Do you let your LO play with a toy while eating?

[Smurfette]

That's pretty much my question.

I find it sometimes easier to get my 8 month old DD to eat or try something new if she has a small toy or plastic spoon or something in one hand. Is this setting up a bad pattern?
What does everyone else do?

Thanks

[~inbalance~]

I have in the past and don't see it as a problem but that's JMO. 

[Melsy]

I think we did when they were younger, but now we have a 6 year old and a 3 year old, we say "no toys at the table" cause otherwise they bring half there room to the table to eat!!!  But when younger I didn't have a problem with it!

Mel

[Canwi]

We had 2 or 3 plastic spoons of different shapes/sizes/colours that we would rotate through or swap with LO.

[~Sara~]

We don't while DS is eating, but when he's done, DH and I normally aren't (as we've been helping DS eat and talking about stuff).  He's very impatient and will throw a tantrum to get down.  I let him have a car to play with at his highchair bc we really value waiting to get down once everyone is finished.  Granted, DS is older than your LO...even so, I'd let her play with a spoon or something.

[Texomamama]

I also have an 8 mo and for the past week, I have needed to give her a spoon to play with or she tries to grab the one in my hand.  Unfortunately, she promptly shoves it in her mouth or swings it around wildly, prompting me to gently (or sometimes not so gently) pin both her hands down while I shovel a few spoonfuls of food in, then I let her play again.  I have even seen her make rudimentary attempts at using the spoon to try and scoop up food on her tray.  In a few months, she will probably be more proficient at feeding herself than my now 3.5 yo is

[ZacsMumme]

I have a 7 month old and he always has his 'highchair' toy before and after eating and we have another which I give him, or a spoon if he gets grouchy. Generally though I don't encourage toys while eating. We just got this amazing 'high chair toy' which straps on. It is fantastic for DS while I prepare his food as because it is stuck onto the small tray which he can reach and cant fall out of the chair.

Not sure about your LOs but my DS just needs his fingers for fun anyway, he jams them in with the food then blows the food through them. Gross!