Feeding Themselves

aeh72

What is the age that your LO could start feeding him/herself with a spoon? Does that happen before age 2?

This morning, out of curiousity, I decided to let DS try (he's almost 14 mos) and he was all about holding the spoon and trying to do it but he wasn't very successful. Of course, that then led to a battle to get the spoon back so I could actually try to get him to finish his oatmeal!  I was thinking of letting him try everytime he eats something that requires a spoon but then wondered if maybe this is still too young.

TiffanyBerry

Definitely not too young, but it won't happen without practice. DD was doing it before 14mo, but she was playing with spoons from five or six months, and with food in the mix from seven or eight, iirc, but that was because we did BLW. (I don't remember exactly when she was "successful", but do remember that success for a baby looks very different than an adult eating with a spoon. )

PrimRoseMama

DD can use a spoon and fork. Not perfectly but she's got it down that she can feed herself eggs, meat, veggies. Its messy but she prefers it. She is almost 19 months. 

baloneydisc

DD has been "playing" with a spoon since about 9mo.  She does pretty well eating with one now.  She also scoops food with a fork, she won't stab anything yet.

Karen1998

It's actually an 18m skill.  Around then, your LO will stop flipping the spoon over as it goes into the mouth - thus, things will stay on it.  I started giving DS a spoon around your LO's age and he'd mastered it in a few months.  If it was something I fed him, I gave him a spare spoon to use so I could still feed him efficiently.  

BiscuitEater21

I have let LO try a few times, but he definitely doesn't get it yet! He sometimes manages to get a little food on the spoon, but then he puts the spoon in his mouth and bites on it... It's almost impossible to get the spoon back! When I finally do get the spoon back, I either splatter it or have to pry it from his little chubby fingers ha ha.

He also will try to slurp food off the spoon sometimes. Not really sure what that's about, other than maybe he likes the pouches of food a little too much. 

chardonnay24

My son was using a spoon and fork well by 14 months. We did spoon feed purees for a few months, but from 6 or 7 months on, we would load up the spoon and give it to him to experiment with.

dragon_chica

It's definitely not too early!  You can let LO have at it and just let it take it's course.  Or, you can occasionally guide hand and spoon/fork to mouth to show the relationships between the two.  DS is getting a lot better at using utensils.  Sometimes he can use the fork pretty well, sometimes he'll pick up the food and put it on the fork before taking a bite, and sometimes he just says "forget this!" and just uses his hands.

tjkdlhb

It's one of the questions they ask at the 12 month appt. here, though I don't know when it would be considered a concern.

We also did BLW and gave DD spoons from 6 months.  She was really good at putting it in her mouth from the start. At that time it was pre-loaded spoons. As of now she still just kinda sticks it into her yogurt and sucks the yogurt off the spoon opposed to a scooping motion. 

MrsT2008

DD is almost 18m and is fairly adept at feeding herself with utensils.  I admit that most of the credit goes to daycare as I only just started really making sure she has utensils at meals.  She can feed herself applesauce and yogurt (albeit while making a little mess) and can use forks.  The fork use came first (as you can imagine).

blu-eyedwife

I think the skill is related to how often/how early you introduce the spoon.  As many others, we did BLW, so my son was given a spoon at 6 months and was able to competently use it by a year.  Starting now and with repeated use, your 14 month old can and will master the skill by 2 years.  (There will be many unsuccessful moments before successful ones)

aeh72

Thanks everyone! I guess it's time to start practicing! Should make for some fun and messy meals!