Forum : Mums

Hi, I had the same thing with my son as he wouldn't eat my homemade purees (neither would my daughter lol!) so was on jars completely until he was well over one, he's 19 months now and I still give him toddler meals sometimes but he's mainly on our food. They don't have the co-ordination to feed themselves with a spoon until around 18 months so I wouldn't worry too much about self feeding yet, will he eat toast and other fingers foods himself? My son won't but my daughter did around 13 months, she was a lot more independent though! Throwing food is normal I'd get a splash mat to go under the highchair if you haven't already got one. I think the main thing is not to worry about the mess, my son doesn't really like certain things on his hands and I think that's hindered him with self feeding so just let him get stuck in and don't worry, he can play with some and you can feed him some and hopefully in the end some of the food he's playing with will end up in his mouth. I think boys are lazy though and if mummy will do it for you why bother? lol just like their dads! :-))xx

I agree with Buffy!
Don't worry about what the books say 'they should be doing this by this age' and 'doing that by that age' . .they'll do it when they are ready all you can do is give them every opportunity to learn.
from about 8 months I let my son play with his food. . .I didn't even bother putting it in a bowl/plate because he would make such a mess that it was pointless so I just put it on his high chair tray.
If he is already feeding himself finger foods then he is already showing you that he knows where it goes and how to get it there and that is half the battle!
My son is 20 months and some days he can't be bothered to feed himself so I have to do it!
The only things he will use a spoon for are porridge and yoghurt . . he uses his hands to eat mash LOL and he has only just mastered the art of the fork over the last month now he loves it and tries to stab EVERYTHING . . it takes him a week to eat his peas ;P

thankyou peope!! great help. i will let him play more with his food and that splash mat is a good idea. thanks again xxx