When did your baby start actually eating?

I’m doing the ol whatever I feel method every meal. Sometimes baby gets a baby tray of smushable items, or sometimes mommy takes the wheel.

I am trying to keep in mind he is getting everything he needs from formula, right now, but I’m so curious to when he’ll start to participate in meal times like they’re meals and not super messy fun times. I’m not really complaining. If we have the time for him to sit and play around with all the stuff, I let him. And it’s precious and blah blah blah, but when did your blw babies start participating in meal times like it’s food more so than finger painting?