I’ve have tried to make it really fun, always eating with her, playing her fun music, games, making mess on her tray with her… but I cant really get her that interested in the food….she is exclusively breast fed and normal weight….should I be worried?? He has been eating puffs but doesn’t pick up bananas or other finger food. If I hold his hand and try to show him how it goes, he gets frustrated and won’t eat the rest of his meal. I try everyday to get him to do it but he scream & just wants his food. Hi. There were no “x’s”, if you clicked on the screen it wouldn’t go away. This allows baby to associate the spoon with eating and … HELP! I normally feed her cut up soft food like toast or pasta or fruit, etc. The second spoon is the “primary spoon” I use to essentially place more food directly in her mouth so that I can actually guarentee some intake. Lastly, if he doesn’t seem to improve I’d mention it to the doctor or get an eval just to check in on his fine motor skills:). These are wonderful tips thank you for sharing them we gave my son a spoon to explore with at every meal time when ever we spoon feed him gave him lots of praise when he would pick it up and put in his mouth. Teach them to put unwanted food into a special section on their high chair – If it’s obvious that your baby or toddler doesn’t like a food and that’s why they’re throwing it, show them that they can pile it into a corner of their tray or a separate compartment (usually for a drink) like many modern high chairs now have. Thank you so much. introduce different foods, make eating playful. thnx a lot for your reply.Normally I keep a bowl with me but unless a “tube” is on ,he notices I gave him & refuses to ake.I guess the key is to just keep doing as you suggested.Thanks again. Hi Alisha! She would shake our hands away and did not want us to hold her. Any advice would be appreciated. If using a high chair you can fold back the table for the children and push them in the table to be involved and be part of the family meal times. Your article is wonderful.I have a 16 months old son.I started Baby Led Weaning for him when he was 7 months old but I stopped just after 2 months as was worried about the nutrition.Also he has never been a great eater.Now I feed him semi solid food since a few months but sometimes he would have it but other times I really need to distract him with music/videos (which I know is not a good habit).Now I thought of giving up the “bad” habit & let him enjoy the food by feeding himslef.He shows interest in self feeding but he started recently & was enjoying the food but very less could reach his mouth and finally he got frustrated as he stayed hungry.Moreover,as you explained in teh article to hold his hand & guide him,he doesnt want me to touch his spoon & just wants to do himself.So I am confused how can I help him & also complete the nutrition.Please guide.Looking forward to your response. It takes a lot of practice, especially with children that have developmental delays. It’s funny you suggest these things because we have started trying them already. He is great at feeding himself finger feeds. Try to follow the steps I described in the post and put his hand into something messy like yogurt and see if you can get it up to his mouth. At his age it is important to let him explore the food- I’m assuming he’s around 1? If you are in the states you could qualify for a free in home evaluation to help with feeding. Puff or anything remotely large would immediately yield this result. He does not drink any other milk while he never drank from the bottle (just water from the cup). Many parents don’t think to give their child a spoon so young or are really overwhelmed by the mess that it causes. She will eat a few bites on her own, but unless I manipulate her into eating, she just won’t eat enough. 4-He does not eat at all if he does not like the food even if he is very hungry. Before trying to feed her from a bowl and with a spoon. He keeps the food in his mouth. I have a 12 month daughter that is eating all solid foods, weening her off of puréed food but my problem is she is so persistent on using a spoon for everything and refuses to let me feed her or help her. He holds food in his checks and then tries to just swallow it. I would act like your computer or tablet is broken and just tell him it isn’t available right now. Obviously, every parent needs to decide what works for them and with twins you certainly have a greater challenge. She is attempting to get him to feed himself with a spoon. My son will be 1 next week and we have been on a very wild food journey.. he has been tube fed since 3 months old due to an array of medical problems… now we are really working towards eating solids and cup drinking, however, we are having some troubles. We have a free workshop that can help with getting him past the gagging! It’s not uncommon for toddlers to touch themselves downstairs, but if they’re doing it around other people, there are ways you can teach them to stop. If your little one is getting ready to take a bite out of his babyhood by starting to feed himself, here's some food for thought about what to expect with this exciting milestone. She is also slightly behind in speech. Also, I offer consultations, which would allow me to give you a lot more detailed answers. He is so young, he has plenty of time to figure it out. In the very early days of feeding your baby, this means giving them their own spoon while you feed them. Maybe this will get him to explore food textures a little more. The spoon is going to take some practice and what he is doing is normal since he hasn’t had much practice. Thank you. I know it is really frustrating, but I would really try to focus on just offering. Give her her own bowl with a little in it while you control the bigger bowl. Same with his face, it just cannot get dirty. That’s great Isaac, and I’m so glad you’re being proactive! If she doesn’t eat, tell her she won’t get to eat until her next meal. The suction bowls are awesome and will help keep them from tossing the whole bowl on to the floor. Yes, if they are a year old now, feed them first and start to take away one bottle at a time, replacing it with milk during their meal… once they are on milk. My 16 months daughter seems to have gone for a hunger strike for the past four months. Make sure you read my articles on Transitioning to Table Foods and Mega List of Table Foods, which you can find in the side bar or article index in the menu bar. She is resistant to hand over hand assistance. How to Teach Kids to Dress Themselves. Some babies definitely eat far less. He probably just still needs some help, but if you become more concerned, I would definitely check with your doctor. hi Alisha, some children tend to eat main meals only, some children tend to eat every 3 hours or so. We, as parents are frustrated now. What are the best foods to help teach them use the fork? Also, he