Community› The Bump Message Boards› Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
New Discussion

Using utensils independently - what age?

meglewmeglew member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Lately, we have been giving DD a plastic spoon during meals to experiment with.  If I am feeding purees, she wants to dip the spoon in the container, which is has been doing and will sometimes get the food into her mouth.  At what age should I let her try and feed herself?  I don't want to stunt her development, yet want her to actually get food in her mouth.  TIA!
DD #1 - 01.08
DD #2 - 03.13
Report Reply to Post

Re: Using utensils independently - what age?

  • NYCredNYCred

    at our 1yr appt, the pedi said to let her start trying. so, we have been. 

    granted, it means that the whole family needs showers after and we have to basically hose down the kitchen.  but the look of pure glee on her face when she actually gets the spoon in her mouth makes it all worth it!

    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • Michelle110Michelle110 member

    We started a few weeks ago, but I can't let her feed herself all the time because she makes such a huge mess with some foods. Like with yogurt, which for some reason she thinks is good as a hair product, using her fingers or a spoon. We do let her "eat" with the spoon or fork on her own, but she hasn't quite gotten the concept of using the utensil for picking up food and then eating it all the time.

    Report Reply
  • Max'smomMax'smom member
    DS is still finger feeding and I think that is where developmentally he should be. The last time I looked at toddler forks and spoons the packaging recommended 18 months. I sometimes give him a spoon to play with while eating. He can get it to his mouth with food sometimes but he prefers to feed himself with his fingers.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • bep1225bep1225
    We let DD play around with feeding herself with a spoon when she's eating something not so "drippy".  She likes to feed herself mashed potatoes and does a pretty good job.
    Report Reply
  • PeskyPesky member
    She probably started getting really good at it about 17mos or so. 


    image
    DD -- 5YO
    DS -- 3YO

    Report Reply
  • marriedgirl05marriedgirl05
    We started giving him a fork or spoon at around a year, or a little before, but he would mainly just hold it.  Just before he turned 14 months he started using his fork correctly.  Talk about shock!!  Now we give him a fork at every meal.  Sometimes he just holds it, sometimes he feeds himself almost exclusively with it.  We don't do any purees or yogurt, etc right now though.  I am not quite that brave...
    Report Reply
  • Zoe0520Zoe0520
    K is almost 22 months and uses a spoon & fork correctly all the time. We started at around a year old. I give M a fork or spoon sometimes. He gets the concept but still working on the skill.
    Report Reply
  • BNLgirl07BNLgirl07
    My DD is what I call a shoveler...we can only give her a few pieces at a time because she would keep shoving it in until nothing was on her tray.  But I do give her the spoon with like cottage cheese or something that she can't feed herself with her fingers...and she can get it in her mouth.  But as for just giving her a spoon or fork and expecting her to get the food on it...we are not at that point yet...I am not too concerned at this point.  I just wish she wouldn't stuff her face. 
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"