When to Start Toddler on Using Utinsels

Updated on September 04, 2007
A.H. asks from Cave Creek, AZ
7 answers

Can someone tell me when you taught your son/daughter to use utinsels on their own? My son is one now, and hates when I feed him from a spoon or fork, he wants to use his hands to feed himself. I have tried picking us his hand and grabbing the spoon or fork, but he wants nothing to do with it . Any suggestions or guidance would be great.

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B.P.

answers from Phoenix on

My son is two and he has been eating by himself for awhile know.If you just leave the spoons there for him he will use them. My son used to make a big mess at first but know he eats cereal w/milk,and soup,and rice with out a mess.The more they use the utensils the better they get at it.The same goes for cups my son can drink from a regular cup without a lid already with no mess.

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S.T.

answers from Phoenix on

It is normal for that age for them to use their hands no matter if you try with a fork or spoon, but here is something that worked for me. I showed my son when he was about 1 how to use a fork and a spoon. It took him awhile to learn to use them. Now he wants to use a fork or spoon even if it is a finger food. My son is 21/2 now. For the longest time I would not put milk in his cereal when he was 1 he would always spill it, now he doesn't. good luck.

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J.P.

answers from Denver on

I fed my first child for a LOOOOOOONG time. I was babysitting one day and the two year old was able to eat cereal with milk on his own - I was shocked! I didn't know a two year old was capable of this! Now on my third child, she is 21 months old and able to feed herself everything. Yes, it is a mess, but the independence she has received (and me, too!) has been such a blessing. Just start by placing his food in front of him with the fork or spoon inside the bowl or on the plate. Even if he eats with his hands at first, he will eventually begin using the spoon or fork to get the food into his mouth. Something that has worked wonders for us are those spoons that have little holes in the bottom. They help the food stick better to the spoon, and they are shaped so that the child can hold the spoon without having to become a contortionist to get it into his mouth! I don't know what brand they are - my mother in law bought them for me and then I found some used at Other Mothers. Just give him a spoon or fork and let him have a go at it. My daughter is now a 'professional' eater and does not require my assistance to feed her.

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J.C.

answers from Phoenix on

Both of my children have used utensils since the age of 10 months old. They both preferred to use the spoons and forks that were metal with the rubber handles. My son and daughter made a lot of messes, but quickly learned how to get everything to their mouths. I have not fed them since:) They even eat cereal with milk from a bowl!

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L.M.

answers from Phoenix on

My son is 3.5 and he has been up/down about using utensils since he was 2.

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T.N.

answers from Phoenix on

I think I let my son start holding his own utensils when he was about 1 because my doctor suggested it. There will be a lot of mess, but it helps them develop their fine motor skills as well as give them a sense of independence, which they are trying to develop. My son would eat anything as long as he got to be the one to put it in his mouth. And yes, he used his hands a lot too, but I tried to encourage him to use the spoon. That wasn't much of a struggle for us because he was pretty interested in using utensils because that's what he saw Mom and Dad use and he wanted to be like us.

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A.B.

answers from Phoenix on

The way I taught my oldest was to just put plastic toddler spoons and forks and let her play with them. While I was doing that I had conversations(look mommy is using her spoon kay has one too.)And she picked it up.

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