Finger foods - anyone else been in this position?

[Miaou]

Ds is loving food. We have moved onto lumps, which he will chew happily. He will eat anything and everything. Although there are some things he is not keen on, if presented with them often enough he will get used to them and eventually like them. Eats meat, strong tastes etc.

BUT

Finger foods is an interesting area because he won't touch things at all! He holds his hands out to the side when eating, and very rarely brings them forward to touch his food or cup (gets lots of praise when he does btw). I have started putting him in his high chair with toys outside of mealtimes to get him used to touching things on his tray, but he doesn't really explore them with his mouth (although he loves to chew his fingers and his clothes!).

I have no worries about his eating, but he seems to be a long way off feeding himself atm. Anything else I can do to encourage him to "get involved"?

He is 7 months btw.

[schneebly]

Have you tried showing him by example? Eating little bits from his high chair tray? I dont think my DS2 was interested in finger foods much until he was about 8 months though. HTH.

[Miaou]

Oh that's a thought. (Who are you schneebly? I'm confuuuuuuused )

[Miaou]

bump for more ideas please

[schneebly]

I am not at liberty to say! I am Scottish though (you may have guessed that already!)

[Queenmummy]

Hi

I think 7 months is still pretty young for self feeding - my DS wasn't really interested in picking up bits off his high chair tray until about 9 or 10 months

Don't worry - he clearly loves eating so it won't be long before he wants to feed himself!

Queenmummy

[starlover]

i wouldn't worry too much miaou... some children just don't like getting their fingers dirty! my brother hated anything on his hands when he was little.

I am sure he'll get there eventually. and hey.. it's less mess in the meantime!

[suzi2]

Hmmm... My DS is almost 7 months and we're having the opposite trouble! He likes to feed himself, even with the spoon (I keep a hold of it to help him guide it!). He's also not that fussed about food.

Have you tried offering finger foods when he's not hungry? Perhaps he'll play with them then. If he's really hungry then he might prefer you to do the feeding as it's faster IYSWIM. The problem we're having is that DS finds some foods too slippery and gets annoyed. Baby rice cakes (apple ones) are the thing he can handle the best.

[beansprout]

Ds wasn't interested in self feeding for a long time. They are all different. He'll get there in his own time (promise!)