Is my son showing an interest in food?

[Shortstuff88]

For the past couple of days we've noticed that Elijah has been chewing on his lips or making chewing type motions whenever we're eating. He's 14 weeks tomorrow. Not sure if it's just a coincidence or could this be that he's just starting to show an interest in food by mimicking us? It's the first time he's ever done anything like this.
We aren't going to suddenly start weaning him before anyone says he's too young. Just wondering.

 

[staralfur]

He's probably interested in the act of you eating rather than your food.

My LO did the same thing when she was small but didn't actually take an interest in food until she was 8 months.

 

[Shortstuff88]

Makes sense. It is the cutest wee thing haha. He really concentrates when he's doing it bless him.

 

[Noodlebear]

Yeah I was gonna say the same as the pp. It is lovely when they start trying to copy you though. Lucas has been on solids for over a year now and will STILL pull silly faces and copy us when we eat.... strange child

 

[sheldonsmommy]

My 4 month-old must be sitting in my lap or dh's lap while we eat and tries to pick the food off of my plate. I can't wait to start feeding him, it's such a fun time!

 

[Cccbb61013]

My 4 month old did this when he was super little. I'm thinking he was only like a month or two. I remember my mom & I were saying how crazy it was & my dad saying he thinks it's just instinct & I think he's right. I started him on solids at 4 months & he took to them immediately. I don't know if I think the interest in food had anything to do with how well he took to it though. But he's already to the point where he will "request" his solids by smacking his lips even when we aren't eating.

 

[Pearls18]

I think it's a ridiculous myth that babies showing interest in food is a sign of weaning, he shows signs an interest in my keys, doesn't mean he's ready to start learning to drive! Babies are inquisitive, it's their nature, even if he did want to put something in his mouth to eat it, as the adult I am the one with the knowledge to know whether he us too young or not iykwim? Weaning is one of those things people really pressure mums to do early and I have no idea why.

 

[Perplexed]

That's adorable!!

 

[HKateH]

Babies are hard wired to be interested in mouths. We eat, drink and communicate with them so they're pretty vital to our health and relationships. He's not interested in your food, but in the fact that you're doing something with that part of your body. I bet he finds your mouth just as fascinating when you talk or sing!

 

[MindUtopia]

Nope, it's a normal developmental milestone to start chewing on fists around 3 months. It basically happens when they discover that their hands are part of them. They explore everything with their mouths at that stage, so once they realise they have hands, in the mouth they go.

 

[Noo]

I don't think he is interested in your food- he is interested in the movement of your mouth and trying to mimic it. DS showed clear interest in food when he swiped a bagel and stuffed it in his mouth