rarely reaches for the spoon when we are feeding him. I am starting to get worried about him not self-feeding – please help! I have tried to show him with Cheerios but no luck yet. There is no pressure at all, and I think reading through the other articles will give you a really good starting point. She will try to pick up a puff or yogurt melt, but won’t attempt to put it to her mouth like her brother who’s doing fairly well. If those work but he still won’t pick up then try just playing with the puffs outside of a meal. It sounds like he needs to make the connection that his hands can take food to his mouth. Any advice? Great to hear from another OT:). Just read it because I have been having problems getting my 3 year old son to feed himself. He will pick food up with his pincer grasp (yay! She has been at least taking the play spoon and putting it into her mouth when she wants to. Teaching kids to be independent in the kitchen has multiple benefits: First of all, it’s a big help for you. But he is having days with couple of spoons just to satisfy his utmost hunger and refuses to eat and plays around. Show exaggerated table manners you want to see. Other times they just haven’t made the connection. Thank you for this wonderful article. I’m okay with her making a mess, or taking her time, but I just don’t want her to lose any further weight in the process. I insist in sitting her at the table with her bowl of food and her spoon but she just plays with it and looks very disgusted. But as soon as you release a hand it will be used to rub the dirty tray or dirty face. There’s a lot of strategies for when to schedule tube feedings and oral feedings that can make a huge difference. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Happy New Year! Its a dilemma for me because it is him eating some food versus not eating at all. Learning to eat independently will be a smoother, less frustrating process if you don’t try to force it on your child. We have encouraged him to hold a spoon or fork whilst being fed which is a huge improvement. If i happen to get to the table first and she is on the phone I let him feed himself. I think it is good to keep trying, but in the right way. Rather, he puts it in his high chair or drops it on the floor. But at dinnertime his mom feeds him. The same thing happening even with her potty which she was good at her 18 months but now it terrible:-(Am even trying to put her some rhymes to encourage her but is totally lost in rhymes. If she’s not yet able to do this, don’t worry too much about encouraging her to use a spoon. He spoiled his 2.4 brother who was on the right track in terms of feeding himself and good appetite, and the second asks to be fed. It is hard to say why she is doing that. Here is the link http://www.yourkidstable.com/2012/09/how-to-transition-your-baby-or-toddler.html, Hi! I did allow this at one point, but then stopped. Why would a baby go from being content with grabbing a spoon and me helping him self feed at like 8 months to all of a sudden, months later, hating self feeding. Start by waiting to give the iPAD or just move towards toys- that would be a good step as well. Hi–I have the same problem. If they are doing well scooping up food and at least getting some of it into their mouth, put more and more food into the bowl for them to feed themselves. If your child has been feeding himself and stopped, ... Neville cautions against getting into a battle of wills over toddler eating issues. This pincer grasp is important because is lays the foundation for future fine motor skills like writing. Please let me know if you need more help, after looking at those articles. He refuses to eat if I try n make him feed himself so ice tried I spoon two times n help him do one but still no luck. And recently he had started acting aversive to drinking formula both from a bottle and a sippy, but he will drink water happily. Is this a normal thing for my son? She gets very excited using the straw and squealed with excitement when she took her first sip. I’m assuming you are probably familiar with that and whether you are or not, I would highly suggest taking my free workshop that teaches you how to set one up. Thanks for reaching out! Click the box to get your free 5 page guide right in your inbox! Hey Candi, I wouldn’t recommend going cold turkey with feeding him, but would start to institute some rules. We do bottle feeding first, especially she only eats about 24 oz max from the bottle, but I’ve noticed she doesn’t seem very interested in self feeding more than a handful or so of whatever we’re giving her. I need advice! There is no pressure at all, but I do offer consults and have had many with parents overseas. Our twins are about to turn 1 (10 months adjusted – 32 weekers). Lastly, and there is no pressure, I’m available for consults. At what age can toddler eat like adults? I’m so frustrated i don’t know how to have him show more interest and sit down and atleast willingly try his food. Need your help. He also gets intimidated by utensils at times so I feed him often with my own hands. low-sugar cereals, especially o-shaped and puffed varieties, small pieces of ripe, soft fruits like bananas, mangos, peaches, or watermelon, small pieces of soft, cooked vegetables like carrots, peas, or sweet potatoes, small pieces of bread, bagels, or English muffins. What can i do to make sure she eats even when am not around her. He likes food but doesn’t want to eat on his own at all. My little one is about 16 months. He likes to eat hard things and I’m thinking that dry pasta or beans would be too small for him. There’s a lot of tips and tools in this guide, might want to keep this one saved! It works for a whils. Sometimes children won’t feed themselves because they aren’t interested in eating. Most children will simply dip the spoon in the food at this age to feed themselves. Sure enough, even at 4 months, even at her first offering of cereal, my daughter wanted to grab the spoon. Forcing kids to eat has longterm effects, especially forcing kids to eat food they don't like. He continually flips the spoon over as it reaches his mouth and ends up wearing most of it. I do think that sometimes for convenience we just do things for the kids (occasionally I just use one spoon, and push her hand out of the way when she tries to grab it) but it is possible ot teach them some of these skills at an early age. Model and anything he does with the spoon, even if he just touches it, clap and give praise. So for now I’d help him. Just be there for them and help encourage the healthy eating to remind them just how good it is. If you can’t find any help see my consulting services or send me an email! Oh my goodness Shanna, don’t blame yourself. Hi Gladys, first thing I’d do is head to the start here button in the menu bar. Teach your kids how to sip with a cup: At six months, it is okay for your toddler to begin using a cup for