DD only eats when distracted by "not a toy" toys!!

[Luisasmum]

My dd is 10 months and she will only eat her solids when she is distracted by items such as a calculator, wooden spoon, sunglasses or a kitchen knife (only joking!). When she is no longer hungry, she drops the item on the floor and her mouth closes like a trap door ':roll:'. Just wanted to know from all you experienced mums of very well behaved toddlers, do you think she'll grow out of it or do I need to somehow stop this behaviour now?

[Fiona (Leah & Kians Mom)]

Oh sorry dont want to hijack your post but its the same here and have been thinking of posting this for days  :oops:  we have a small basket with clothes pegs, the lid of a lunch box, anything and everything basically, yesterday it started with my watch and tonight she started with my rings so they have to come off too, can't have my hair tied back or she wants the elastic. this has been going on 2 months now and its wearing very thin. she also now has to have her own spoon half way through her meal not to go near her mouth just to fling around the place and I am so busy trying to get food into her I can't even begin to think of helping her. And of course everything goes on the floor and needs to be picked up or she hangs out over her chair until you do! so hopefully someone will be able to advise

[{{{Angela}}}]

My ds was very similar when he was around 8-12 months.  Finally, after he turned one year, we gave up on spoon feeding him, and let him feed himself finger foods.  At first, I was worried he wouldn't get enough, but it turns out, that's what he wanted all along.  No mush!  Nowadays, he'll let us feed him a few spoonfuls from time to time, but most of the time, he feeds himself.  He eats well, and will put a fork into his mouth if we give him food on a fork (hasn't mastered getting the food on himself yet .  He won't eat much soup or soft mushy type foods (like mashed potatoes), I guess that's too much like baby food.

Have you guys tried letting your lo's feed themselves?  My niece, who's a few months younger than ds, never had pureed baby food - she wouldn't eat it.  She would only eat finger foods.

[Luisasmum]

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't really worried all that much but I kept on hearing a voice in my head saying "start as you mean to go on" so I am happy to hear that she will probably grow out of it. I am trying to give finger foods and she is getting better at it but most of the time she just squishes it between her fingers and inspects the result. It's a messy business but I will keep trying.