Nine month old baby not self feeding yet??

Question

My son hasnt learned how to self feed yet. He crawls all over the house n picks up small things but he doesnt put them in his mouth. My mom n everyone else is amazed by it but im concerned that he SHOULD be putting things in his mouth in order for him to learn how to feed himself.

Are there some methods I could use to teach him or am i just getting worried for no reason?

As u can tell im a first-time mom! =)

Answer 1

This is absolutely normal. Some babies develop later, while other develop quickly. Your child needs an environment that supports his fine motor skills. You should give him balls and toys to play with on the floor. Sit with him and show him what yuo do with thm. Children model and copy/mimic what an adult does, this is how they learn. First you need to realize you are doing a great job as a parent, and don't worry about this. It will happen when he is ready for it to happen. This is the same for walking, and potty training. Just so you know this is true, there are parents that breast feed their child until they are almost 5! I know that is crazy right, but it's true. So when he is ready, he will do it. You prove how much you care for your child though with this question. Just keep playing with him, and supporting him. He will eventually start to feed himself..Start with the "melt in your mouth" foods to give him. At walmart there is tubs of fruit and vegetable tasting melt in your mouth foods. They are actually pretty tasty! But they are really safe for him. Good luck!

Answer 2

If he can put random objects in his mouth he can self feed. Put him in his high chair with food he can grab and eat at the same time everyday until he's used to this routine. But remember kids do things when they are ready. But he should NOT be learning to put random objects in his mouth, this is a choking hazard not to mention dirty!!

Answer 3

Try putting him in his high chair with a variety of safe foods and let him play eventually he will get the hang of it. My son didn't start until around 10 months and now I can't keep stuff out of his mouth.

Answer 4

There is no set time that a baby starts to feed himself, some just do this later than others. There is no need to worry, just give your son some time.
And congrats on being a mom! =)

Answer 5

please, don't encourage him to put random objects in his mouth... a good finger food to start with is the Gerber fruit & veggie puff cereal (star shaped, perfect for picking up) my daughter learned on these, & there are many flavors & she loves about all of them.... the bonus, it's dry cereal (designed to dissolve quickly once in the mouth) so it doesn't make a mess! well, you may have to pick a bunch of them up off the floor, but.... put him in his highchair & give him a small handful of these, that way he can experiment (in a clean way) & once he gets a taste, he'll love em & be more inclined to pick up his own food (it didn't take my daughter long, now she won't accept anything from me, she wants to do it all herself) just watch carefully, i had to break my little girl from trying to put too many in her mouth at once after she learned how! good luck

Answer 6

I would think if you put in his high chair with finger foods and just let him sit and play until he figures it out. If he gets hungry enough he will eat, if he doesn't I would think that would be good information to have for his pediatrician. My kids didn't put stuff in their mouth except food.......I think by now he should be feeding himself, but if you do it for him he may not have the incentive....so let him get hungry....just make sure he knows it is food....maybe put the first one in his mouth....you could see if he will feed you too.

Good luck hun, thats a tough one!

Answer 7

You can pretty much give him whatever you are eating. My son likes cut up steamed carrots, steamed broccoli, soft peas, avocado, banana, pieces of toasted bread, blueberries, chicken/turkey cut up into small pieces, vegetable crackers(very small pieces), boiled peeled potatoes mashed up, baby yogurt, and so on. I was sneaky the other night and gave him a couple of french fries lol. As long as he can chew/gum it's fine to eat. I give him as much as he wants to eat.

Answer 8

Honey, be thankful he's not shoving everything in his mouth. They do that as a way to explore their world, he is obviously content with his world as it is, trust me, soon enough everything will go into his mouth.