drinking. He doesn’t put things in his mouth. During the initial phase, try using sippy cups. Thanks for your help!! I know this is going to sound like general advice, but consistency is king. Also, demonstrate for him and use hand over hand (put your hand on top of his and move it into his mouth) to show him how to do it. The problem sometimes arises with the pincer grasp. A bowl they can throw and stick their hands in? I started introducing solids at four months and was skeptical when my mother told me that my siblings and I were feeding ourselves with a spoon by one year old. Unfortunately on a busy morning getting ready for work I just don’t have time to do this, and am also concerned he doesn’t eat as much this way. Invest in a few good bibs or apron type smocks that can better catch the food. Im still breastfeeding and cant stop as he gets really upset when I dont. As for home try to have just start somewhere. Now it’s all over to you. I started him on pureed fruits and veggies then yogurt at 5.5 months. That’s okay; it’s part of the learning process. If not, email me so we can talk more. Hi Alisha, He is also a really fussy eater and I have to push him to get him to eat .Please help. For instance, I would enforce him having his own bowl/spoon to start. My little boy is 2 and a half and doesnt feed himself. Do you normally recommend eating solids first and then bottle feeding? How can I get him feed himself and enjoy his meals like he used to do? I’m nervous I have done something to cause this, he was a bit behind in crawling due to us not giving him enough tummy time. Now, at 2 1/2 she only wants in my bed, thanks to my husband, (he works in oilfield is always gone, so he spoils her and lets her in the bed. Overall, I would encourage you to slowly ease him into it. Hi I have a 2 yr old that refuses to eat with a spoon. I know they need more practice and we’ll keep working on that but should I be worried? It’s developmentally appropriate for your toddler to spill and get food everywhere as he or she learns to eat independently. I went on three different computers, chrome, and internet explorer and couldn’t read everything due to this. I don’t mind trying at every meal until he gets it, but how long can I expect this behavior? My son turns 1 next week. You could also try putting something sticky on her hands like honey or syrup, then all those little foods will stick to her hands. When Chicco moved onto solids, he didn’t like to eat and only had a few mouthfuls at a time. You can try going through this steps as well. 5-He does not eat/does not eat easily when out like restaurants, if we are at friends place etc. i have a 16 years old learner who has poor eating skills he protrude tongue turn the spoon in the mouth or throw solid food in the mouth and swallow without chewing how i help him. What to do I am frustrated now and some time I loose my patience too she pretends that she is still a baby..pls help. While it might be frustrating for you to watch your child wear his shoes for five minutes, it is important that he learns how to do so. I know he’s a bit older, but I’d start with this post on transitioning to table foods and this one on oral motor skills. He is stubborn. They also often learn to connect eating as something of a reward and may either be over-eaters or because it was never pleasant they don’t eat well. Hi Laura, I’m so glad you wrote. Drinking from an open cup uses different muscles of your child’s face. Self-feeding takes some skill, however. Thank you in advance! ), and he will put the food to his mouth, but he wont let it go inside of his mouth. This can be addressed, but I would highly recommend getting an evaluation as soon as possible. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Hi, flicking through I see you are an OT….please can you help a fellow OT?! My son is 19 mo. Before I get started I will tell you his pediatrician has found no underlying conditions related to this. It may be nothing, but if it is something it could be overcome much more easily now. We also had no trouble with the switch to cow’s milk and the sippy cup. Please let me know if you have more questions! wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. My baby is turning 10 months in a couple of days, and we recently just started finger foods (I’ve only been giving him Gerber Puffs so far). My son is 20 months old and hes good at eating finger foods with his fingers. But he if I gv him fruits he lleat by himself. My concern is that he will only eat finger food and food that he can suck out of a tube like yoghurt or those Rafferty Garden products. My son is going to turn 2 on next two weeks, and I start to gave him a own spoon and bowl and put some food in it for him to eat by himself during this few days (but I still fed him most of the food like what you teach), but he refused to get them and bring them back to me, and then I tried to give them to him one more time, he still gave them to me and said no,no,no,no. You will want to follow the steps in the article. If they are having trouble with getting the food onto the fork, provide that hand over hand help again until they get the hang of it. You can do this by allowing him to select from a range of food groups that you want him to eat like various fruits, vegetables or bread. Once you are there it just take some consistency, in saying “the bowl stays on the table” and you being close by and quick to grab it. I am forcing him to eat every time and still he is not chewing the food but he chewing well what he takes own.. Pl help me out..TIA, It sounds like he’s having a hard time learning to eat and so he’s avoiding it. I will say to answer you specifically, that the long term effects are that a child doesn’t learn to eat because their brain is on auto pilot as their distracted. He seems not to enjoy eating so much and that is stressing me out. And the earlier this happens, the better result will be for child. I get how overwhelming this must be for you. I am going to put him in daycare when he turns 2 and i am worried he wont eat much there. How to Teach Toddler to Eat by Himself. I am sorry for all the questions but I’m quite desperate now. Any ideas how to crack this in a way I can be consistent? First, I want you to check out this post about distractions. He has started putting toys in his mouth so hopefully we can get him on a roll. My son is going to turn 2 next month. Try to remember that the mess and playing with food is all part of the process. There are so many factors and variables! My son is almost 11 months old. Consistency in how often you are presenting them with a spoon and patience go a long way! Without knowing more specifics I would recommend continuing to move forward and keep trying. See my top picks for spoons at the end of the post! Take your time, but be consistent at every meal. I’d try to take a look at your schedule to make sure he is having enough time in between to feel hungry as well as slowly easing into another feeding (making sure you are not pressuring him). Its just her”food”. He is not autistic. Keep up with the pureed foods because he needs to eat, but keep trying the table foods ideally at each meal. Could these two things be connected? It mostly goes into her mouth the correct way, but I don’t guide it. BUT when his mom shows up, she thinks he is eating too slow so feeds him. These are the ones I’d start off with as they melt in your mouth and the easiest to chew. That means snacks, but it doesn't ever mean unhealthy food. And some kids could be very happy to spend 20 minutes to half an hour or more. Here are a few tips that can help with the more difficult aspects of dressing. Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. Oh Georgia, you are not doing anything wrong, but I understand how you could feel that way. Everything else he likes to do himself at his pace so I’m trying the feed yourself method to see if he will eat more but I’m having no luck. By Patricia McAleer-Hamaguchi, MA, CCCSLP 6 secrets to raising a smart toddler. Does he eat well? Can he chew the puffs? He doesn’t stay put in a highchair instead he sits on the sofa. When we try to feed him, he often refuses the food, and so we have had to resort to distracting him to get the food in – either with objects he can play with or the ipad. My son just turned 3 years old. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Sorry for the lengthy post…. I wanted to know the problems this could cause down the road so that I can explain it to my wife. See the article index in the menu bar for Help for Infants and Toddlers. I have to take her out for walks or try new things at each mealtime. Please assist me on what I should do to improve his eating behavior. Can you also send me info on your consultation services, too? My husband and I have both tried to gently bring his hand up and he stiffens his arm/hand to not allow it but opens his mouth for us to feed him. You may even want to try this outside of meals. Then, I offer her my spoon, and guide it into her mouth (she is still free to grab it if she wants to “help”) but I am primarily feeding her. What can I do? About the mess, though, let’s be real: It’s not about allowing them to get food on their bib and their chin. Copyright © 2012 – 2020 Your Kids Table | Exclusive Member of Mediavine Family, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. I’m not sure if that’s all we’re seeing here? Its like you said consistency, patience, and practicing together are the keys to progress. Online research suggests that toddlers don’t starve themselves. While it might be frustrating for you to watch your child wear his shoes for five minutes, it is important that he learns how to do so. My little girl is struggling to self feed finger foods. giving him messier foods to eat with his hands instead of with a spoon. He has show some interest in eating from a spoon though not yet attempting to get food onto it on his own. thanks for your article. He just explores it and throws away. Have you looked into free early intervention services- see the article index under milestones? Sounds like your doing some great things, if he is eating in the morning. Usually if we give him some water when he feels that sensation coming on he can stop it. After six months of that she just became really fussy and won’t eat anything. Hi Alisha…I wanted to let you know O is now feeding herself kix, Cheerios, puffs, yogurt melts, soft noodles and small pieces of pancake. He may benefit from using tools like a weighted lap pad, a wiggle seat, or proprioceptive activities beforehand or during the meal. Mealtime mess can be stressful. He manages to scoop some food in the spoon but as he takes in to his mouth he turns the spoon (instead of keeping it straight) and most of the food falls down. Don’t worry if, at first, your child uses the spoon primarily to bang on the plate or high chair tray and dribble food around. If you have to run over and give her a bite, then say… “oh hold on, I need to get the phone in the other room real quick”. I would says she is behind with fine motor skills compared to her brother. My daughter has not really started eating with a spoon and she is turning 16 months now. Any tips on how I can get her to self feed (without her throwing a tantrum)?Just another piece of info – she is starting to take more steps but she never wanted any help if my husband and I tried to practice walking. I’m really worried that I have missed the window of opportunity for finger foods! Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. I will do the hand over hand to show him that he eats them but he just drop a them. I would focus more on giving him a little of his own and his own spoon the way I described above. They can be pretty stubborn at this age. Move to the next step only when your child can do the previous step reliably and without your help. Kids who are pushed to have “one more bite” often learn to ignore their bodies’ signals, and that can lead to overeating and weight problems later on. The 5 Best Baby Spoons For Feeding Your Little One! Check out How to Stop Babies from Throwing Food for more tips. Also try setting up her food and then acting like you are too busy to feed her for a few minutes- see how she does. I tried to act like I am busy. It is very detailed and I think will answer all of your questions. Are you working with a feeding therapist, if not I’d highly suggest that. Last, lately he has been trying to hold the sippy cup, but hasn’t mastered drinking from it yet while he’s holding it. She is as you say particular about what she eats. Thanks again. Thinner textures may be frustrating initially. Give them things like puffs that are dry and big enough to pick up, but not so big they could choke. Put just a couple pieces of food at a time on their plates. Our staple food is rice so he will eat rice if I feed him but plays with it or start throwing them everywhere if I let him eat it and hence does not eat much if I don’t feed him. He does let us put food on the fork and with our hand over his, he will put it in his mouth. Thank you so much for your quick reply! Kids often require a lot less than we realize sometimes… I’d check out these tips and see if there’s anything you can add to help. She has tried hand over hand but he resorts back to this method. If I walk away he will pick it up and throw it on the ground, methodically throwing every piece until his tray is empty. While taking a spoonful from … On top of the feeding issue, my son refuses to drink from anything but his bottle. In this article, you will find out the science behind 2 year olds’ temper tantrums and how to deal with them so that your children won’t keep throwing tantrums again and again. So we are on a deadline to try and help him learn to eat mess free. She eats like a CHAMP, not picky at all and eats 3 meals a day with snacks. 