do you feed finger foods or let them self-feed?

Do you feed finger foods or let them self-feed? They don't seem to eat very much when I let them self-feed but I don't want them to get used to me feeding them finger foods - I really want them to do it by themselves. Should I feed them to make sure they get enough or let them do it?

 

Do you feed finger foods or let them self-feed? They don't seem to eat very much when I let them self-feed but I don't want them to get used to me feeding them finger foods - I really want them to do it by themselves. Should I feed them to make sure they get enough or let them do it?

 

Mine won't self feed yet, but I am interested to hear what everyone else says!

 

I usually let them self feed unless I'm introducing a snack they arent familiar with, than I'll feed it to them and let them take over. Kaeden is much better at self feeding than Brooklyn

ETA: I'm talking just finger foods, I still have to spoon feed them their baby food. Brooklyn is really interested in her spoon, Kaeden not so much

 

I do half and half - usually give them something they can handle by themselves well and something that they need a little help w/. For example, for breakfast today, they had whole wheat toast and fresh peaches. I broke up the toast in little pieces and let them 'try' to feed themselves, and diced up the fresh peaches, which I fed to them, since peaches are still a little slippery for their hands...

 

Mine mostly self feed. If they don't seem to be getting enough I will put some in their mouths. But DD is a pro, DS only gets his mouth about 1/2 the time.

 

I did a lot of the feeding when they first started trying finger foods. I would say by about 9 months they were feeding themselves for the most part. Slippery things like fruit took longer for them to feed to themselves than easy things like crackers and puffs. Let them do as much as you can, since that's how they learn!

 

We're about half and half at this point. I always let them try, but meals would take about 2 hours each if I let them self-feed every last bite they wanted. Plus they have trouble with slippery stuff still.

Lately they've really wanted to put their own fork in their mouths. So we stab the veggie or pasta they are eating, then give them the fork so they can do it...that makes for a much longer meal too.

 

For finger food I would only let them self-feed. That's the whole point of finger food. If they are not ready to self-feed, just stick with purees.

 

I put some on their tray to let them practice picking it up and feed themselves AND I also feed them while they are doing it to ensure they are getting enough to eat.

 

LOVE this thread...so, I'll hijak a bit w/a question of my own...

Do you put the finger foods on the tray one piece at a time? Joe will scoop ALL the food off his tray and try and shove it in his mouth all at once. Advice on how to get him to slow down?

He's always been a frantic eater. I swear his refulx is at least 50% self-inflicted from gulping/eating so fast.