What age did your LO start feeding themselves

DD is 9.5 months. She is experimenting with her first finger foods. We typically stick to very small bites. We also give puffs. DD can pick up the food with her fingers, but doesn't quite understand yet that what she is picking up should go in her mouth. If left to her, she would pick up each piece, play with it, then throw it on the floor and repeat.

So, I have been putting the bites in her mouth. I have tried doing hand over hand to help show her to put the food in her mouth but she fights me. Is she not ready or should I keep trying?

Message edited 6/12/2014 2:52:19 PM.

Re: What age did your LO start feeding themselves

DD is 8.5 months and started eating puffs and finger foods last weeks. She took to the whole food to mouth business pretty quickly, but that's because she looooves to eat.

I think your DD is fine. She's probably just not ready yet. Just keep trying and she'll get the point eventually.


ETA: She primarily still eats purées.

Message edited 6/12/2014 5:52:02 PM.

What age did your LO start feeding themselves

At 7.5months she was picking up puffs and feeding herself. 9months she was solely on table food and had a great pincer grasp.

What age did your LO start feeding themselves

Oh and don't force it. She will do it when she's ready.

Re: What age did your LO start feeding themselves

DS1 was about 9 or 10 months when he got it. Before then he would try to get the food in his mouth, but always miss.

DS2 is now 8 months and is good with puffs. We haven't tried anything else yet.

I would just keep putting stuff on her tray. Eventually she'll get the idea. I don't think you need to feed it to her. Just let her play and discover.

What age did your LO start feeding themselves

My DS didn't do it till 11-12 months. He just wasn't ready before that.

Re: What age did your LO start feeding themselves

DS is 10 months & I have to put the food into his mouth. If I put it in his hand, he just plays with it or throws it on the ground. He doesn't understand yet how to feed himself.

What age did your LO start feeding themselves

DD is 10 mos and we joke that she's like the hungry hungry hippo game; as soon as we put food on her tray her little hand grabs it right up and shoves it in her mouth. It's now very difficult to feed her purées or anything from a spoon. She does raspberries and spits it all over the place. At her 9 mos appt I told her ped how she was barely eating and he said "just wait!" It's crazy how much more she eats now and how much better she is at feeding herself only 1 month later.

Re: What age did your LO start feeding themselves

I started giving ds puffs at 6.5 months and now at 8.5 months he only eats only table foods and has a pretty good pincer grasp. Don't worry. Keep giving it to him and he'll eventually get it.

Re: What age did your LO start feeding themselves

I didn't realize babies were feeding themselves at 9 months until I saw others doing it. So, I just started off slowly giving ds things, like half-Cheerios, fruits, pancakes. Basically, whatever he would eat. At 14 months he mostly feeds himself. I really prefer it because then he eats what he wants. He started eating the pouches without a spoon around 11 months.

Re: What age did your LO start feeding themselves

DD had great fine motor skills but had no desire to feed herself until about 10 mos. old. One day my husband was a little distracted whole feeding her Cheerios, and she just decided to feed herself! I wouldn't worry about it. At 18 mos., she's able to feed herself with a spoon, so she's all caught up!