Question about finger foods.

[SuperWoman]

I was just wondering how to encourage my 9 month old son to hold his finger food. He loves his vegie pieces, toast and other things but he wont hold them at all. He will only eat them if I hold them. I have shown him how to do it so he might copy me but he doesn't. Hoping for some advice, thanks.:)

[mum2littleman]

my son use to be like that too, so i started just putting his food on the tray and walking away that way if he wanted it he had to do sumthing about it, yes he screamed for a while but after a few mins i went and showed him again how to hold it then i walked away he went back to screaming and after me showing him again and walking away he picked it up and started eating it.. hope that helps:)

[SuperWoman]

Thanx Lou, I will give that a go!!!:thumbsup:

[the pero clinic]

Dear Bradysmum,

At the risk of sounding silly and possibly ignoring a big part of the issue – is he currently using his hands and fingers to reach for, and pick up, other small objects such as toys (to look at / play with / mouthe)? Or is it just food specific?

While your son may be developmentally at the point of enjoying and managing finger foods (while you hold them) he may not yet be old enough to have a real drive for independence. This may also be related to his personality. He may simply still really enjoy having Mum involved in feeding.

To increase his motivation and skill in finger feeding, incorporate it into a simple turn taking game. Hold your hand over his (while he holds onto the food) and take turns at feeding Mum and bub. He may actually be more interested in feeding you first than he is in feeding himself.

Give him simple praise for putting food to his own mouth whether he does it himself or with your help. He’ll soon get the idea and will enjoy feeding himself.

If he is, in fact, not using his hands to pick up and play with small objects in general, it may be worth seeing a paediatric occupational therapist for ideas on encouraging this.

the pero clinic