When/how did you get your dcs using cutlery? Does BLW make a difference?

[SpeccieSeccie]

DS is BLW (with gusto) and has been unfazed by weaning, but a couple of days ago another mother watching him eat said to me,'So when are you going to introduce cutlery? Because, you know, he's not going to be able to eat with his hands forever'.

Well, ok, I hadn't really given it much thought so now I'd love to know what age your dcs got the hang of using knife, spoon or fork? Do you think BLW makes a difference?

TIA

[Hulababy]

I gave DD a spoon from very early (6 months I would guess) on when weaning as she always wanted to try and "help". I then gradually introduced a fork as well. She still used her fingers mainly, but also lied to imitiate me and DH. She just gradually picked up the idea and used them more and more.

[flowerybeanbag]

DS uses a spoon himself for porridge - he is 6.5 mo. He wouldn't have a word of me doing it so I just load the spoon up and off he goes

[notnowbernard]

Didn't do BLW with dd1. Went the puree route. She was able to eat well with cutlery by around 18m (spoon and fork mainly). Eats very well now at just 4y.

Didn't do puree route with dd2 but didn't do BLW either. Bit of self-feeding and spoon feeding. She has refused to be fed for the last month or so (15m now) and in the last couple of weeks has succesfully managed to feed herself using a spoon, with not much spillage! She has a gret appetite too

[sweetkitty]

DD2 picked up a fork herself at 15 months and successfully used it, DD1 still eats most things with her fingers though.

[Wallace]

Ds2 is 16 months and completely BLW.

He has been aable to use a spoon and fork competently for at least 2 or 3 months now. I always had cutlery there for him to use if he wanted.

Dd was not BLW ( wish I had known about it then) and she was able to feed herself with a spoon when she was 11months. Probably not the weaning style that made the diffence though!

[SpeccieSeccie]

Thanks for the replies . That's all helpful. I think the thing is I'm not really that bothered about about when DS uses cutlery and I was a bit surprised to hear that anybody is. It's good to know there's a spread of ages as I don't really want to make using a spoon an issue for DS as his eating is pretty unstressful as it is and I'm reluctant to rock the boat with anything new at this stage.

At what age do you reckon that people actually start objecting to a child eating with their fingers? It surely can't be before about 3yo - or am I way off the mark?

[suwoo]

I think my dad would have apoplexy if DS still ate with his fingers at 3 yrs. He is already commenting about it to my mum...DS is 1 next week we have been BLW since 23 weeks and DS eats everything put in front of him. No need to panic, I say, as soon as they are ready, they will reach for a fork and be proficient I reckon, whichever weaning style you used.

[SpeccieSeccie]

Lol at being apoplectic at a 3yo's table manners (having said that I, of course, aim to have a child with Beautiful Table Manners so will have to work on this then)

[Wallace]

My 8 year old ds1 will still eat with his fingers as often as not!

[bossybritches]

Morning ladies- just stumbled on this thread- could someone direct me to some info about BLW? (baby led weaning I worked out?) sounds interesting & somethign I might introduce at my nursery. I think we unknowingly do it actually as we encourage fingers & lumpy foods from an early age but would like to know more & the theories behind it.

Many thanks !

[CantSleighWontSleigh]

Here you go bb.

[nappyaddict]

ds is 17 months and doesn't use a fork or spoon yet. i put them on the tray and plays around with them but he doesn't get any food in using them. i wont really start trying to get him to use them until he is 2-2.5

[bossybritches]

Thanks Can'tSleigh-will read later over a coffee & no doubt be back for more advice!

[terramum]

Might be worth pointing out to your mum that most of south Asia seem to manage without cutlery just fine

We started loading spoons for DS to feed himself with when he was 9-ish months & from there he gradually started getting better at using it. At first he couldn't hold it properly - held it vertically so we could only give him stodgy things like porridge ...but then he gradually got the hand of holding it in a more traditional way & then starting scooping the food himself when he was 18 month-2 years. Now at 3.4 years he is very happy with a spoon & doesn't need any help with it at all, even for soup. Forks have been much the same - at first we would use them occasionally to 'stab' bot of food & then he would take the fork & feed himself...then he gradually started doing it himself, although he doesn't use it very often. Knives we haven't really used all that much but we do give him one for some meals & he will have a go at using it with the fork & then put them down & eat the whole meak with his hands. I see no problem in letting him learn at his own pace & if he's still using his hands ina few years time it won't bother me...so long as it doesn't bother him

[LazyLinePainterJane]

Ds is 2.3 and has been using cutlery for a while. I still let him use his fingers if he wants. He has been using a spoon well since about 9 months or so, the others took longer.

Who cares if they eat with their fingers? It doesn't have to be the case that if they eat with their fingers they also have no manners.

You don't tend to see teenagers eating roast dinners with their fingers do you? He will get there in the end,