finger food difficulties

We still haven't gotten the hang of finger food around here.
DH is in charge of it at dinner time with the girls. Nefeli hasn't developed a pincher grasp yet although if the food is placed in her mouth she can gum it and swallow. So what should we do with her? she's behind in her motor development but i don't want her to not figure out chewing on bigger pieces of food because she can't grasp it.
Iris just isn't getting the point of it all. Although she is able to pick up the food pieces she wont and keeps her mouth shut.
I know finger food isnt' meant to be fed to the babies but what should we do?
Another question i have is if it's ok to put small pieces of food in what I feed to them (like small banana pieces in oatmeal for example)?
Please help. I hate the idea we're behind on this

 

I am not any help because I still put the food in their mouths for them (I know...bad!). Seamus could do it if I let him but Nicholas picks it up and then waves it out of his hand. I need to give him more practice. I need to put it in his hand and then bring his hand to his mouth.

 

Nicole it's good to hear that i'm not the only one!!!
Good idea though to put food in hand and lead it to their mouth.
I keep telling myself everyone eventually figures this out.
Dh feeds them and says to them "i can just see it you'll be 25 and i'll have to come on your dates with you to feed you because it doesn't seem like you're ever going to figure this out!"
:lol:

 

Well, I am joining the group too!!!! Jacob is good about feeding himself. He like ravioli, cherrios, fruit, meat, mac and cheese and does a good job feeding himself. I do help him along at times by picking it up but, he likes to do it himself most days.

Now, my Noah, he is still 98% spoon fed. He gags and vomits at real textured foods. He does eat stage 3 baby food, baby yogurt. Table food that he does feed himself with is mac and cheese and sometimes ravioli. He will try cheerios and of course, cinnamon sticks.

It is funny.....Noah is walking but, is behind in the feeding himself department. Jacob can feed himself but, has not taken off from the furniture to walk on his own.

I am trying not to worry to much.....they will do what comes to them when they are ready.

 

Well, don't feel bad, I'm sure they will be able to feed themselves by the time they get to college. Just give it time and they will figure it out.

 

We're battling with finger food too. Strangely - my two are quite adept at picking up food and getting it into their mouth - it's just that they refuse to chew and try to swallow it whole...resulting in a lot of coughing and spitting up. We tried brocolli today - and what a disaster! I'm wondering if I need to leave the food in bigger pieces so that they have to chew it - I currently cut things into pea sized servings. I am just so paranoid about them choking - and I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing!

 

I would call your doc / nurse for reassurance. I am only saying this because my oldest basically did this at 8-9 months and my twins are seem to be on the same schedule. To me (but I may be wrong) 11 months sounds a little late. It may not be a reason for concern, but I would just check, KWIM? Right now, I feed them pieces with a fork too (pieces of bread, pieces of banana, etc.) but I give them pieces of wagon wheels (or a whole one), cheerios and puffs to practice. My girl seems slightly better and can do it quite often. My boy holds it in his fist ...

Again, I don't want to worry you, but I would double check and see what your doc says. My opinion is that you better catch things quickly, rather than late.

 

Do you sit with them and eat while they are eating? Seeing what you do helps a lot. And just keep plugging away, they really do eventually get it. Practice makes perfect.

It made a world of difference for my girls when we all sat down and ate dinner together every night.