food on high chair tray

Renae - posted on 06/21/2010

I just looked at your profile and see your baby is only 7 months.

Its great that you are introducing finger foods so early, but dont be too concerned about it. He still has lots of time to learn that the stuff on his tray is food and he is supposed to eat it.

One of the most important parts of learning to eat is sensory development. He is still feeling the taste and texture of food by just putting it in his mouth even if he then spits it out so he is still getting the sensory development.

Keep offering (it wastes heaps of food I know!) and in a few months he will be gobbling it up.

Joanna - posted on 06/21/2010

Most information I've found said it can take up to 10 times trying a new food before a child will actually eat it. I don't know HOW many times I had to try and give my daughter honeydew (my favorite) before she finally ate it - and loved it!

Stacey - posted on 06/21/2010

Just keep trying. Kids are fickle and also hesitant to try new things. Try presenting it in a different way or with something you know that he will eat. I have 5 kids and they have all been the same with food. They will like something one week and then not the next and then they like it again. The best advice I have I guess is to keep offering it if it is something you would really like him to eat and eventually you will succeed. Oh and don't stress or fuss that usually makes it worse!!

Stina - posted on 06/21/2010

My kids were more likely to try something new if they saw it come directly from my plate.

Sometimes, I steal a bite off of my 14 mo dd's tray and that's all it takes for her to regain interest in actually eating her food.

I also try to put only a little bit on her tray at a time so she has less ammo and is more likely to eat it if she's hungry. When she starts chucking it, I take her tray away.

Dawn - posted on 06/21/2010

I have tried that it just seems like he's uninterested in the whole idea

Christina - posted on 06/21/2010

My daughter does this sometimes, even with food she likes. She has her own set of dishes, including silverware and cups. Sometimes she just wants to play with it and other times she's just trying to get attention.
Have you tried just giving him food and doing something else? Not exactly ignoring him, but not acknowledging that he's throwing food on the floor. It might be that he sees it gets you riled up and he finds it funny. Therefore he will continue doing it. My daughter's two and she still does that, does things that get me irritated just so she can laugh at me. You might try that and see if it helps the situation.
Also, him having his own dishes and knowing that no one else will use them might help, too. My daughter loves eating off her own plates with her own fork or spoon, and she ends up eating close to a full meal rather than a snack. she also enjoys it when I show her how to make a mess with her food, like mixing new things with something she likes. It helps a lot.
Good luck!