Hi Kavitha,

Sorry I am late as I was inactive for past few days. Hey thank you for asking this question especially to me, I am not very experienced I have twins who are only 6 months old. I am a member of an twin group most of the information I share with you all comes from my friends from the group. Here are few tips for your query:

First: The next time you are feeding him give him a spoon a too, tell him to imitate you. Children learn by watching so when he will see you putting food in his mouth by spoon tell him to use his spoon to do that.

Second I think he must be doing that, holding finger food like crackers, fruits etc. Encourage him at meal time too, give him a piece of roti to chew on his own or give him parantha/puri.

Thirdly don't worry for the mess, table manners can be learnt later as it is very important for him to take his feed. Make food as play time, let the child experiment on his own, that will mean sticking hands in food, messing the area etc. but don't worry for that let him learn.

Encourage the child when he has successfully put a spoon of food in his mouth clap and scream well done, that way he will know it’s a good thing and will repeat it. Teach him to say Please and Thank you.

Show him where his utensils are kept personalize them, tell him that this is his spoon, his plate, his cup, that way he will love his own things and will be eager to try food on them. I will suggest buy a new set for him to start with.

Encourage family meals, Once he is little capable of managing on his own, encourage family meals. All of you should be on the dining table and put his plate too that way he will feel important and a member and will love to eat.

Last but not the least, be patient, the whole teaching will take time, the child cannot learn overnight. You will have to be patient and consistent.

Best of Luck and do let me know how this is going...Take care...Neetu
Kavitha replied. Hi Neetu,
Thanx a lot for the suggestions. Though it was a late reply, it'll help me.
I;ll try ur suggestions & update u with the feedback.