6- He does not show any self interest in food. Frequently label your child… I’d highly recommend reading this post on transitioning to table foods and even though he’s a little bit older this is where I’d start:). Probably at least one of you did eat this way as a toddler, it's pretty normal and most people grow out of it. Then he eats it and I say yay and clap. I have an article on this process as well, Help for Infant and Toddlers. Are you in the states? Hey Jeanne, I am worried. However we didn’t exactly ask how or what foods or anything. He used to put some foods in his mouth, but doesn’t do that now. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. I would also put a little bit on his spoon so he isn’t overwhelmed with too large of a bite. My son is my first and only child, and my husband and I work opposite shifts to take care of him. You may introduce your child to regular, open … The “pincer grasp” (the ability to grab small items with the thumb and forefinger) is especially crucial for effective self-feeding. So every evening is about cooking and then feeding him mainly after whole day of work. Lastly, I have this post on how to keep your child seated for meals. I think I am part of the problem as am terrified to give him anything not puréed. He’s always been picky and it takes a lot to get him to eat. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. When we started giving him table food initially he would put it in his mouth and immediately gag and throw up (age 6-8 months), so we thought we needed to wait until he had matured a bit more in terms of his GI system. This can hamper his self-esteem tremendously. He has been to a dentist, everything is fine in that aspect. She is now holding her bottle but I sometimes need to tip the bottle back. ah also their refuse and get really angry with the bibs. He definietly needs to start getting things into his mouth. But not at home He asks me to feed him just because he wants to be spoiled . First off thank you so much for all the information. I know we are doing everything wrong but my wife disagrees. Now we are really concerned. I even tried offering his favorite finger foods on his palm when he is hungry asking him to eat it by himself. And weekends same cycle for all three meals so all weekend is only at his service. If that isn’t an option try to have him start by putting food in on the sides of his mouth where he should be chewing. What else can she try? Hi-this is great! I would try having it already loaded when he sits down sitting in the bowl. I have try so many things but she does not want to learn, any technic ??? Although it is important to teach kids to follow this meal routine, it is not yet appropriate for this age. You can sign up for free here. Thanks for this great article! In this post I talked about some more passive ways you can teach spoon use. If I put it back on his tray he will hand it back to me, and will keep this up until I feed him or until he gets frustrated and throws it on the ground. Also, when you introduce it, be very silly, sing a song, etc.- make it a little fun for him. There is a way out of this! He will be fed with a spoon no problem but he will not by any means self feed or even pick up a spoon. Hi. I tried getting her hand to her mouth with the food but she resists and cries/ whines when I do and really won’t open her mouth. Sometimes she’ll let me guide her hand but for the most part she just gets mad and cries. I don’t want him to go hungry but at the same time, I can’t help thinking he’s just testing me… any suggestions? You can experiment with the formula in a cup, but waiting is fine, too. I know I have been too late to encourage her to use spoon & fork She is 2 years old and we have been trying last 2 weeks with few success..She will just try once the first time I give the spoon to her and then gets uninterested..Then we hold it together like your hand on hand method a few times and it goes okey. One of my kids ate a spicy lamb stew that my mom made for dinner and we pureed it in the blender for him, he refused all regular baby foods. This is probably just a phase and I would take the middle road. In a short time, you will only be occasionally helping them with a large bite or when they turn the spoon the wrong way. I am putting this up there to help people who may be having the same problem. He only drinks water by himself. One of the most common questions I get asked is… “How can I teach my child to feed themselves?” Self-feeding is a big deal for tired parents! However, she will pick up the cup independantly and tip it into her own mouth. I wouldn’t want you to do this on every bite and I do want him working on feeding himself as well. My son is 12.5 months old and refuses to self feed at all (except with a bottle). He is still on the young side for learning this skill so I wouldn’t worry right now. This is very non-invasive and can be very helpful. She is now almost 9 months….when we sit in the high chair she immediately turns her head, seems frustrated. The first step is just get her to take the food to her mouth, then I’d work more on the pincer grasp. What can I do to help him feed himself the puffs? This may take time. However, he doesn’t get scooping/dipping and gets very frustrated because all he wants to do is hit the bowl like a drum/toy with his spoon, and then wants to gnaw on the wrong end of the spoon. How do I fix this? Every meal give her the spoon and fork, if she throws it, tell her “the spoon stays on the table.” Also, try to act busy at the beginning of the meal or change up your routine a bit by sitting somewhere else, Try to alternate bites, say, “mommy does a bite then you do a bite.” I know it is frustrating, but being consistent will really help get you there! wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Get his teethers out, dip them in foods he likes. There is a tab in the menu, my email is [email protected]. If only I could stop him from trying to feed the dog… haha! Let them try and try again, it’s okay to let them struggle a little. You will find a lot more info there. How do i get him to at least attempt to eat them? Baby’s feedings are roughly timed around our mealtimes, so she can be surrounded by others eating and drinking and mimic them. How I can make them keep the food in the plate? I’ve been offering a spoon for several months but not only he’s not interested in taking it, he’s not interested in eating anything that is not pureed! Hi. i just started giving him the spoon a week back when he suddenly stopped eating his food. Try loading finger foods onto a fork as well and seeing if he will take that to his mouth. He is diagnosed with ASD Level 1, and he also has a tentative ADHD diagnosis. You can begin by giving finger foods. I would give him the spoon at the beginning, but keep your own bowl feeding him bites so he doesn’t get to frustrated. Any other tips? Does she