. Also, this is a chance for you two to bond even deeper - my grandson always commented on how much he enjoyed eating dinner with us because of sitting around the table and talking. So this is her comfort zone too. Sitting with you and being fed and 'talking' with you, the most important person in her life and the great love of her life too.
She will become independent soon enough, so the extra bonding is a wonderful thing. Also - again - it gives you a better idea of what and how much she is eating. One of these days she will refuse food, and this way you may have a better chance of getting some bites into her mouth when that happens.
O.K.? C. N.
I just thought that I would let you know that my daughter just turned 10 months and within the last week she started feeding herself cheerios and other little finger foods. I worked with her for a while but she was just like your daughter, throwing them right on the floor :) Aren't kids great! I think sometimes it takes them a while to get the fine control of the pincher grasp and then being able to make it straight into their mouth. I would just keep working with her and Im sure she will pick it up when she is ready.
This article talks about self-feeding, hope it helps.
http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bnutrition/0,,3vrj,00....
The only reason she won't put food in her own mouth is because she knows that someone will do it for her!
Wait until she is good and hungry, and put a variety of finger foods in front of her on the tray of her high chair. Then YOU demonstrate for her what you do with the food by picking it up, and putting it in your mouth first. Make a big deal over how yummy it is and how much fun you are having - then leave her to it! Don't put any food in her mouth for her - let her sit there, and if she throws all of her food on the floor, then fine. But don't give her any more. If it means letting her be a little hungry in order for her to find the motivation to feed herself, thats also fine. Being a little bit hungry and missing a mealtime isn't going to effect her negatively in any way - being extra hungry will just push her to feed herself. There is nothing wrong with you feeding her - in fact, I still feed my 21 month old the messy stuff fairly often so that she doesnt make such a big mess for me (I feed her things like soup, certain types of yogurt that have less consistancy, etc) but she knows how to use both a spoon and a fork and prefers to feed herself. Your daughter just knows that she doesn't have to feed herself at this point, so its up to YOU to push her to feed herself.
I am having the same problem with my 13-months old twins!!! We were a bit slow on solids, so started them later than most parents, but still they have been eating fruit and cereal for a couple of months now. They NEVER put anything to their mouths, including food. I do not want to force anything on them, but when I put the foods in front of them and show them how great and tasty it is to eat it, they still just open their mouths but don't take it in.
Also, they do not hold bottles. I'm sure they will learn, as there are no grownup people who do not know how to feed themselves, but still... :-)
