Teaching 13 Month to Try to Feed Himself

My advice would be to have some finger foods and some spoon type foods. This way he can use his fingers and try with the spoon. Just give it to him and let him play with it, he will learn. The more he plays with it and tries to get it to his mouth the better he will get at it.

let him get messy! LOL
i found that the best solution for not only feeding self, but also for avoiding the tantrum that goes with a child who wants to feed himself, but you are hesitant because of the mess... just let him make the mess! :D i cant tell you how many messes ive cleaned up in my sons 27 months.... but its all worth it. it was so much easier for me to just let go and let him make a mess than it is for me to fight with him!

this haphazard, messy eating will not end for a while. my son is JUST starting to eat nicely without making a huge mess. sometimes he will still make a mess. :P i wouldnt really worry too much about teaching him to do it "better" because its just not possible until hes developmentally ready for that. its a complicated thing! :D

so just have patience, and remember that it wont last forever, take pictures, videos and cherish it, cuz believe it or not, someday not so long from now, you will miss it :P

Hi S.! You don't need to teach him anything at this point. I know it seems like he is wanting to try to learn but he is really just being curious. Just let him play with the spoon and he will learn to mimic you. What you described him doing is just what he should be doing developementally.
Keep doing it together! It's a wonderful learning and bonding time!

Spoon and fork are more for show at that point. Finger foods are wonderful. My son would put something on a spoon then take it off and eat it with his fingers. Let him experiment with the new tools and he'll get it eventually.

My only advice is to keep at it. He won't get it today or tomorrow, but keep encouraging him. Eat when he eats that way he sees how its done. His hand-eye coordination isn't all there yet. Remember they are really exploring textures and cause and effect at this age, so thinking that he will eat properly with a spoon may be unrealistic. There are spoons and forks that hold foods better, but he will get it eventually.

He isn't to young to be starting to feed himself. All mine were feeding themselves by the time they were a year old, maybe messy but they did well. Start with finger food like cut up hot dogs or even cut up french toast. Give him a fork and show him who to stab the pieces and yes they might fall off but once he starts getting them to his mouth he will pick it up really fast. Don't help him unless he is getting frustrated on the moving it from the plate to his mouth. You might help him a little on stabbing the piece though since that takes a little more fine motor skill. My granddaughter did better with a fork before she did with a spoon since it sticks on the fork better. If you want to do a spoon try it with sticky food like pudding or yogurt, if some falls off there is still enough stuck to the spoon to give him the satisfaction of doing it.

You should try finger food first, cut in to bite size pieces, then move on to using the spoon. first feed him enough with your help then let him do it by his self,that way he'll not be to excited, but don't worry most childern don't use the spoon or fork until there 20 months and it's takes practice. TdH ( mother of four)

Hi S.
I completey agree with ann-marie but if you wanting him to get some food in his mouth try using fruits or vegtables you can stab with a fork and see if this helps him.

This is part of the process as they learn to guide it in their mouth. They will loose it off the spoon. Children this age are still working on coordination. Have they had finger foods? That helps them learn