ANOTHER problem: feeding himself

[Littledragon]

If it's not one thing with this kid, it's another. Good lord lol

Okay, so this little boy is now 14 months old and he has decided he will no longer feed himself. It's been a while that I've noticed him not eating - stopped picking up his fruit, stopped picking up his cheese - I realized he won't pick anything up that is slippery or mushy. It's been a few weeks, and I've mentioned it to mom and dad and they just keep saying "maybe he's not hungry" or "he just likes to graze". He is 82 cm tall and 19 pounds! He is SO thin is makes me sad. He's not scarry skinny, like he's not being neglected, but he just won't eat. He's still eating pureed food at home, which I find rather funny.

Anyways, I thought the other day, that perhaps it was bc he didn't want to feed himself. Since he eats a lot of apple sauce and pureed veggies (mom says these are his favourite foods) he's being fed a lot. Well, I have four babies, and the last thing I am willing to do is feed him when he is MORE than capable of feeding himself. I mean, it's not like he never learned, he's just decided he's not going to do it.

Today, I tested it just to be sure. I was feeding them alphagehttis (too friggen messy to let them feed themselves lol) and he was so hungry he was getting impatient between bites. Then I put a spoonful on his tray and he didn't even look at it, just looked at the bowl I was holding. I dumped the rest of it on his tray (where there was also cut up strawberries, kiwi and ham) and he didn't even TOUCH IT. I give him milk usually at the end, and I find SOMETIMES he eats more once he has his milk but he didn't even touch his food. He just wants to be fed and fill up on milk. It's like he's regressing. WHY?? Mom is pregnant, about 24 weeks, do you think he senses it?

Anyways, next week I have a 2.5 year old and an 11 month old starting and I AM NOT going to be able to feed this kid. What has been happening, and will continue to happen, is that he doesn't eat, wastes all my food and then cries for the rest of the afternoon.

WHAT DO I DO?!?!?!

I put an ad up to replace the kid, but now I'm a little scared my son will be sad - my son is 11 months and the kid's been here since he was 8 months. He's his first friend lol

Anyways, what do I do in the mean time so I don't have to deal with an afternoon of crying and so the poor thing doesn't starve all day?

[Skysue]

Make small bite sized finger foods that are not messy. My little on hated to get her hands dirty at that age, perhaps thats all it is!

[Littledragon]

They are small bite sized finger foods. They're super small, not hard to pick up. He won't even pick up his cereals.

[Crayola kiddies]

I have a 14 month old also and she will eat a bit with her hands but it depends on what it is ..... She can eat a ton if I feed her but only eats a little if I don't and really it doesn't take that long to feed do I do it once she has stopped eating on her own .... Although the rest of my kids are all 2 and over so it's not an inconvenience and I'd rather feed her and thrn she will gave a good 2.5 hour nap then listen to her scream and if your other ones are feeding themselves then why not? and maybe the 11 month old starting next week will self feed. Good luck

[DaycareLulu]

Is this the same kid who came with a cookie in the morning?

[Inspired by Reggio]

I would put his things in a bowl /plate with a spoon/spork and let him try feeding himself that way ~ some kids are just VERY sensory challenged and do not like the feel of 'slip/slime/rough' on their hands .... see if he will eat that way.

[Littledragon]

Is this the same kid who came with a cookie in the morning?

lol yup! The parents and I don't really see eye to eye on how to raise this kid apparently. He doesn't have any good habits at home. And his dad has been gone and his mom is VERY indulgeant, so today has been hell to say the least...

[Littledragon]

I would put his things in a bowl /plate with a spoon/spork and let him try feeding himself that way ~ some kids are just VERY sensory challenged and do not like the feel of 'slip/slime/rough' on their hands .... see if he will eat that way.

that's a good idea!! i will try that. i don't know why I didn't think of that before. I've been giving my son a spoon/fork with his supper to try and teach him, maybe ill do it with lunch too thank you

[playfelt]

If you are feeding all of the other children and he is being fed at home he just assumes this is what is done.

As far as the pregnancy goes mom could be just getting tired and feeding him even more than before just to avoid the mess and it does go faster to shovel the food in than let them do it themselves. It is long term that this isn't a good idea.

Just make him wait. Give him pieces of food (no milk) on his tray and then feed the babies and then give them their milk or some fingerfood - cereal if possible or a toy if not. Then feed the 14 month old. If he gets tired of waiting he may feed himself. The goal is that over time he learns that his life is more fun if he feeds himself and if not then at least you are doing it on your time frame and not his.

By 18 months then it is time for heart to heart with parents that enough is enough and child needs to be given responsibility for eating at home too.

[Play and Learn]

I would put his things in a bowl /plate with a spoon/spork and let him try feeding himself that way ~ some kids are just VERY sensory challenged and do not like the feel of 'slip/slime/rough' on their hands .... see if he will eat that way.

Same here. I will help if need be (and if I'm free to do so), but if you give him a spoon/fork it might encourage him to eat. I just tell the kids to stab their food - I show them how, and then they work on it!