how to teach 1 year old to self feed?

Laura Zoey - posted on 07/03/2012

I don't teach independence, my kids do it when they're ready. If anything I'd rather they know they can't be independent. They will need me and my input in their lives for almost 2 decades, so I don't want to push them into independence. Its a pet peeve of mine how people are always saying babies need to be taught independence. I just don't get it. They're completely helpless at this age, they can't be independent!
Obviously nature didn't intend on babies feeding themselves their milk.
Mine holds her own water cup just fine though. She -wants- her own independence in a lot of things, so I never encourage it more then she needs it.
Sorry for the mini rant, there's a lot of external input on this topic other then just this posting.

Ianina - posted on 07/03/2012

I don't think is about bottle feed babies or not. Is about teaching your kid how to be independent. Mines drink their milk, drop it and go to bed...so no

Laura Zoey - posted on 07/03/2012

Maybe it's different for formula fed babies but I notice when my baby nurses she gets lumper and floppies. She's very relaxed and in a 'zone' of sorts. I wouldn't imagine she would want to be holding up a bottle while she's trying to relax.
But it could be different, I've never fed an older baby a bottle before...

Karen - posted on 07/03/2012

RJ won't let me feed him Anything anymore. Even giving him a bite off of my fork, he has to take it off with his fingers and feed himself or he won't eat it. I agree with Ianina, no baby will starve himself on purpose. IF he is picking up other things, then he can feed himself too. Just leave his food on his tray and eat your meal next to him, showing him how it's done. He won't let himself go hungry for long. He may not like it at first and will try to get your attention by yelling or crying or something, but he will feed himself. RJ went through a short time of not wanting his hold his own bottle about a month ago even though he was holding it before that. I just put the bottle in his mouth and would not hold it. After a couple of minutes he would pick it up and feed himself, Yes I was still holding him and cuddling, I just don't believe in doing it for him when he can do it himself.

Laura Zoey - posted on 07/03/2012

I think it is really variable, like when babies learn to walk or talk etc. Fierna self fed at 4 months when she found a jellybean lol. She's always fed herself and refused to let me feed her.
But other kids do it at different times. Don't compare too much

Ianina - posted on 07/02/2012

Mines have been doing it since around 7-8 months old tho...

Alexandra - posted on 07/02/2012

keep trying, one year old is very young. sonner or later he will get a hold of it.

Stephenie - posted on 07/01/2012

My son is almost 14 months and just this past week started showing us that he self-feeds! It came out of nowhere, he will actually eat pretty much anything if he has his fork and spoon there. He also uses a straw now to drink, where that came from I have no idea! Anyway, I wouldn't worry just give him some time... it literally happened overnight that he decided he was a "big boy" and self-feeding.

Ianina - posted on 06/28/2012

I agree, if he can hold toys he is just being stubborn...keep leaving the food in the tray. No kid will starve on porpuse. When he sees that you wont feed him, he will eat on his own.
At 13 months old, they are testing bounderings (sp?)

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/20/2012

I'm sure it will just take time. Will he feed himself junk food? If you know he is capable of feeding himself I'd not worry about it. My son is 3 and he still prefers I feed him! My daughter is 1 and she absolutely refuses to let me put anything in her mouth. Totally opposite kids in that manner :) just keep feeding him and offering him o feed himself and I'm sure he will grow into it eventually.
You could also try cooking his favorite meals and then just not feeding him, placing one bite at a time on his tray. I've noticed that a full plate gets thrown but a few small pieces usually get eaten!