switching to finger foods ...

[Me&MrMagoo]

when ds started solids i wanted to do BLW but due to weight gain issues the paed told us to spoon feed so that we knew exactly how much he was getting ...

anyhow, he's now 1 and i'm over spoon feeding him , especially for lunch, the problem is i put a sandwich on his tray and he just squishes it then on the floor it goes ... or if he does try to eat it it takes FOREVER and he gets bored ...

do i just need to persevere so that he realises that that is what he's getting to eat? he has no problems eating crackers, toast, apple quarters etc for snacks, but as soon as it looks like he has to do it himself for a main meal he doesnt want to - i know its easier for him for me to feed him too ...
also, what age do they start using a spoon effectively by themselves? should i start letting him practise that as well? ...

[minties]

I can't help with most of your questions as dd was blw from the start but she has been able to use a spoon perfectly since 9 months. We just load it up for her and she puts it straight in her mouth, very little mess or waste so you should be able to start teaching your bub to use a spoon now!

[KyD]

I'm interested to see what some experienced mum's say!
DD is totally off veg if it comes on a spoon at the moment. Finger foods are fine tho.
I too wonder what age they are ok to spoon feed themselves, we tried with DD last night and it was such a failure! there was food everywhere but in her belly!

[AndrewTheEmu]

squishing his sandwich/playing with food is actually really good for him. Its how bubs explore different taste/textures and experiment with what they do and dont like. If he is trying to eat it and taking forever it sounds like he may not be ready to manipulate a whole sandwich. Have you tried giving it to him broken up? (as in seperate the 2 pieces of bread, each cut into 2-4 pieces and whatever you put on it, put seperatly on a trey. eg. a lettace leaf, a few slices of tomato, a slice of cheese. Or if your putting spreads on them just give him 2 seperate pieces of bread cut in half.)

Personally I would persist but put a time limit on it. Say 15mins. and if he hasnt eatten 'enough'/is getting cranky/frustrated, Then bring out the purees to top him up.

If he is really enjoying crackers, toast, apple quarters etc, maybe just give him a bunch of healthy snacks (carrot sticks, a cooked egg -or ommett- cut in half, some ham, cerely sticks) at lunchtime insted of a sandwich.

My DD is 8 months but is practising with a spoon now. She used to require constant help (as in she would hold the spoon, but i would guide her hand into the puree and then back to her mouth) now she is 'getting there', still cant hold the spoon the right way up, but has got the hang of dipping it then guiding it into her mouth. Still very messy though but yep, if he will let you help teach him to use a spoon i would start now.
Another idea. sit him within ear shot but out the back in his high chair and let him teach himself (dont look though, its hard not to freakout when they squishing puree/yohurt into their ears and scooping the rest onto to floor just to watch it go *splat* :D)

[RoseKathleen]

I agree - he should be starting to use a spoon by himself now. When my kids were learning I would give them one spoon, and one for me. Then we both did the feeding.

As for lunch - try not to think of it as a main meal. At various times in my kids' lives they would just have breakfast and then about 5 substantial snacks throughout the rest of the day. At lunch time, put him in his chair, and give him a slice of bread cut into four pieces with vegemite/peanut paste or something on it. A couple of cherry tomatoes cut in half, a couple of strawberries cut in half, watermelon, cheese, cucumber, apple, pear, ham etc. Cut them all in small pieces, only put a couple on his tray and let him go.

Then a couple of times during the day, plonk him back in the highchair with similar things on the tray then continue to wash the dishes where he can see you. From about seven months old, my kids were only spoon fed breakkie and dinner - they had to feed themselves otherwise. They soon learn pretty quick if you are not there to help them.

[Me&MrMagoo]

Thanks so much for the tips girls ...

He seemed to eat more of his sandwich today and some of the banana pieces actually went in the mouth instead of on the floor ..

Dinner with the spoon was fun! So glad I took it out on the balconey though - there was spaghetti bolognaise from A-Z!!

Geez children teach you the meaning of patience :)