Only eating finger foods!!

[J & J's Mum]

My DS is 11 months old and now more or less refuses to be spoon fed. He can't feed himself yet with a spoon, and only seems to want to eat food that he can pick up from his tray.  It takes ages (I keep trying to get a spoonful of food in between, bu not having much joy!) and then he seems to be bored with it and starts crying.

I try and give a variety of finger foods for him.  I just don't know what to do.....help!

 

[cwolff]

Well, I think you are doing the right thing by offering him the most variety of finger foods.  This is a stage though, and either he will begin to accept you spoon feeding him some things, or he will get the hang of it himself.  You can perhaps let him hold the spoon, and you hold his hand over it and guide the spoon to his mouth.  Maybe he will accept this compromise until he learns to feed himself.

[tylersmommy]

You're on the right track! Tyler ate nothing...I mean NOTHING...off a spoon from 9-12 mo. I couldn't even sneak a spoonful in when he was occupied with finger foods. I respected his preferences and only offered him finger foods at mealtimes. Lots of steamed veggie chunks, ripe fruit chunks, etc. Once a week I'd try the spoon again, and if he refused, I'd just put it away til next time. It will pass...hang in there!

[J & J's Mum]

Thank you....I'll try that with the spoon. 

[Nate'sMommy]

I am right there with you!  Ian, as of this week, has officially boycotted the spoon.  Not even fruit or yogurt.  We have been trying to get creative with soft finger food to provide a variety of flavors and accommodate the fact that he has no teeth.  It's frustrating, especially since I just stocked up on Gerber jar food on a good sale!
I have been trying to help Ian feed himself with a spoon, but he just tries to grab whatever is on the spoon and finger feed it to himself, even if it is soupy yogurt!