When do children typically feed themselves?

Children typically begin to feed themselves around 9 months of age, making this the correct answer. At this stage of development, infants are gaining greater control over their hand movements and coordination. They often start grasping small pieces of food, such as soft fruits or cooked vegetables, and using their fingers to bring food to their mouths. This self-feeding skill is part of their overall motor development and is also important for their independence and engagement during mealtimes.

During earlier stages, around 6 to 8 months, children are still developing their ability to sit up and may be mostly spoon-fed by caregivers. By 11 months, while many children are more proficient in feeding themselves, the milestone of initiating self-feeding is mostly achieved by 9 months, allowing them to practice and enhance their skills.

Understanding these timelines helps caregivers support the development of self-feeding skills at the appropriate age, recognizing that individual variations do exist.