As a general rule, I recommend that you (almost) always let your child serve themselves.
Because:
✔️It is an important part of learning to self-regulate one's appetite. This way, your child can control WHAT and HOW MUCH food is put on their plate. They can have control over their own food.
✔️Passing food around the table is a very important part of the process of becoming comfortable with (new) food. Because when food is passed around the table, the child will automatically look at the food, interact with it, smell it = experience it with their senses. These are important steps in getting to know food – and becoming comfortable with it.⠀
Transfer the food into smaller bowls/dishes/plates when serving it. This makes it easier for your child to pass the food around.
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Does your child empty the bowl?
Because yes, it happens that a child finds some food on the table extra delicious – and may be inclined to empty the bowl. Even if he/she cannot eat that much.⠀
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In these situations, it's a good idea to point out that everyone at the table should have the opportunity to taste. Therefore, in these situations, you can say: "Not anymore now – there has to be enough for all of us, honey." This is a good way to "slow down" your child from taking huge piles of food on their plate, which you know your child can't eat anyway.⠀
And you can always have seconds if you want ❤️
P.S. I recommend that your child starts practicing around 1 year of age – with help from mom/dad, of course.
P.S. I do not recommend letting your child serve themselves if, for example, you are serving soup and the child could burn themselves on the hot soup when pouring. In that case, you should, of course, help.
Best, Charlotte
