Cutlery

[Doodle1983]

Hey! We exclusively do baby led weaning so my little one (almost 1) feeds himself with his hands.

When do I introduce cutlery ? And when can I expect him to be able to use it ? I've started giving him a spoon and I've been scooping up his food for him and he takes the spoon and (usually) puts it in his mouth.. But just left with the spoon he just chews the spoon and ignores his tea.

I concentrated so much on what skills he would gain from BLW I didn't pay attention to table manners !

[GlitteryLipgloss]

Hello

Have you tried with a plastic fork? He might show more interest and try with that x

[cosmicglittergirl]

My DD started using a spoon herself with (some) success at 13 months and now can spoon most of a bowl of porridge or fish pie into her mouth. I had to spoon it in for her at first then she refused a spoon for ages but I left it next to her every now and again. This week we ve
Started with a fork (she's now 16 months) with varying success. She still eats a lot with her hands. I think think they all get it eventually, but mums with older kids will be able to tell you more.

[Flingingmelon]

We did BLW. By 18m we could go out for lunch and DS would eat relatively (for a toddler) nicely. Almost no food on the floor, no cutlery / crockery thrown etc.

We introduced the spoon at about nine months and just let him get on with it. Sometimes he used it, sometimes I used it, sometimes he flung it. Practice made perfect

[Flingingmelon]

He still uses his hands as well. I don't think people expect much more than that do they?

[dementedpixie]

mine got on better with a fork to start with

[Doodle1983]

Thanks guys. I'm happy with him using his hands for now, I just get some frowns off my mum and am wondering (even though I hate myself for it) what others will think when we go out or food - we don't go out a lot at the moment but would like more to as he gets older

[NorahBone]

My son's really keen to use a spoon, and does all the right actions, but keeping the food on it long enough to get into his mouth is a bit tricky (especially as he keeps turning it upside down). I started giving him a metal fork at about 13m and he gets on with it ok- he enjoys stabbing his food with it- but eventually he always chucks it off the high chair and uses his hands. He's 14m.
I know people can be massively judgemental sometimes (never on Mumsnet of course ) but I think you've got a while yet before people start tutting!

[yellowsnownoteatwillyou]

My ds 17momths is better with a fork, than a spoon but he still generally holds it in one hand and uses his other hand for eating. He's getting better, but I'm not pushing it at the moment, I always give him the option of cutlery with his meal.
I've seen far older children than him still being spoon fed or making a terrible mess while eating in restaurants. He doesn't really make a lot of mess which is good.
I however can spill stuff down myself quite easily

[Galvanized]

We just set the table for us all with cutlery and dd copied us. Using spoon by herself around at 12months, fork a little later.