How to Teach a Baby to Self Feed

Similar to rolling over, sitting up, walking and talking, learning to self feed is another much anticipated milestone in a baby's first year. Keep the task of teaching your baby to self feed an enjoyable experience by using these suggestions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Child's spoon
• Child's plate
• Plastic mat
• High chair
• Bib

1. Buy baby friendly feeding utensils, especially spoons and plates once the baby is ready to begin self feeding at about 9 to 12 months. Feeding spoons and dishes are usually brightly colored and some are disposable which is ideal for traveling.
2. Prepare the area where you are teaching the baby to feed herself. Place the highchair on a plastic mat and choose a bib. Self feeding by infants is messy at first, so it's a good idea to make cleanup easier.
3. Place the child in the high chair and put his bib on securely. Prepare the food and place it on a dedicated plate to teach the child to identify feeding time. Typically finger foods such as infant crackers are a good place to start. Most major retailers carry baby foods that are appropriate for a child learning to self feed such as jars of fruits and vegetables or dried vegetables.
4. Begin the feeding by offering the child a spoonful of food and then offering the spoon to the child. If the baby takes the spoon from you as you try to feed, give her the spoon and use another one. Until she learns to completely feed herself, you need to feed the baby once she becomes frustrated with using the spoon.
5. Clean the feeding area and repeat the sessions whenever the baby is hungry. Eventually the baby becomes more proficient and there is less mess at the end of the meal.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient with the child because once the child masters self feeding it allows you more freedom.
• Give the child less food than you think he can eat to help him feel a sense of accomplishment.
• Don't feed the child pieces of food that are too large.
• Never force feed your child.