8mo suddenly refusing spoon. Any ideas?

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

Ds has always been a great eater but in the last few days has been refusing to be spoon fed. He is still happy to ear finger food but practically we would struggle to let him feed himself at every meal. Any ida how I can get him to take a spoon again? Or failing that any ideas for quick breakfasts and lunches that don't create much mess and require a 20 minute clean up afterwards?

tia

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

eat not ear Although he does get it in his ears sometimes!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Unfortunately some just do refuse spoons, my DD refused from day one so at least you've had a while of spoon feeding .

How about:

Breakfast, toast, bread & butter soldiers and boiled egg, eggy bread, english muffins or crumpets and butter.

Lunch sandwiches, wraps, plate with a few bits like baby breadstick, chunks of cheese, dried apricot and chopped grapes or whole apple. Chicken leg and some tomato. Spanish omellette, good for taking out too.

if you are home for tea he can have what you are eating, providing you eat fairly healthily of course and you watch the salt levels.

When DD was weaning I found this book in our local library and there are some great recipes on the baby led weaning website.

I would seriously advise not forcing him to be spoon fed though, if he really doesn't want to I think you are just better going with it than trying to fight against it .

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

Thanks for answering. He does pretty much eat what we eat but I spoon feed him anything messy. He hates having a bath so the clean up can be a nightmare. I'm going to have to get up at stupid o clock to get us ready fed and cleaned and out of the house for 8am aren't I?

He does enjoy feeding himself and will eat most things its just a time issue.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

If he goes to nursery, can't he just have breakfast there?

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

He starts at a childminder next week when I go back to work. Its 3 days a week. I was hoping to have a routine in place before then. I thought I'd cracked it, he was eating brilliantly until this week. I think its a deliberate protest against me leaving him next week! :)

[user12785]

My dd did this at the same age. There's actually a cook book for parents of such babies! Finger foods for Babies and Toddlers, by Jennie Maizels, which was very useful. I also used to fill wholemeal pittas with lumpy puree and then cut it into fingers.

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

I'll have a look for it thank you :) I'm going to need to be a bit more imaginative.