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Feeding themselves - when does it get less messy?!
in Baby
DD has given up on purees so I suppose now could be classed as BLW, she's 8.5 months and has always done well with finger foods and is such an independant thing she doesn't like being spoonfed.
So, my question is now that she's completely feeding herself, when does it get less messy? When does more food get consumed rather than fall onto her chair?! Just want to make sure she's still getting the nutrition she needs really.
Thanks x
So, my question is now that she's completely feeding herself, when does it get less messy? When does more food get consumed rather than fall onto her chair?! Just want to make sure she's still getting the nutrition she needs really.
Thanks x
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Replies
the skills you are teaching the baby, even with the mess, will be good for her. also, would she be less likely to have issues with food if she is allowed to try everything her own way and see food not as a punishment or a battle area is it can be for some parents? just dont get a new carpet for a while
hth
I've asked OH to make sure he grabs all the free London papers he can and I am going to just cover the floor with these at every meal so I can just pick the whole lot up after as the mammoth clean up after every meal is driving me crazy!
I'm sure this hot weather doesn't help as she doesn't like to eat as much when it's hot.
Baby B lol I've been doing the same but it seems to even get in evert little part of her highchair! Yuck!! Then I feel like I have to give her a shake down when she's finished before putting her on the floor !!
I'm sure, like with anything, it'll get better. It does make things easier from my point of view not having to feed her, just need new finger food ideas now lol!!!
Summer - yeah they're fab!!!! Thanks to Baby B's recommendation!!
xx
As for him getting the hang of it, it took about 2 weeks before more food went into his mouth than on the floor. Now there are meals where he makes barely no mess at all, especially if its somethinhg he loves
Trust in Ava, she will eat what she needs there clever these babies
xxx
dylansmummy - thanks huni, hopefully won't have too long to wait then before she eats more then. She's soooo active then I know she'll need the calories to burn off too but I'll keep perservering with new things every day too - it's lots of fun and she seems to be really enjoying feeding herself, picking up things and trying them. Hopefully I won't even notice the mess in another week hahaha!! xx
Oh and cornflakes stuck to the floor are really hard to get off!!!!! But I think he makes less mess eating with his hands than I would, I certainly couldn't eat cornflakes, yogurt, weetabix and porridge with my hands but he seems to manage it. I wish he'd figure out loading a spoon but that seems to be taking longer although I always give him one and he plays with it just doesnt use it!
You will probably find one day you will give her something and it will just disappear and you will be suprised. Give Dylan mash potato and he's like a human garbage bin! She will be getting enough calories hun I promise she would be crying in hunger and no where near as active otherwise, if you are worried try offering her more milk as its still supposed to be there main source of nutrition but it sounds like she's doing brilliantly!
Best bit i've found is going out for meals as you can pull off vegetables and other bits from your meal and eat as a family. Means you can enjoy a warm meal and you eat as a family which is the nicest thing ever. Then I just clear up the mess he's left on the floor!
Enjoy xxxx
Yea that's the thing, it'll be so much nicer when we go out as a family for her to eat what we're having. She did love her purees mind but think she prefers the independance of doing it herself, don't blame her!
I'm going to put lots of newspaper down today lol, I've already hoovered once so another couple of times won't harm hahaha!!!
Thanks Hun, hope you & Dylan are doing good xx
I know what you mean about eating less ... but H is still on 4 bottles a day and putting on the same amount of weight so I'm trying not to worry about it too much. Some days I'll get him out of his highchair and pretty much his whole dinner will be in his seat - other times there will be nothing and I keep looking to find where he has hidden it all when really he has eaten it ... !
Bless him, I was hoping it was just because she doesn't have any teeth as to why she doesn't consume as much but H has a few now doesn't he so it can't be that?! Well it's not really affecting her sleep
anyway which I'm sure if she was hungry I'd be the 1st to know about it xx
I know it's hard but try not to worry too much about the less food thing. I reckon pureed food looks like more than it actually is anyway (I know if I puree just one carrot it makes a surprising number of icecubes!) so she might not be eating much less than before. Beth seems like she is eating less but then she's still sleeping through so fingers crossed.
She polished off the meatballs I made for her tonight, I was very impressed! I made them with grated courgette & onion with some mixed herbs in. Then did her some mini pasta shells (all I had in pasta wise) and she did really well with them too, her pincer grip is fab!
I laid down lots of newspaper to so was easy to clean up - just gave her a shake over the paper which she found hilarious!! x
Toby does indeed love Dylans meal times, he lays and just waits as he knows Dylan is only too happy to share without him getting a telling off for begging im just glad hubby takes him running or id have a fat dog!!!!
Im glad shes getting the hang of it hun it must put your mind at rest xxxx
xx
I just use napkins to pick up the bits on the floor etc at the end
Enjoy xxx
Do you just give Dylan bits of yours or order him something just for him? xx
Only other issue ive found is a lot of restaurants highchairs dont have a tray attached but I just pull him up to the table and he's been fine with his plate on table with mine. But its really good fun, we've eaten in italian restaurants, cafes, nandos subways and not had any issues only problem ive ever had is some old ladies giving me filthy looks in m&s as I think they thought he was too young to b eating himself/ eating lumps and was making a mess so I should spoon feed him but he was enjoying his tomato or i'd of thrown it at them and told them to cheer up