My son is 9 1/2 months old. While he loves to feed himself Cheerios and other hard foods (crackers, pretzels), he doesn't do too well with other foods, such as peas, carrots, pasta, etc. He's okay with thick mashed potatoes, but not much else. Any advice on helping him along with feeding himself beyond the food we spoon-feed him? Certain foods you suggest I try? Am I rushing him?
What a wonderful age of discovery--for your son and for you! At 9 1/2 months, most kids still get most of their nutrition from breast milk or formula, so the solids become something that they can experiment with without pressure (for you or for him) and he can take his time learning to like them.
Other finger foods you might try include (be sure to get videos!) are slices of banana, pasta, slices of carrot that are cooked so they are pretty soft, and string cheese. If there is a lot of asthma, eczema, hay fever, or diabetes in the family you may want to wait, but in general, string cheese is okay for most kids starting at 9 months.
Kids at 9 months tend to especially like foods that have been on your plate first. Imitating those they admire is very fun. Chicken and other meats can be great choices, as long as they are cut small enough that choking is not an issue.
My son is 9 1/2 months old. While he loves to feed himself Cheerios and other hard foods (crackers, pretzels), he doesn't do too well with other foods, such as 
What a wonderful age of discovery--for your son and for you! At 9 1/2 months, most kids still get most of their 
