How to get 10mth old interested in feeding himself?

[buster54321]

My baby is 10mths old and has never been interested in feeding himself finger foods. He will eat the food if I feed him but he will not feed himself. His doctor doesn't seem worried about it, but I am a little concerned. He has never liked to put objects (toys, etc.) into his mouth like most other babies, and he has never held his own bottle. I have tried leaving food on his tray and then walking away for a bit but all he does is pick up the food and play with it or throw it on the floor. We started solids at 6mths and finger foods at 7.5mths.  How can I get him interested in feeding himself?

[lilybug25]

My lo is also 10 months and how I got her feeding herself is after a couple of spoonfuls I would give her the spoon and hold the end and guide it into her mouth, at the begining lots would go into her hands and hair lol but I wasn't worried I think some baby need to feel the texture of their food. After 2 days some of that food in her hands went into her mouth and we have been going that way ever since. It help with finger foods too. She "feeds" herself every meal now, yes it's mess and yes i have to make a little bit more so make up for the food on the tray/hands/hair but it's one step further
HTH

[~inbalance~]

Hey there, if you jump on the BLW support thread the ladies there might have some good ideas for you:
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=175926.0
What sorts of finger foods have you tried?  Maybe experiment with different shapes and sizes.  You can try larger spear or stick shapes, or tiny pea sized pieces.  Just be wary of pieces the size of grapes or hot dog rounds as that is choking size.  I would say keep offering.  If he is picking the food up and playing with it then his motor skills seem just fine.  The eating part will come with time. 

[buster54321]

Thanks for the suggestions ladies!  I hadn't thought to let him try holding his spoon.  We have tried toast sticks, banana, small pieces of fruit and cooked veggies, cheerios.  We haven't really tried spear shapes though, so I think I will give that a try.  I guess the only thing is to keep offering and hopefully one day he'll figure it out!

[~inbalance~]

He will!