Question:"My nine-month-old can pick up the finger foods that I give him, but they don't seem to make it to his mouth — he just squishes them with his fingers. How can I encourage him?"
Feeding the average nine-month-old can be a frustrating experience for parties on both sides of the high chair. Frustrating for you because there's more squishing, squashing, and smashing of finger foods than eating; frustrating for your baby because you're pushing him to eat when all he really wants to do is squish, squash, and smash.
Instead of hovering over the high chair, sit back and try to relax. At this age, mealtimes aren't only for nourishment; they're for exploring and discovering as well. Just as he does in the bathtub and sandbox, during mealtime your baby is learning about cause and effect, textures, and temperature differences.
Expect this mealtime mayhem (and your need for paper towels by the case) to continue over the next few months. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to encourage your baby to eat — and not just play with — his finger foods:
- Keep portions small. Try not to offer more than two or three finger foods at a time — or too large a serving of any item. Babies can be easily overwhelmed by too many choices.
- Remain neutral. Babies are natural-born performers. If you respond by laughing at or criticizing his antics in the high chair, you're likely to encourage more of the same. Instead of responding, try to act like there's nothing unusual about what he's doing with his food (there isn't). Chances are, he'll surprise you one day by actually shoving it into his mouth and chewing.
- Sneak some food in. While your baby is busy pulverizing that diced banana, take a pea-sized piece of it and put it into his mouth. He'll be eating (which will keep you happy) and he'll be playing (which will keep him happy), and he might begin to realize that a banana is not only fun to smash but also tastes good. No force-feeding if he resists, though. It's important that the high chair doesn't become a battleground.
- Know when to call it quits. Remember this fact: Your son will eat when he's hungry. Healthy babies are smart enough not to starve. (Talk to your baby's doctor if you have any concerns about his health.) If you find mealtime has degenerated into all play and no eating, it's time to call it a meal. Your son just isn't hungry anymore.