respond to one over the other? So I end up chasing him around trying to get him to eat. he also didnt chew food when he is feeded. I will try to gently take her hand and put it towards her mouth and she throws a huge fit each time and gets hysterical. If they aren’t showing much interest or are having a hard time manipulating the spoon, then help them by putting your hand on top of theirs and moving through all the steps of scooping and putting the bite into their mouth (see the pic above). That is perfect! . He will only eat if he is spoon fed unless it is cheerios or something like it, ie. It’s up to you as a parent to help your child eat healthier—and want to eat healthier. At this rate I feel like he will never be able to eat portion sizes (or anything near the portion sizes) that other toddlers eat. Then, I dip her spoon back with a light coating of stuff and give it to her. Still he does not eat easily- needs some distraction like colors, toys, screen to eat food. If you're traveling with a 17 month-year-old child, the key is entertainment. Hi, I am in a similar situation. What do you do when mealtimes become a battlefield because your toddler doesn’t want to eat? Hey Candi, So leaving him go, and not feeding him while he runs around the house can mean possible dehydration. Try to keep meals as positive as possible and eat with him, it is important for you to eat together. She hates getting her fingers dirty n wont finger feed with liquidy foods. My son has just turned 9 months old and will not eat finger food. What shall I do? I would look at the posts How to transition to table foods, you can find in the article index in the menu bar. He s not earing during weekends when Im with him, except for crackers, bread & sticks and puffs. Should I introduce the fork (with my help) using/piercing it face up or face down? If you need more help, I’m available for consults see the tab in the menu bar, don’t hesitate to email me with more specifics if you need to! Don't subscribe ½ cup cooked rice, pasta or cereal. She will drop it or just push her puffs around her tray. Hi! Let me know if you have more questions! When she was eating her baby food, she would eat about 2 oz after a 6-8 oz bottle. He has very little patience and just crumbles everything(or smears it all over himself) when he gets tired of trying or is finished eating. It is best to first teach your toddler to eat using his fingers because he has been practicing putting things into his mouth since he was 2 - 3 months old. I will also mention she is a little behind in her munch as compared to her brother, but that has definitely improved. I’m at a loss of what to do. Jacob is 16 months old and we are trying hard to teach him to put food in his mouth as he has not done it yet. We look for toddlers to be feeding themselves with a spoon, completely independently by the age of 2. She is fine if I feed her the snak but does not seem to want to feed herself. With his or her improved language and social skills, your child can become an active participant at mealtimes if given the chance to eat … But he likes to dip the handle end of the baby spoon into the yogurt so I guess that’s progress! And, let her get messy. What can I do? (I also like to use these cheese curls or pea crisps designed for babies broken into small pieces). He might even repeat them despite your warnings. I want her to enjoy her meals feeding herself, and for myself not to get anxious before each meal time..How can I get her to try feeding herself and how can we come over this sensual dislike ? Do I keep on? My son is 18 months old. In addition, cooking is fun for kids. If I give him a larger piece of fruit (a whole strawberry or a chunk of banana) he will sometimes take one nibble and then he will squash it and rub it all over his tray. This article has been viewed 57,954 times. With a toddler, it is important to follow their lead and give them as much help as they need, although it is okay to let them struggle a little here, too. Anyway, I will try all your suggestions​. Start by just getting him to touch it, once he is doing that then try to have him smell or take to his lips. And when you’re reading to start cleaning up, you face the dilemma of where to start first: wipe off the hands? My twins are 11 months actual, 9.5 adjusted. Saying "just one more bite" seems harmless, but actually does more damage to a child than you realize. Can you help me with that. Will she allow you both to have a spoon? Is he too old? The short answer is no and here is why forcing kids to eat is dangerous. When will your toddler feed them self with a fork? I feel bad feeding him the same foods everyday. Let me know how that goes! Your toddler probably won't understand what's wrong with making a mess yet, so let her freely explore her food if you can. I would possibly get 2 baby spoons in at a sitting. He’s very independent so does not like when we hold his hand to show him how to do things. Are you in the states? Of course, the age ranges above are just a guideline. When your child has learned the first step, then you teach the next step, then the next, and so on. I have post on early intervention under the article index in the menu bar at the top. Its just with her lunch amd supper. I wouldn’t worry too much, but keep trying especially in different environments and with different people. If I take her hand to guide it to her mouth, she will drop what’s in her hand or have a tantrum. Are they helpful or harmful to baby’s development? I will definitely keep working on the hand over hand and really like the idea of putting something sticky on her hand. Should he be attempting to eat all food with a spoon (including things that adults would eat with their hands, like apple cubes or sandwich pieces), or should we just work on this with food that adults would use utensils for? See below. They often get a bunch in their hand at once and will try to shove their whole hand into their mouth. He will not eat much meat except hamburgers which is a rare treat so most of his protein comes from eggs, hummus and peanut butter. % of people told us that this article helped them. I put the fork in my sons hand, he is 18 months, and pierce the food holding his hand with the fork. I’m worried it is causing an issue at daycare. Hello, hoping you can offer some advice. Let me know if you have any questions after you take a look at the other articles. How to Train a Toddler to Eat by Himself. dont force your child to eat. That being said, apparently she is sometimes doing it at daycare, but it’s definitely few and far between. Give lots of praise for anything he does independently! Since I have been doing this he has learned that its great to eat with his fork! place a bite or two on a surface in front of baby, for independent attempts. Puffs dissolve with saliva and have an extremely low choking risk if any at all. Whatever food I make for him, he usually eats 3-4 