My DS will be 11 months old in a couple days. I was just wondering at what age do you start to try and teach them to use a spoon themselves? He does OK with it.. I have to sit the spoon on the high chair tray, put a piece of food on it, and then he does actually pick the spoon up instead of just picking up the piece of food. Am I trying too quick? Should I wait? Thanks!
H.
Thanks to everybody's responses. I already had bought the spoons with the big, curved handle, with holes in the bowl of it a while ago so that is what I've been using. I'll just do what I did with the sippy cup (have on the high chair with every meal and pretty soon he'll get it). He is a very independent eater so I don't think I'll have a hard time.
My 21 mth old son is just now getting used to using a spoon. I tried to introduce it earlier and he just couldn't get used to it. He ended up learning to use a fork first and still prefers the fork over the spoon. You can either stop, wait a while, and then introduce it again or give it to him at every meal and let him decide if he wants to use it. Try introducing a fork, he might like it.
It's definitely not too early. What kind of spoon are you using? I got some spoons from One Step Ahead that have holes in the bottom of the bowl. The holes help the food stay on the spoon. The spoon handles are really fat, too, so my 15m boy has an easier time holding them. Once he has mastered eating with the toddler spoons, I'll move him up to real spoons.
If he takes an interest...it is not too early. Of course, it will take awhile for him to master the art of using a spoon, but it doesn't hurt anything giving him one anyway.
Seems you have alot of good replies already. But what we did was just gave him a spoon to use, and fed him with another spoon as well. We also found that he took to a fork alot easier than the spoon.
I start spoons about 9 months or so and quickly follow with a fork. I find that the kids are able to use a fork faster then a spoon. And no he will not poke his eye out if you are sitting with him. I have baby metal forks that all my kids use and my 15 month old is very good with it. I do not remeber where I bought the fork. I think Meijers.
Best of Mothering - M.
Anytime!
I gave my DS a spoon and dumped a small amount of baby food in different colors on his tray and showed him how to swirl it with a spoon. He loved it and he is now 18 months old and proficient with not only a spoon but a fork as well. If he is eating and doesn't use the spoon, then keep doing as you are and draw his attention to it and ask him if he can use it.
The more experience he has with it, the more comfortable he will be and the more he will use it. Don't be afraid to let him play with it a little- or you could even get some of the "lil dipper's " utensils for him to use.
C.
I wouldn't push it, he will get it in time. Especially if he sees you eating with a spoon/fork. My son is 18 months now, but he really started using the spoon most of the time around 14 months. For awhile he would just hold the spoon and feed himself with his hands. Good luck!
It never hurts to introduce your baby to new things as long as it will not hurt him and he is not pressured to do it "right".
I think it is a great idea to give him a spoon while he eats, and when he is ready to figure it out...he will!
Hi
Don't worry about the spoon. Give it to him and let him "play learn" to use it. That is a gross motor skill and until he is really working on developing them he will not do all that great with a spoon, but let him try.
My son just turned 2 in May and is finally pretty good at using a spoon and fork (but usually reverts back to fingers since he can eat faster that way). No rush--when they are ready it will come to them.
It isn't too early. If he is showing interest in it, it is a good time. Just keep doing what you are doing. Eventually he'll just do it on his own. Good luck :)
