Why Letting Babies Self Feed is Crucial for Development

Mar 05, 2024

Did you know that babies as young as 6 months can develop their self confidence by feeding themselves? Self-feeding allows your little one to develop a sense of control, master important skills, solve problems, achieve milestones, and receive support, all of which contribute to building their self-confidence.

Here are 5 top reasons why teaching your child to self-feed will set them up for future success

1. DEVELOPMENT OF FINE MOTOR SKILLS

When babies engage in self-feeding activities, like picking small pieces of fruits and vegetables using their hands and fingers or handling utensils, they improve fine motor skills and coordination.

In addition, self-feeding activities also help strengthen the muscles in their hands and fingers.

2. BUILDS INDEPENDANCE

Letting your babies to feed themselves nurtures independence. They move food around their bowl/plate by themselves, feel the texture, and slowly learn to bring it to their mouth using utensils or their hands. By letting your baby lead the way, they have a sense of control and it promotes a “can-do” mindset.

3. INSTILLS CONFIDENCE

Feeding times are the perfect chance to build confidence in your child. As they progress into successful self-feeding, they build a sense of accomplishment. This accomplishment boosts their confidence in trying new things.

4. SENSORY EXPLORATION

Babies use their senses, such as touch, taste, sight, and smell, to learn about the world around them. When babies are allowed to self-feed, they are able to challenge their sensory processing skills, as they taste, touch, and smell their food. For example, a soft, ripe papaya might feel different from a firmer piece of cheese. This helps to develop their sense of touch.

5. DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS

As babies learns to eat independently, you will often notice them mimicking your actions, grabbing for your utensils, or attempting to take food off your plate. As the parent sits with the child during meal times, various interactions. for example: passing food back and forth, helps the baby practice language skills and appropriate behavior to develop social skills.

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