bites…hardly ever eats the whole thing. Every thing I have to feed her with my fingers even banana. But, I’d try the method I wrote about in the post about spreading baby food or yogurt on the tray and having him bring it to his mouth with a messy hand. Thank you for replying! He just throws it away crying or giving it back to me expecting me to feed him. Your toddler will need to be able to pick up the spoon before she can use it. I know how frustrating throwing of utensils can be and sounds like your doing a great job at trying to teach her! I am teaching my son to hold his spoon when eating pureed food and does ok with help. Measles can be prevented by vaccination with the MMR vaccine. I have started focusing more on teething crackers and having her bring her spoon to her mouth with her puréed foods. Im really concerned and sad and think I must be doing smth wrong . Moreover, every time we become strict to make him learn that meal time is to eat and not play by following above or any other method for few days, soon he falls sick (as he falls sick very often) and then all efforts go in vein as then our focus is to ensure that he gets something in his body to avoid dehydration and support him in sickness and we do/give him whatever he wants like colors, rhymes and taking all his drama. Also, get him in the sand box or other sensory bins to help get him used to touching various textures. But she still on spoon feeding .I have to run after her for hrs to make her finish her lunch and dinner.she just doesn’t want to eat by herself .I thought when she will go to school she will learn to eat with herself watching other kids but no she is doing same thing in her school she usually keeps her food into her mouth and don’t chew it .today her teacher told me to make her eat with herself He is still so young, but it is great that you are being proactive. Teach … . I’ve got your covered I have two articles here that are titled, “How to Transition Your Baby to Table Food.” http://www.yourkidstable.com/2012/09/how-to-transition-your-baby-or-toddler.html. My son will be one next week. She would eat but not enough as she would start to play with her food. All She screams when I try to help. Please let me know if you need more help! This may actually begin well before the toddler period, at around eight or nine months of age. How can you teach your toddler to talk? Thanks . I’d start with my eating tab in the menu bar. Hi Brent, kids usually use their whole palm and kind of just stab it for a while. If I try to give him a piece of toast or anything larger to "bite" from, he either tries to shove the whole thing in his mouth, or takes a HUGE bite that fills up his whole mouth and ends up gagging. However, when I let him try it himself, he holds the spoon with one hand and then uses other hand to eat the food. Train a toddler to eat by himself with help from … Hi Johanna, I think you already have some great strategies in mind- I can’t say I agree with the toys at the table, mainly because I don’t want kids to be distracted as they aren’t actively engaged in eating and learning to eat. Read through the comments here, too! Don’t let go until you see them grabbing it with their index finger and thumb. Keep trying the hand over hand assistance, only putting a little in his bowl. Spend just a few minutes “practicing” at the beginning of the meal and then let them finish their meal normally so they don’t get too frustrated. If they do get a little messy and it upsets them, be quick to clean it up. His gag reflex has lessened, although he does sometimes throw up. Instead of pushing her hand away, I simply let her grab it and helped guide it into her mouth (which she was aiming for anyway!). Read there and click through to eating basics. At 8 months she was drinking out of glasses by herself along with self feeding. Thanks for your help! We’ve slowly introduced puffs, teething crackers, carrots, sweet potato, pears, banana, peaches and kix. Your article is very helpful. Lately, she’s been refusing, crying and screaming whenever I try to feed her, even if it’s while watching her poems on YouTube. She was doing better when she was around 17months like eating banana on her own and other less sticky foods. With his younger sister, I will also try and implement the two bowl approach, and let my older son see that, yes, the little one is also learning to feed herself. We have gone through huge swings of time periods where she will not eat anything. Common problems include: Repeating or the last few words of the question rather than answering Answering incorrectly such as shaking their heads yes when you ask them a question with 2 choices Giving an off-target response such as answering, “Two,” when you ask, What’s… HELP PLEASE? Here are some suggestions on how to encourage your toddler to eat: Don’t expect your child to eat if he’s not hungry. Great article. If you aren’t already, at least start brushing his teeth 2-3 times a day- not with one of those finger things or a washcloth, a real toothbrush. This age is all about learning to use a spoon. We started purees at 6 months, the usual baby rice cereal, pear, apple sauce, pumpkin etc. I would also consider calling early intervetnion in your state, search for that in my search bar or see the article index in the menu bar. Thank you! If he is trying to feed himself and gets food on his face or hands, or it slides off the silverware, then he’ll tantrum and refuse to feed himself after that. Do you know these 21 sensory red flags? Maybe this is the same situation with self feeding? Have you introduced a little fork he could learn to use- that may help with the texture, but it will take some time to teach him. We do use timers for most things, but they’ve never worked for meal times. How to teach a toddler to eat what they are given? Oftentimes, parents expect their toddlers to eat meals at the same time as adults – breakfast, lunch, dinner. When you notice your toddler touching themselves, stay calm and try to redirect their attention to something else, like their favorite toy. There may be some tears- don’t let it get excessive, but don’t let him get off too easy either. I’m glad I just discovered your blog! Should I move on straight to the spoon?Thanks! Now let us look at how to start teaching your child to feed himself. They have to be wiped immediately. Basically, things that are completely non-messy and dry, he would eat. Thoughts? How to Teach Kids to Dress Themselves. The advice I received from a paediatric dietician helped me transform my fussy eater into a happy eater! Thanks! Give them as little help as possible as you move along. When you feed your daughter something, try making it look different so she could go for a bite or two. Eating with the fingers is the first way that children learn to feed themselves, and you should watch for signs that you son or daughter is ready to try. Please please PLEASE help…. Any tips would be appreciated. She says to me to me that she doesnt want her hands to get dirty and will go and wash her hands at intervals. I like these tips! He eats crackers, bread and pop corn, which means there’s not a problem of not being able to chew, but he refuses ti eat, even less touch fruits, vegetables or meat! It is true that there is a window when kids learn and are receptive so you may have a bit more work ahead of you now. It sounds like there are some underlying issues and I would recommend him getting some feeding therapy. My son is 16 month old. I am going through the same thing, 14 month twins. Most babies develop this skill between about seven and eleven months of age. Toddler Cognitive Development: This is the dump-and-fill stage! She has always been refusing to self feed since the age of 2 and i kept on giving in by feeding her. