Food refusal may be due to your child not being hungry, or they may be filling up on too much milk or fruit juice, or picking at food with little nutritional value. They are also not growing as fast as in the earlier months. They may 'play' with their food - try to ignore this and if persistent, remove the food and take your child away from the table. Encourage self-feeding as your child may be trying to exert some independence. Children are known to change their food preferences from one day to the next, so continue to offer foods that have previously been refused. Guide to Picky Eaters>
Babies 9-12 months
Your baby's developing fine motor or physical skills mean that he or she can now grasp and hold on to small objects, making finger food an ideal option for baby in this period. However, as baby's motor skills improve, you need to make sure that small objects around the house that baby could choke on are kept out of harm's way.
By 10 months, your baby is able to relate to objects. This means that they will reach for food and utensils, as well as items beyond their reach. You will see the first signs of independence at feeding time, with baby starting to insist on holding the spoon and pushing it around the plate. More teeth make for improved chewing, and your baby will start to understand words such as "no" and "bye bye".
As your baby nears the end of his or her first year, they will be able to
drink from a cup without help, and may be able to feed themselves with a spoon,
although not always successfully! If a baby's desire to feed itself means that
more food is ending up on the floor than in their stomach, try giving them a
teaspoon to hold while you spoon the food in. That way your baby feels like
they are joining in, and you can be sure that they are getting the food they
need.
Read about:
Karicare for your
9-12 month old - follow-on formulas with Omega 3 and 6>
Feeding guide for 9-12 months
- extending nutritional experiences>
Finger food for 9-12
month ideas - healthy, enjoyable suggestions>
