my 10-month old won't hold his own bottle or put any food in his mouth

[vmcdonald28]

My ds won't put any food in his mouth at all. He has NEVER put toys in his mouth either. He eats really well, but only if it is fed to him. He will not hold his bottle - waits for me or dh to feed him. He will not put any finger foods in his mouth either. I have fed him grated cheese with my fingers, which he loves, but he would sit and cry for hours, rather than try to pick up a piece and feed it to himself. He is brilliant with his hands, otherwise. Is he just lazy, and enjoys being pandered to?!

[tylersmommy]

Some babies never hold their own bottles (mine didn't), and self-feeding usually starts sometime between 9-12 mo. And that's just an average...some babies figure it out earlier, some later, and there's nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't worry about the bottle, and for the finger food, keep doing what you're doing. Put some pieces on the tray for him to explore when he's ready, and you can help him make the connection by picking a piece up off the tray and feeding it to him with your fingers. He'll figure it out in his own time!