Feeding time a real NIGHTMARE

Hi there! Anyone can help me with this topic? I'll take any suggestion...

For a week now, I've been trying to get Sarah & Samuel to feed themself and it's very hard. I give them a spoon each and keep 2 for me.

Sarah holds hers, but then, she puts her hands in the bowl and rub it all over her face Also, since I don't blend their food anymore, she'll chew and chew for ages until the food becomes hard and stuck it in her cheek. But I do cut the meat very thin and mash the veg for her... What else can I do???

Samuel, on the other hand, will eat anything as long as he doesn't have to dirty his hand. He won't even hold his bottle by himself (only biscuits, bread and cereal bars). He'll just stare at his bowl and cry for ages until I feed him.

They are almost 17 months old. Should they be able to eat by themselves at this age?

[mumzy]

Sounds like a tricky situation having not one but TWO to figure through this stage.
Just be patient I would say. All children develop at different rates and stages and what is RIGHT for them, so don't let it stress you.

I don't have twins but with a 1yr old and 3 yr old meal times are crazy sometimes too.....one is trying to be independent with a result of a huge mess everywhere and one is jealous that he isn't a baby and wants to be fed sometimes too.

Thumbs up to you no matter what way they end up with food in their mouth. By the time they are 18 we'll be reminiscing the days we wished they could do it all for themselves

[Kelly W]

My boys are 17 months and they don't feed themselves either so don't stress. Neither do any of the toddlers in my mums group around the same age.

for breakfast I feed them via a spoon and if they like they take the spoon and feed themselves then give it back to me to refill. Lunch is finger food that they feed themselves. Tea is on a spoon fed by me.

Thanks girls!

Samuel is now playing with the fork and looking at his sister putting food in her mouth. That's a good start

DONT LET THEM FEED THEMSELVES!!!!!!

hehe

I did the STUPID thing of letting my two start to feed themselves at about 18 months and there eating went down hill from there. Right up until then they would eat anything and everything I would put in their mouth. When they started to feed themselves that totally stopped and they became really fussy and wouldnt eat anything, now nearly 3 they are shocking eaters.

Put off letting them feed themselves for as long as you can. Even if it is just their dinner feed so you can get a decent amount of veg into them.

But let them feed themselves sandwiches, fruit, steamed veg, etc at lunch time.