Learning to self feed

After talking with some wives last week about our 2 years old toddler boy, I got to thinking that maybe I need to work a little more with Xavier on self feeding.

Xavier has been interested in self feeding for quite sometime since he was about 15 months old. He would be happy to scoop up handful of porridge or cereal out of the bowl and shove them into his mouth if I let him. His coordination just isn't there yet. Most of the time, if the spoon even makes it to her mouth, it's upside down or sideways

Lately, his motor skills / development improved drastically... the mess created is not compared previously so now I will let him sit on his chair and had dinner together with us.

 

He seems to enjoy a lot!

 

Our little conversation during dinner:
Me: time for dinner
X: NO!! Mama feed Xavier
Me: u big boy, u have to start feeding yourself
X: NO! NO!
Me: ok u can have ur dinner later then
X: I want to eat! and start feeding himself
Me: overjoyed and hurrahing and praising him
X: mummy no shouting and put his little finger on his mouth and said "shss shss"
Me: faint

 

My little boy has grown up!

My 16 months old

 

12 February 2013

 

Happy 16 months, Buddy!!!

 

 

Xavier turned 16 months yesterday!

He's a busy, sweet and happy boy who is becoming more like a little boy and not a baby anymore

He's getting smarter and cuter everyday... Heehee :)

I love when he gives me a BIG smile

 He smile so big that his eyes close and nose always crinkles

He's so adorable! 

 

Currently:

 

Speak alot more now - started saying "Choo-choo" and "Night Night" out of the blue a few days ago

Started to recongnise letters and can tell what letter "A, B, C and D" stand for

Will hum along when we sing alphabets song

when we sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" he will say star star

recongnise shapes - circle, square, rectangles, triangle star

In the midst of teaching him numbers and colours

He loves to engage with dogs... I mean big dogs!!!

He loves to hug and pat his stuffed animals and does nice things like pretend to feed them milk. He's such a sweet boy!

He loves playing with other kids

Love to explore new places, new toys, cars and even people. Love to see new things and walk around taking in new sights. I would say walking in new places is his favourite activity right now

taking pictures on my phone where he can see himself is the funniest thing ever!

Still learning to self feed.. very happy to be in control

 

Transition to toddler bed

Love his big boy mickey mouse tent bed

 

You're our very best friend and we love you so much! Mucks :)

Are you a Lefty???

Xavier is showing a preference to his left hand

He seems to have more coordination with his left

we noticed it when he starting self feeding himself

He seems to feed himself better when he is using his left hand

If he picks up something, fixing a puzzle or scribbling with his right hand

he usually will swap to his left so he can more accurate with making it do 

what he's trying to do with it.

Will he be a lefty?

We're both right handed... so we'll see!!! 

Lunch @ Ikea

Last weekend, we made a trip down to Ikea to have lunch and
also to get Xavier a children's table and chairs

We had meatballs and grill fish with steam vegetables
Oh mind, the meatballs were so yummy and juicy
even my little tot likes it!
The taste is alot better than Singapore!

Buddy enjoying his snack - broccoli, carrot and meatballs



 After our lunch, we brought Xavier to the children section to play the slide

Love sitting in the swivel chair 

This is the table set we bought 

but in the end we decided to return it cos buddy likes to rock on the chair 

So dangerous 

In the end, we assemble the little tikes adjust and draw table 
which I got it during the Thanksgiving sales 
So now, he will sit there to during his milk, reading and scribble time :)

Learning to self feed

Buddy has always had an independent streak in him

Lately, it's has been manifesting itself more and more

This week, it showed itself during meal time

He's been feeding himself finger foods for several months 

Cheerios, puff, pieces of fruits, cheese, chicken, 

squash, sweet potatoes etc

When we go out for lunches, I've started letting him hold

the fork or spoon himself. He loves that.

During mealtime, I will usually feed him but

this week, he wanted to do it himself

 

Self feeding can be frustrating for me

His food will winds up on the floor, covering his face, in the hair

pretty much every where you can imagine

After his mealtime, I will have to spend at least 15 mins clearing up his mess

ARGH!!!

 

Figuring out how to hold the spoon

 

Trying so hard to scoop up cheerios

 

He's frustrated but still give me a smile

 

Hand feed is much faster

 

Trying to lift up the bowl... hahaha! But can't

 

Try again

 

give up and focus on his food

 

Spoon feed avocado apple yogurt

Self feeding Finger Food

Buddy loves finger foods which he can pick up from the high chair tray and eat by himself

Breakfast - Organic whole grain waffle

Lunch - bite size banana

Snack time - gerber whole grain waffle wheel

First spoon feeding experience

For the past weeks, Buddy started to grab my spoon during mealtimes. Before he attempts to feed himself, I tried to give him a spoon to play during mealtimes. He would bang against the high chair or dropped it on the floor... I felt frustrated at times but I knew it's part of his learning process.

Buddy has not yet developed enough skills so I've to use two spoons during feeding time. Let him practice feeding himself with one spoon, while I get a few spoonfuls porridge in with another.