Letting them eat on their own...

[SJ mom]

When did you start letting your DC feed themselves or try to? I am REAL scared of the mess...we just moved into a newly built house.
Diane

[JElaineB]

Pretty soon after a year old we gave up on the spoon feeding (he refused) and he self fed with his hands, and later started to work on using utensils. It will get messy, but you need to let them try to self feed when they are ready. Put down a big old oilcloth table cloth or something to protect your floors. We have carpet in the dining room and one of those plastic office chair mats under DS's chair. It has helped cut down on the mess but it is not perfect by any means!

Jennifer
mom to Jacob 9/27/02

[diekatze]

I started when my DS turned 15 months...He was such a fussy eater but ever since he feeds himself with his hand, he eats much better and more. At the begining, throwing food down to the floor was one of the fun he had... yes total mess!!! But after couple months, he stopped doing that and more concentrated on eating.

I bought many $1 plastic table cloths from Big Lots and put it on the floor to cover our off-white carpet...Still mess everywhere but I am happy to see my DS eats well.

He's 23 months old and now starting on spoon...Yes, late. I didn't force him but when he sees us eating with spoons, he wanted to try....He doesn' like his small spoon through.. he wants a big spoon...

[new_mommy25]

I haven't fed my son since he was probably 9 or 10 months old. He pretty much went straight to finger foods. He's 22 months now and great with the fork and spoon. I guess it really depends on your child. Mine has always been a neat eater. Meaning, the only time he would chuck stuff off the tray was when he was bored and done. I just keep a close eye on him and remove the tray as soon as he signals he is done. It helps to teach him the all done sign.

[essnce629]

Conner stopped letting me feed him pureed foods at around 9 months and went straight to feeding himself finger foods at that time. I gave him a spoon to use then too so he could feed himself his yogurt and applesauce that I'd thicken with baby oatmeal cereal (which I still do). Yes there was a mess after each meal, and I took care of another infant the same age so it was a big mess, but I'd lay down a bed sheet folded in half under their highchairs to catch all the mess and then I'd shake it out in the sink after each meal. I liked the sheet better than those vinyl floor savers since it covered a much bigger area and I could throw it in the wash whenever it got too dirty. He's 26 months old now and eats great with a fork and spoon.

***Latia
Conner, my homebirthed water baby, 8/19/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbo...pphire_24m.gif Self-weaned at 24 months! http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/9870.gif