Most babies want to try and feed themselves before too long. A toddler’s natural curiosity will make him want to hold a spoon and imitate the movements his mother makes with it. At first he will usually miss his mouth and may wipe food in his hair or ears, but parents should not stress about this messy time. The more baby is allowed to do it, the quicker he will learn the skill of actually getting that spoon into his mouth.
Serving finger foods often helps to guide little hands holding food into the correct place. But don’t overdo this or it will take longer to master the skill of eating with a spoon. And if finger foods are served too often, baby may refuse to use a spoon altogether.
Once your toddler has learned to feed himself you will have a great deal more time for other things, so it is a goal worth striving for. However, if it seems to be taking forever for baby to get that plate emptied there are some things you can do to speed up the process.
Firstly, you can allow him to hold a spoon while you feed him at the same time. You can shovel in a few mouthfuls while he is still trying to put that spoon in his mouth. If he is a little older and really wants to do it himself, you can let him hold the spoon with food on it and guide his hand into the correct position.
Some babies refuse help and insist on doing it all themselves. This is fine, even if it seems to take a long time and is messy. Your toddler will actually learn to eat independently a lot more quickly. And that, after all, is the goal.
Baby will find it easier to keep the food on the spoon if it is a soft mash. Even though he may be able to eat peas and meat cut up small, they will be more likely to fall off the spoon, so start him off feeding himself with mashed potato or mushy cereal.
Finger foods for baby to feed himself include things such as chips, toast, cheese and soft fruit. He should not be offered hard things that could choke him such as popcorn, candy, nuts, dried fruit, or uncooked vegetables. One nourishing snack for baby is an avocado seed with most of the avocado cut off. He will be able to suck at what is left and chew on the seed without choking as it is too big.
Allowing baby to feed himself includes offering him a cup to drink from. One with a lid will save numerous spills. It need not be filled up, but start off with just a quarter or less of juice or milk. This will save baby from choking and also save mum lots of work mopping up spills. By the time baby is 10-12 months old he will be feeding himself to a great extent. But when he is tired or not feeling well he may want to be fed.