using cutlery - aaaagh!

[belindarose]

My previously happily finger feeding nearly 12 mo old has decided she MUST use cutlery. And, of course, she MUST use it entirely by herself with no help from me whatsoever. This has meant her hardly managing to eat anything, while complaining loudly because she wants to. Her favoured method this morning was to hold three spoons in one hand while poking them at her bowl. Yesterday she tolerated me loading the occasional spoon for her, while giving me venomous looks. Any tips to make this process easier, or reassurance that it'll only last a few days....?

[RuthChan]

This is frustrating, but entirely normal.
All children seem to go through this phase. I think they see the people around them using cutlery and think it looks really fun. They can't wait to try it for themselves, even before they are actually able to.

My DS is 21 months and can use a spoon quite well, but is currently obsessed with trying out my adult-sized cutlery and my chopsticks. He isn't entirely successful with either, but he screams until he's allowed to try.

Don't worry, it is just a phase and when your DD is hungry enough, she will either revert to her own fingers or allowing you to help.
It won't actually be very long before she can use a spoon anyway.

[lecce]

I sympathise, my ds has been like this off and on since 8 months (now 12 months), we blw'd but it didn't really work well as he wanted to use cutlery like his big brother.

He has days where he'll barely let me help at all, and I know what you mean about the venemous looks, and days where we cooperate.

I think he cooperates when he's hungry having not eaten much for a day or two - he will always let me help with yoghurt though.

Today was funny, after refusing any help throughout lunch and insisting on using a fork, he suddenly grabbed a big fistful of whatever was on his plate - a mixture of homemede chicken pie, veg and banana - and basically stuffed it in his face, as if to say, "sod it, I've got to eat!"

Sorry, I've rambled uselessly. Hopefully someone will give us both some advice and/or our babies will master cutlery use very early!

[NonnoMum]

My nearly 12 month old is similar. Today he was using the small end of the spoon, and when that didn't yield much, tried to use it like a straw.

Even he saw the funny side.

[greensnail]

My DD was the same. She eventually settled on a combination of finger feeding, using cutlery on her own and letting us help but it took a lot of frustrating mealtimes to get there. She's now 19 months and can use a fork very well but prefers my fork to her own one, so I usually end up eating with her small fork.

[TurtleAnn]

Wait till you get to the sticking cutley into his mouth so far it makes him gag stage. I hope these stages are brief.

[Octaviapink]

How about pre-loading forks for her with (for example) big pieces of pasta? Our dd's been using a fork since she was about 11mo and really likes stabbing her food with it. She only gets a piece maybe one time in three but she loves doing it!

[OhNoNotTheHoneyBabies]

DS is 16mo and can feed himself with a spoon if I load it for him. I was just wondering at what age do children start using metal cutlery? At the moment DS just uses a plastic baby spoon, but we have some children's metal cutlery that we were given as a gift. Is 16mo to young for it?? Maybe he'll just stab himself with the fork....

Oops, sorry for the hijack!!

[greensnail]

DD's been using metal children's cutlery since 12mo when she got it as a birthday present. No injuries yet!

[Octaviapink]

DD never had plastic cutlery - she was bought a set of metal cutlery with plastic handles and has used them since she was 11mo. Like greensnail - no injuries yet!

[Bumpsadaisie]

My DD was like this, starting at around 11 months. If she wants to do it, let her.

It's worth it in the long run. You'll be surprised how very quickly they learn to use it well, and when they do its much easier for you!

My DD has just turned 14 months and now feeds herself really well with cutlery and drops very little of it on the floor these days.

Meal times are great as a consequence, she has a place setting like the rest of us and gets on with it, minimal effort from us required! She can both spoon up with a spoon and prong bits on her fork and transfer them to mouth.

Please excuse [proud mum emoticon]

[Bumpsadaisie]

Yep, my DD has always had metal cutlery with plastic handles, too.