How to teach my 15 month old boy to eat by himself?

Question

My 15 month old boy never takes anything to his mouth. Even though i sit infront of him and show him how to pick food and eat, he is not doing it. If he wants to eat cookie or some finger food, he will give it to me and i have to feed him. How can I help him?

Answer 1

I think that you should feed him the normal meals, so he doesn't go hungry, and with the snacks, just leave him to it, if he doesn't do it himself, he just wont eat it. Hes body won't miss any nutrients by it, and if he really wants the snack, he will do it. Good luck....

Answer 2

Well, I have an 11 months nephew and he learn to eat when he was 8 months. Well sit behind him first hold his hands and keep on praticing with him when he is really really really really hungry after you do that with him a few times (5-10 times) and he will eat or when he is really really hungry leave out those little cookies from gerber and hold his hand and the cookie and put it in his mouth then let his take a bite then drop it if he wants more he has to pick it up by himself.

good luck
vy

Answer 3

My son started to take an interest in self feeding when I did this:

- Put him in the high chair or in front of a clean surface with an eating mat
- Sprinkle small pieces of food in front of him so he can see all his options (only use safe and non choking hazard pieces or foods specified by his doctor, they always give you a list at visits)
- Also place child safe utensils by the food
- Begin to feed him a piece and then try one yourself, make eye contact so he can see what you're doing
-He'll sometimes get a bit anxious if he thinks your bite is for him and he'll get tempted to try it himself (or even try feeding you)

The point is, he'll be learning how to feed himself by watching you do it first. All kids love to copy what we do... just show him how to do it right and safely. Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

Honestly it just takes time and patience. My son is nearing 20 months and he is just starting to show an interest in using a spoon or spork, feeding himself finger foods he just kind of started that by himself around 6-8 months ago, maybe a little longer than that. Like I said, just be patient he will catch on in his own time. Don't force him as he will just get frusterated and start fussing, then you could have a temper tantrum on your hands instead of just a little boy that won't eat by himself.

Answer 5

My son was the same way. I think it was mostly just cause I did it. Once he started feeding himself cheerios I let him feed himself his sandwiches and stuff. He just started showing interest in feeding himself with a spoon and fork. I agree with the one comment make sure he has his regular meals and the snacks and stuff just leave them. Once he realizes you won't do it he will start trying. Every child develops differently. The best way to look at it is not like he is going to be 20 and not know how to feed himself. That attitude helped me relax on a lot of things with my son and I stopped stressing about it and once I stopped being stressed he started doing things.

Answer 6

This might sound mean, but let him go hungry. After realizing that you aren't going to feed him and he's hungry enough, he'll get to feeding himself real fast.

Answer 7

Leave him hungry at the table. My kid wouldn't eat boiled eggs: it took me just two weeks of serving them for breakfast to make him start eating them.

Answer 8

Well put him in his high chair and let him go to town. You are going to have to refuse to help him. If you keep doing it for him you are enabling him. Also you can get him play cups and dishes and he can learn through play.

Answer 9

don't push it on him. it will come naturally and eventually he will do it. Most boys are stubborn like that.

Answer 10

Stop enabling him.