Self-feeding -- How long does mealtime last?

My guys are just over 11 months now and one of them is starting to self-feed mostly table foods (the other is still definitely in the pureed food stage due to choking/vomiting issues with textures).

Anyway, how long does mealtime last for your self-feeders? And how to you "measure" portion size for self-feeders?

Thanks!

40+mom

 

My guys are just over 11 months now and one of them is starting to self-feed mostly table foods (the other is still definitely in the pureed food stage due to choking/vomiting issues with textures).

Anyway, how long does mealtime last for your self-feeders? And how to you "measure" portion size for self-feeders?

Thanks!

40+mom

 

I basically just let them eat until they don't seem to want anymore. The drawback is it can take awhile. I have one that is still eating a lot of purees because he won't eat anything else. He puts things in his mouth and then spits it back out, athough he will eat puffs, cheerios, toast, chicken nuggets. He'll eat something one day and then the next day spit it out. So he gets a combo of purees and table food. Emilie mostly gets table food. I would say it takes between 30-40 min. when they are feeding themselves, probably more like 30 unless they are being really slow.

 

My girls have been self-feeding table foods for about two and a half months now. When they first started and were just getting the hang of it mealtime took a long time - maybe 45 minutes start to finish. Once they got good at picking stuff up and started getting most of it in their mouths they got quicker. Now I would say meals take about 20-30 minutes, maybe a little bit longer if I let them play around with a spoon.

 

Same boat here....curious to see replies.

 

Brandon is an eater. Depending on what is on his plate as to how fast he gets it down. He love the little toddler ravolis by Gerber, and can wolf down a whole container in about 5 minutes. Usually though it takes him between 15-20 minutes to eat most of his meals. That said he has also been getting finger foods since he was 6mo and has been 100% table food since 8.5mo and has self fed all of it (with exception to rice dishes those just torment the dickens out of him).

 

Mine some times take an hour to eat a meal. Usually its around 30-45 minutes.

 

We take about 45 minutes to an hour with table foods. I combine feeding them and letting them self-feed. I just dump a bunch of food on thier tray and let them go at it. I throw a fork or finger-ful in everyonce in a while. They eat until they are full, or the food is gone,or I can't stand sitting in the kitchen feeding them any longer!