Finger Foods for Toddlers

lol I guess your kid likes to wear his food too!

Give him his food a little at a time. As soon as he pops a bite into his mouth, reward him by putting another piece in front of him. Stop him from schmearing it all over himself or other things.

I know you said he doesn't want you to feed him but he'll have to learn sometime to not make a mess and now is the best time.

At that age my kid loved to eat cut to bite size: olives, pasta, corn niblets, bits of fruit cocktail, whole grain waffles, grated apples and pears, chunks of chicken or turkey, crackers, cheese crumbles, mashed chickpeas, melon, tofu, peaces (more firm than plums), barley, couscous, papaya, french toast, green beans, hard boiled egg, asparagus tips, mini rice cakes, broccoli florets, kiwi, cucumber. (wow, looking at this list my kid was a pig!)

string cheese
smart pasta - my kids like the corkscrew. they're easy to hold onto
goldfish
cold hotdog
fruit and cereal bars

beans - any kind right out of the can.
Cut up soft/cooked veggie and fruit.
pasta - plain or with just alittle butter or evoo
cheese
scrambled egg and toast cut up
grilled cheese sandwich
pancakes - dry and whole wheat

My almost 18 month old loves:
peeled/sliced apples, oranges, peaches, bananas, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries
cooked/diced carrots, green beans, corn, peas, zucchini, hotdogs, sausage links and patties, bacon
sliced olives, pickles
cheese, pepperoni, crackers, chips, pretzels, pb&j, grilled cheese, cinnamon toast, scrambled eggs, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, french fries, finger jello

I only give my daughter super messy foods (spaghetti, casseroles, etc) at supper...

breakfast is usually cereal with just enough milk to make it a little soggy, but not enough to make a huge puddle if she throws it. She does smear it in her hair sometimes, but I just take a wet paper towel and mop it out! :) Or sometimes, sausage patties cut up into bite size pieces or toast with apple butter, or just fruit. I peel an apple and give it to her whole, and she stays occupied with it for a long time.

Lunch...I cut up sandwiches into bite size pieces, veggie chips, soft fruit, rice, ground hamburger, etc...nothing to make a mess!

Like I said, supper is a huge messy ordeal, but then I give her a bath.

If he's a good eater, I guess I wouldn't worry about it...just mop him up, take a deep breath, and tell yourself it's okay if he's a little grimy. I know, I'm one that doesn't like to take a sticky grimy little one out (what will people think?) but I think people understand that babies get messy. I go through a LOT of paper towels...a few rolls a week...just on cleaning her (and the floor) up, and I'm okay with that. It won't last, right? If he's eating well, I wouldn't get to hung up on being neater at this point...I did that with my first, because I couldn't stand the mess, and she ended up being a really picky eater. Lesson learned. :)