I think you should place the finger food in front of him and go about your duties whilst still being able to watch him. Pretend it’s no big deal and hopefully he will be hungry enough to start eating by himself.

Just make him part of the table, and I can assure you, if he is hungry he will eat! Perhaps make a big deal of a grown up chair (even if he stands)

I sit my son in his high chair in the dining area and put the food in front of him and walk away into the kitchen, once he doesnt have my attention he starts to eat and i can still see him.

My daughter is 16 months and will feed herself finger foods but has shown no interest in using a spoon. This is good and bad – no mess but it can be a struggle to get her to take that first bite from the spoon. I am resigned to wait it out until she shows an interest in feeding herself.

I’m glad to hear that he’s started to feed himself his finger foods. We sometimes have ‘picnics’ on the living room floor or when I’m being lazy – in front of the tv.

i would wait it out and keep encouraging

My 3rd child is 2 and a half and I still feed him excluding most finger foods. It turns out he doesn’t like the mess on his face. He will feed himself sandwiches, biscuits, hard fruits ect but won’t do banana, yogurt, stew, cereal ect. Give it time and your baby will get the hang of feeding himself, until then enjoy the extra bonding time as soon he won’t need your help at all.

my daughter is 2 and still refuses to feed herself most days

Show him how to eat his finger foods. My son 2,5 years and I still need to feed him too excluding finger foods or others snacks.

Thanks everyone for their great answers, we are getting their. He’s now eating his finger foods it’s just he wants to be out of his high chair and moving around while eating them.

You can lead by example. Show him what you want him to do. Eat the same food as him with your fingers too. Also, you can just leave the food for him and if and when he’s really, really hungry he’ll eat it eventually.

try to find what their favourite is – my little one loved cheese so I’d leave some cheese and she would always pick it up to eat. similarly rusks or biscuits and then she was back into feeding herself finger foods again.

My daughter did the same thing, if she didnt feed it to herself then she didnt get to eat it…lol..put his favourite food infront of him and walk away.

I try to help my boy feed himself to get him use to it, but also feed him most of his meal so that he is eating enough. Don’t worry too much soon enough your kid will want to put everything in their mouth.

I wouldn’t stress kids do everything differently. Just pop the food I front of him and you pretend to start eating it. He might get a little competitive and try and take his turn or try and eat it himself. He will get there

Put him in his seat and leave the food in front of him. If he throws it on the floor pick it up and throw it out, and then put him out of his chair and let him do his own thing. If he is indicating that he wants your food or the food in the bin let him have another go. Put him in his chair with some food and see if he learns that if he wants it he must put it in his mouth himself. (limit the amount of finger food in front of him as you don;t want to be cleaning up huge amounts) Just refuse to feed him. He will not stave he is just testing you.

i wouldn’t worry too much, my daughter did the same thing until she was “a big girl”

He will get there in time.
One day you will wonder where your baby went and you will look back and wish that you could feed him again. Most likely it will happen the day he gets annoyed with you for chopping up the food on his plate and he tells you that you dont have to treat him like a baby and that he can cut his own food thank you.

I wouldn’t be to anxious about it. Sone kids are very independent others less so. My three year old can feed himself but loves me to feed him regularly. It’s their love language they feel loved because you’re doing it for them. Just know your child watch for his cues and work with him. Continue to allow him opportunities but most of all let him know you love him.

Patience and perseverance are the key. If your bubba is getting frustrated with too many options, just place one piece of food that they love in front of them. They will get frustrated, but give them a chance before jumping in to feed them. Developing the skills to pick up the food, and not just push it around, takes time. And don’t get frustrated when they throw it on the floor. Pick it up, say no, then put another piece in front of them. Good luck!

Leave him with his bowl and a spoon or fork and let him make a mess! If he is hungry he will go for it. Just make sure you have a messy mat or easy clean floor under his high chair