Hi all, Whenever i give my 16mths boy something to eat on his own to develop his habit of self feeding he just turns the plate upside down and he gets up to have a walk in the house. Plz. help me how to develop the habit to eat on his own. mimi replied. You can get him to eat finger foods on his own. There was a good post (as a reply) by Hetal on finger foods but i cd not locate it. Please try to find it, it was v useful.

You can start afresh by giving finger food to baby especially when he is hungry and u need few minutes to make his food ready. Babies refuse to wait for food, so at such times, he can start muching on something and thus try to feed himself.
Second thing u can try is, give him foood that he can eat when he is hungry. Dont feed him, be a little strict. Offer him something he can eat on his own and dont feed him. He will fuss a little but due to hunger might try to fill on his own.

Dont be too strict on this as he might just go the other way. Offer his fav stuff while experimenting so that one side is sure.

Thus start with little, and increase experiment graduallly depending on his acceptance.

Know ur kid, what he likes to eat, and offer finger food accordingly. As he learns to eat his fav food himself, gradually train him on all other kinds.

If u think he likes picking up tiny little things in the house and put in mouth, try giving him tiny little things to eat, if he likes sour give sour, if he likes sweet give sweet.

In later experiments, give him finger food with variety - color/taste/shape and he might be interested in trying out himself. Eat with him and make faces that its so tasty, get hubby to pretend along with u, and this might influence him.
Never force him. Have patience.

It also depends on children. My first kid was always fussy and my 2nd child likes to eat by herself. If we are eating, she comes to us and demands. So it depends on children also, dont be tensed.
Overall dont worry too much, take it easy and go as per child' s acceptance.

U can try homemade french fries, namkeen murmuras, carrots long and thick, cucumber, tomatoes, cheese slices, paneer slices, cheeselings (tiny cheese biscuits, they are called cheeselings in india), cake, boiled egg, tiny rice balls that ur child can eat - mix rice with ghee and salt and make balls .... my baby likes rice in plate, loves to mess and eat so let them do that ,spread big cloth below. Add spinach grated carrot cheese to omlette, or similarly u can cook with besan (called childa) or with sooji, dosa, idli, cookies, upma, poha, plain roti with ghee+salt or ghee+sugar.

I am not aware of what suits ur child so consult doctor before offerring him anything from my post. miruthula replied. hai,
ur son is not yet 1 and half and its too early yo expect him to eat on his own.. give him some time..
reg sleep.. make him to sleep in a bed and u just pat him for a while and leave him when he is half asleep.. once if he gets used to this, slow down the tapping.. by 2,6 i think he' ll sleep o his own/.. hope this helps..