Okay, let's tackle this question about when self-feeding develops in a child. The question is asking for the age at which a child starts to feed themselves. I need to recall the typical developmental milestones related to feeding.

First, I remember that motor skills develop in a certain sequence. Infants start with gross motor skills like sitting up, then fine motor skills like grasping. Self-feeding would require the child to have the ability to hold a spoon or fork and bring it to their mouth.

I think self-feeding with a spoon typically starts around 18-24 months. But wait, maybe earlier with their fingers? Maybe around 12-15 months, they start using their fingers to pick up food. Then, using a spoon might come a bit later. So the question is about self-feeding in general, not specifically with utensils.

Wait, the question is phrased as "self-feeding develops at the age of..." So maybe the key is when they can feed themselves using their hands. Let me check. According to standard developmental milestones, by 6-8 months, infants can grasp objects with their whole hand (palmar grasp), but using fingers to pick up food is around 9-12 months. Self-feeding with fingers starts around 12 months. Using a spoon might develop around 18 months, but the question might be referring to the initial self-feeding with hands.

So if the options are ages like 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, etc., the correct answer would likely be 12 months. But I need to make sure. Let me recall the pediatric developmental milestones. At 12 months, children can usually sit up, walk with support, and start to use their fingers to feed themselves. Using a spoon is a bit later. So the correct answer is probably 12 months.

Now, the options aren't given, but based on standard questions, common wrong options might be 6 months, 18 months, or 24 months. So the correct answer would be 12 months. Therefore, the answer is C if the options are A. 6 months, B. 9 months, C. 12 months, D. 18 months. But since the options here are missing, I'll proceed with the explanation based on the correct age being 12 months.

**Core Concept**
Self-feeding in children develops as part of motor skill milestones. It requires coordinated fine motor control (pincer grasp) and gross motor stability (sitting upright). The ability to self-feed with fingers typically emerges between **12–15 months**, while utensil use follows later.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
At **12 months**, infants develop the **pincer grasp** (thumb and finger coordination) and hand-eye coordination needed to pick up small food pieces. This milestone aligns with developmental norms, where self-feeding with fingers becomes consistent by this age. While spoon-feeding may lag until 18–24 months, the question refers to the initial stage of self-feeding using hands.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A: 6 months** – Infants at 6 months can grasp objects with a palmar grip but lack the pincer grasp or coordination for self-

✓ Correct Answer: C. 18 months