17.16: Learning to Self-Feed

With the introduction of solid foods, young children learn how to handle food and feed themselves. At six to seven months, infants can use their whole hand to pick up items (this is known as the palmer grasp). They can lift larger things, but picking up smaller pieces of food is difficult. At eight months, a child might use a pincer grasp, which uses fingers to pick up objects. After one, children slowly begin to use utensils to handle their food. Unbreakable dishes and cups are essential since very young children may play with them or throw them when they become bored with their food.

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