Feed Me! (Feeding herself)

Well most children take their time learning their motor skills. Some learn faster than others but they don't all learn at the same rate. My son took forever to learn and he is 2 years old. Try sitting her alone in a high chair and putting her food in front of her and leave the room. If you leave the room make sure you keep an eye out of course because you could end up with food all over the floor! After you leave she should get the idea that she needs to feed herself and that you aren't always going to be there to do it for her. That is how I made my son start eating alone maybe it will work for her!

Thanks for the idea! She seems pretty content in her high chair so maybe just adding the food and then leaving will work. - BuffBaby 3/20/2010 11:51:31 AM | Flag

Answered by LunaLovegood {113}
3/20/2010 4:26:47 AM

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Since your daughter doesn't like getting her hands dirty, you might want to provide more finger-foods like cheese, frozen peas (great for teething), gratings or extremely thin slices of peeled apples, celery, and raw carrots (also great for teething; when my daughters were your daughter's age, I simply peeled large carrots and cut off the skinny end, so the carrot was too thick for them to bite off a piece and choke on it).

You could place foods like this on a plastic plate or dish near where she is playing on the floor (such as on a low coffee table where she can easily reach them) -- and perhaps when she is hungry she'll just grab something and start munching. LOL, she might tip the whole plate of food onto the floor and just start eating it from there -- so maybe the plate could just start out on the floor ... but even then, she still might tip it. :)

I think this might give her a thrilling sense of empowerment, since no one would be giving her the food: she'd be conquering her world and going after what she wanted with her own two hands!

Answered by danielle128 {106}
3/20/2010 9:32:18 AM

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My boy didn't care about getting his hands dirty, but my daughter does. I keep a wet wash cloth nearby, and just wash her hands off when she can't take it anymore. Maybe that would work?

Answered by buzymom13 {103}
3/21/2010 2:35:01 PM

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My son does not like dirty hands at all. I found a small size rounded fork and spoon worked great for him. I also spent time letting him learn with dry foods. Teething biscuits, baby appropriate cookies. He got the idea that the food goes into his mouth faster when he controlled it. Just putting the food down on the tray in front of him and waiting for him to pick it up worked for me. Take your time. Don't be pressured. It'll happen and then you'll be asking how to keep them from eating all day long!