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. I would try a new spoon and try to up the interest factor. Get started there, then read part 2. Also, it sounds like he has some underlying issues that might need worked out. She does still let a lot of the water just run out of her mouth. In the very early days of feeding your baby, this means giving them their own spoon while you feed them. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 57,954 times. I’ll give you age guidelines to look for as your child works towards mastering feeding themselves first, and then, my OT/Mom strategies for how to help them learn. Required fields are marked *. THere were no “x’s” to close the boxes? This was very messy of course but no problem for me. I’m a first time mommy so I’m constantly overly concerned with his development. At this point, you are still feeding them most of the meal. Part of their training has involved learning lots of easy recipes for kids. We have got him enrolled into part time school now and I am wondering if we should be looking to get therapy or I am just not sure how to go about it. Great question! I know this is not a good idea, but it is just one of those things you try when you are desperate to get him to eat after a long tiring day of work, and then it works so you do it again, and now he’s used to it and I fear we’ve gotten into a bad habit. As with spoon feeding, the most important thing you can do initially is to let your baby or now toddler try. He is developmentally off the charts in every other way – he is exceptionally smart and way ahead in terms of all the other usual milestones -our pediatrician said she has not seen a child like him in many, many years. The most common one I’ve seen recommends having your baby start to use … Once they have this under their belt, it is time to give them their own little bowl while you are feeding them. Getting him to sit and feed himself an entire meal is close to impossible. Another idea is to give her something to dip her food in, as many toddlers love to dip. Let me know if you need anything else! He will eat just about anything an adult feeds him while he's preoccupied, which means he gets a good, balanced diet and has learned to accept a wide variety of foods. Also, dip his hand into baby food and have him take it to his mouth. She is going to be three in February and I am exhausted and want my child back to self feeding. By one year of age, they can be proficiently and messily feeding themselves. He or she can eat the same food as the rest of the family. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. I would try giving him a suction plate with just a few pieces on it. Do you have any tips? All the food they drop on the floor has led to a mouse taking up permanent residence in the stove so it can sneak out every night looking for crumbs (I sweep, but I can’t mop every day). Should we start from the beginning with baby food? Hi Becky, so nice to hear from a fellow OT! I have a lot of information here that can answer all your questions. It is also a skill I have worked on, A LOT, with kids of all ages and abilities as an occupational therapist. I think these are the first steps you need to take. Do you have any suggestions of things I could try to help him? Keep a damp washcloth or paper towel by your side to help with spills. He fed himself with a spoon for about 1 month and since then he has refused to do it himself. You want this to be as positive as possible. 1 slice of bread. I let her dip her hand into the bowl but she doesnt bring it to her mouth. I will keep on as we have begun. She eats ok with me on her own but with my wife she struggles. The only thing he really has ever had a keen interest in trying to eat is his brothers’ raisins, but we can’t give him those right off! By example. You can do that through early intervention for free if you live in the states. He also would prefer to sit on my lap and eat off my plate if he can. Part of teaching your toddler healthy eating habits is helping her to recognize when she feels hungry and when she feels full. It is hard to say where I would start, not knowing if there are any underlying issues- there could be sensory or difficulty chewing (not necessarily medical). Hi Sarah! Thank you so much! It can be a little tricky in situations like this Kim, first, I would just keep trying. I am nervous though my doctor said she is just lazy. Hello! He does really well with finger feeding, but when I give him utensils of any kind, he just picks them up and throws them on the floor. We’ve been trying for a few months now. How do you get your baby to eat fruits and vegetables? Hyland recommends keeping that knife active until around age 4. my daughter is 2 years now and she doesn’t like food ,but when i feed her she eats. If it is really out of control then tell him that you are going to eat first then he can watch some videos. Hi I came across this post while reading some of your meal ideas for toddlers. He eats a good variety of foods so I think.his nutrition is OK. Should I be concerned about him learning to eat pureed foods and eating from utensils? Thanks for your response. Look at the post on sensory bins, can find that in the article index or search bar. The child may attempt to put the spoon on their mouths, upside down or the wrong way round at first. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. My son is 21 months old. This is just part of the learning process. My daughter is 3 years old preschooler The only way in which she might have some before tonight is if I force feed her. He has 8 teeth but isn’t a fan of anything he has to chew more than 2 times. Don’t prepare her another meal, that is a slippery slope. She obviously doesn’t like that. He has plenty of time to learn:). I continue to try new foods and do try and eat with him so he can see what I am doing but he doesn’t seem interested in using a spoon. Hi Alisha! Good Luck! I haven’t been feeding him from a spoon for some time and apart from a short period recently where he was happy to be spoon fed, he flatly refuses.