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.