Babies eat instinctively, sucking from the breast or bottle. As children get older, their diets become more and more varied, and they want to eat alone, but this is not always an easily acquired skill. Here's how you can help your child learn.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Helping Baby Eat with Hands
Step 1. Pay attention to your child's desire to feed himself
Watch your baby to see if he tries to take food with his hands, which is the first technique babies learn to feed themselves. It could happen before the year of life, around 8-9 months. You may notice that the child tries to grab food (or other objects!) First with his whole hand, then only with his fingers: this is a sign that he is ready to learn to eat on his own.
The child's ability to grasp small objects with the thumb and forefinger is very important for being able to feed themselves effectively. Most babies develop this skill between seven and eleven months of age
Step 2. Give the child safe foods to eat with their hands
Around the year of life he starts giving small bites of food that is easy to chew and swallow, food that melts easily in the mouth. Proceeding towards 2-3 years add various types of food. Here are some suggestions:
- low sugar cereals, especially those in circles or puffs
- pieces of ripe, soft fruit such as banana, mango, peach or watermelon
- bits of cooked, fluffy vegetables such as carrots, peas, or sweet potatoes
- diced tofu
- pasta
- pieces of bread
- bits of cheese
Step 3. Practice with the child
Meals are an opportunity to interact with the child and help him, so don't just put a plate of food in front of him. Sit down too, talk about the new food, and take small pieces to stimulate the child's instinct to grasp with thumb and forefinger. Take the child's hand with yours and show him how.
Step 4. Be careful that the food does not go the wrong way
You must always be there when the baby is learning to eat with their hands. Give it small pieces, but not so small that they can be swallowed without chewing.
Step 5. Don't worry about dirt
Babies and young children get dirty when they are learning to eat. Use bibs and try to reduce the problem by removing rugs or putting a protective sheet under the baby's high chair.
Step 6. Praise the child
Let him know that it is good to feed alone and that you are very proud of it.
Part 2 of 4: Teaching your child to eat with a spoon
Step 1. Look for signs that your child is ready
If the child already knows how to eat using his hands and has started taking the spoon out of your hands during meals, he is probably ready to eat himself with the spoon.
Step 2. Choose the right spoon
More than a large spoon, it's best to use one that's more the size of a teaspoon at first. Buy baby spoons, which are light, rounded and usually plastic.
Step 3. Start with two spoons
One for you and one for the baby. Feed the baby as you always do, and he can start trying on his own too.
Don't worry if at first your child uses the spoon to tap on the plate or shelf of the high chair or to throw food. It is not easy to eat alone, but eventually the child will understand how to do it
Step 4. Teach the child how to use the spoon
Show him how to hold it, then put your hand on his and show him. Slowly direct the spoon to the baby's mouth.
As your child learns you can start using two bowls. You can feed the baby by taking food from one of the bowls, while he can use the other, which will put a small amount of food in
Step 5. Choose your foods well
Start with denser foods that don't fall off the spoon (more liquid foods would fall off the spoon before the baby can get them to his mouth), such as yogurt or cottage cheese. Then move on to less dense foods like soups.
Step 6. Lead by example
Eat when the child eats: meals with the whole family are useful for teaching him to eat alone, to communicate, and to behave politely.
Step 7. Praise the child
Let him know that you are proud of his growing independence.
Part 3 of 4: Teaching Your Child to Eat with a Fork
Step 1. Wait for the baby to be ready
It is generally best to wait until the child has a firm grip and is already able to use the spoon well enough. Most babies are ready around 15-18 months.
Step 2. Choose the suitable fork
Start with forks for small children, with rounded and light tips, which are both safe and easy to use.
Step 3. Start with foods that are easy to skewer with a fork
Offer chunks of food large enough to be skewered with a fork and brought to your mouth: cheese cubes, cooked vegetables, meat, and pasta. Avoid foods that are too small, crumble, or slippery: it is better not to make the child more nervous than necessary.
Step 4. Help the child use the fork
At first, you may need to hold the baby's hand and show him how to pick up and lift food with a fork.
Step 5. Encourage the use of the fork
When your baby is about two years old, you can start encouraging him, but don't worry if he still wants to take food with his hands. You can try again when she goes to kindergarten.
Step 6. Praise the child
Let him know that you are proud of his new skills.
Part 4 of 4: Helping Your Child Drink Alone
Step 1. Let the little baby drink from the bottle by himself
Even before the age of 2-3 you can let the baby hold the bottle by himself and drink, so he will get ready to drink from a glass.
Step 2. Give him a capped cup
Most babies can start drinking from a cup around one year of age. Make his life easier by buying the special cup with a lid that prevents too much water from spilling and looks a bit like a bottle.
Keep in mind that even using a capped cup your baby is likely to wreak havoc. Don't worry, it's part of the learning process
Step 3. Remove the cap
When the child has learned to drink from the cup with the lid, you can remove the lid. Fill the cup only halfway - better to have to fill it several times than to risk the child overturning it when it is full.
Step 4. Help the child when needed
The first few times you can make it easier for him by placing his hand on his and holding the cup still, so that he understands the movement to do.
Advice
- Disorder is inevitable. Accept that it is normal for the baby to spill liquids and food all over the place at this point in development while trying to eat alone.
- Let the child decide. Learning will happen more peacefully if you don't try to force it.
