using a spoon?

User - posted on 03/29/2009

I don't know if it's because I work in a Infant/Toddler preschool.  Once they turn a year old, they get switched to regular lunch.  Now, I understand just turning 12months, they are not used to spoons, but I introduced my son the spoon at 12months.  just sat it on his plate...  he loves using his own spoon now!

Jean - posted on 03/28/2009

Thanks to everyone with their advice. I have been giving him a spoon during meal times now, although he is unsure about it, he is getting very comfortable with trying to use it - or play with it!

Michelle - posted on 03/27/2009

I share my daughters fork and spoon with her. I mean she has her own but she passes it to me and I put the food on the fork or spoon and pass it back and she'll put it in her mouth on her own. I haven't been brave to let her try and spoon/fork it herself yet... but that is just because of the mess it may create. I will have to just let her go for it sooner or later though! I also find that this "sharing technique" is great practice for when she plays with others.

Esther - posted on 03/27/2009

My son has been feeding himself for a few months now (also a December 2007 baby). It's the only way we can get him to eat anything at all. He has a bit of an independent streak. It kills me to watch him do it because food lands all over the place (soup was actually one of the least messy foods), but he's getting better at it (depending on his mood too, sometimes it's just more fun to fling your peas around the room than it is to eat them). I guess at some point we just have to suck it up and let them try.

Jennifer - posted on 03/26/2009

I think you can give it any time. Doesn't necessarily mean they'll be able to use it!  Actually you make me feel a little better since my baby isn't very good at using her spoon. She tries though! I thought maybe she was behind--whew! I also give her a little toddler fork, but sometimes she gets frustrated when she can't get anything on it! I also scoop some food for her and then she grabs the spoon, and puts it in her mouth. Usually she just goes back to using her hands if I leave her on her own. The funny thing is that the first time I ever gave my baby the spoon to eat by herself (for the first time), she did really well--all downhill since then! :)

Michelle - posted on 03/25/2009

Just go for it! Use 2 s poonsand let him do as much or as little as he likes.  Take turns feeding him you do one then he does one or tries to.  You'll soon find he's taking more turns and getting better at it as he does it with you.  Don't worry about the mess and try to do it when time is not an issue.

Anna - posted on 03/25/2009

I just give my daughter the spoon to play with while she eats. Sometimes she tries to eat with it,but mostly she just eats with her hand while she hold the spoon with the other.

Jen - posted on 03/25/2009

We started giving our daughter the spoon and fork at 12 months. She always been pretty good about getting it from the food to her mouth but, has trouble getting things on it. She's just recently started being able to stab things with the fork and get it in her mouth. It takes practice so just give him the spoon and see what he does with it. He'll still use his fingers a lot, but at least it's a good training tool to help out in the future. We always give a utensil to our daughter unless she's eating yogurt, soup, or hot cereals.

Angela - posted on 03/24/2009

I agree that you can introduce it at anytime. My 15 month old son actually gets mad now if we don't give him his own spoon. I have bowls that suction to the tray and I just put a big bib on him and let him go. He is learning to use either his left or right hand. Right now he favors his left. We eventually have to feed him but he has so much fun being the "big boy".

Darlene - posted on 03/24/2009

I think you can introdue it anytime, but I don't think they 'should' be using one independently unless closer to 2. My son can use one if we load it for him. Not soup of course, but he's getting pretty good at it. Sometimes we actually use it as an incentive to eat if he's having an off day. He thinks it's great fun.