Some dumb questions about finger food for an 11 month old

[Lazysusan]

OK, so I've been a bit slack in the finger food department – just doing toast etc – until my normally excellent eater refused the spoon. I'm pretty sure she's teething as she'll still take cold cereal and yoghurt but not warmed meals. Anyway, I've jumped into finger food and I can't believe I didn't do it earlier. She loves it and so do I. But what happens from now on? Once the tooth appears, do I go back to giving her mashed up food on a spoon (which has plenty of texture), mix it up or leave her on finger food? Can finger food be it from now on and as she gets a bit older I introduce a spoon/fork???

Also – and I realise every baby is different – how long do most of you "allow" for dinner? She would sit there picking away for 45 minutes if it were up to her. Is it OK to pull the pin after 20 minutes or so? She is probably really only picking after that and I need to get her into the bath and then to bed!

Thanks in advance for your help. When I realised I had to get into finger food, I absolutely devoured the FAQs. They were such an enormous help!

[JudyLee]

Hi Kirsten!
Finger food is grand. The expressions on their faces as they cram this yummy stuff (or yucky stuff) in. Great for their finger control/dexterity!

We just mix it up with my dd 13mths.
There are some things that really work better on the spoon - give her the spoon and see if that will help her take it. Try some sticky things first, things that don't slide off too quickly while they are waving it around - thick yoghurt, rice pudding, thick casseroles...

And give a variety of finger foods - I also find that while dd is preoccupied in picking stuff up off of the tray, that you can spoon stuff into her mouth...

You introduce a spoon and fork at any time - it just depends on how tolerant you are of mess! My dh couldn't stand watching the smearing over the face and hands, and then when stuff dropped she would play with it...I thought it was funny and a learning curve. How else is she to learn?

Hope this helps.

[Lazysusan]

Thanks so much, JudyLee. You're right - it's heaps of fun and has been great over Christmas with all the turkey etc. Much easier than me sitting there painstakingly feeding her and much more fun for her.

Will keep persevering on the spoon. As you say, some foods much easier and I have got a hell of a lot of baby casserole in the freezer that I'm not too keen on eating!

Thanks again for your help.

Cheers,
Kirsten

[JudyLee]

No worries.
Hope you had a wonderful merry xmas!

[EllenS]

I'd introduce a fork in a couple of months - they seem to be easier than spoons, as no balance required.  I have read that the wrist joint doesn't develop to allow the "turning" action spoons require until closer to 15 months (Dr. Harvey Karp, Happiest Toddler on the Block).  That seems to be about when dd started to use it better.

[Lazysusan]

Will do. Thank you both for your advice. And happy new year!