Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

Cave baby refuses Cutlery - any advice please!

15 replies

MammaToots · 09/12/2011 08:45

I am stumped by how to introduce my 14mo DS to cutlery. He has never let me spoonfeed him apart from in the early days; all attempts caused unbelievable screaming fits, so I weaned him on finger food which he eats happily. I have tried the two spoons method where you feed with one and the baby practises with the other, but he is having none of it, insisting on grabbing both spoons which he then flings around or roaring with frustration if thwarted. HV informed me her dc was eating with a fork at 13mo so I am worried my baby is the missing link!

I would be very grateful for any suggestions.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SanTEEClaus · 09/12/2011 08:47

Nothing wrong with fingers! My 2.6 year old still prefers fingers although he does use a fork and spoon as well.

Your HV is either exaggerating or has a genius child.

whenPaschagotstuckupthechimney · 09/12/2011 08:55

My Boy will attempt a spoon but doesn't have the control yet to get it to his mouth. He certainly can't spoon the food on himself. He's nearly 15 months. He also is far better with his fingers and will be for some time I think. look here for info yes I know its BC but quite informative anyway.

Just keep offering the spoons, he will get it in the end. Nothing wrong with fingers for ages yet.

brightonbleach · 09/12/2011 09:24

a fork at 13m ???? not very likely, most kiddies prefer spoons for quite a while before forks, my 25m old still prefers spoons. take no notice of that, and keep trying - weetabix is a good practice, if you make it quite sticky they can usually get some on the spoon themselves - my DS got into using a spoon at about 12-14m although of course alot ended up on him/everything else! I think its a control issue, my DS hated anyone else trying to spoonfeed him from quite early and wanted power over the implements... weetabix was one of the first things I could put a bowl of in front of him with a spoon in, sit back and watch as he wobbled the spoon around in it and then to his mouth quite well :)

brightonbleach · 09/12/2011 09:25

oh and my 25m old stills loves using his fingers, nothing wrong with finger food for ages yet!

AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 09/12/2011 18:47

Just put knife, fork & spoon on the high chair tray at every meal and he'll get the idea eventually.

DS experimented with cutlery at 8 or 9 months, then was uninterested in using it till about 20 m.o. Now at 23 m.o. he eats 98% with fingers, 2% with cutlery.

Forks are much easier to use than spoons as it doesn't matter which way up you hold them.

breatheslowly · 09/12/2011 19:09

Fromage frais is quite good for using a spoon as even if it is just dipped in some comes out on the spoon, so it is rewarding even if not very competently done.

Flisspaps · 09/12/2011 19:30

DD is 21mo, if I give her a spoon or fork she will hold it in her right hand, and then use her left hand to shovel food into her mouth with.

She'll try with the spoon occasionally but always turns it over just before she gets it to her mouth, tipping the contents down her front comedy-style.

greensnail · 09/12/2011 19:34

Dd1 didn't really bother with cutlery until she was nearer to 2. She's now almost 3 and will still revert to fingers if she's particularly hungry!

Dd2 was amazingly proficient with a fork before her first birthday, which really shocked me so it does happen but I f don't think it is that normal.

BloooCowWonders · 09/12/2011 19:38

JUst relax and it'll come. Agree with greensnail that some children get it really early, but lots don't. I like the idea of letting children experiment with cutlery but not requiring them to use it.

I help out in school and there are still reception children who need reminding to use cutlerly! Fingers are so much easier a lot of the time. and for some reason I always have to eat Yorkshire puddings with my hands

breatheslowly · 09/12/2011 19:52

DD's (limited) use of cutlery is all related to nursery. I don't generally think of giving her cutlery but I think she watches the others use cutlery in nursery. Actually I think that everything she knows comes from nursery.

SanTEEClaus · 09/12/2011 19:55

Blooo...me too!

DonInKillerHeels · 09/12/2011 20:01

Actually, DS 17 mo has been using a baby fork (and a spoon) for a while now, so not unheard of.

He refuses help too, so we put up with him attempting to spoon and eating most of everything with his other hand. As long as he gets it down him, we've stopped caring about the mess.

Original poster

MammaToots · 09/12/2011 20:11

Thank you all very much! This is very helpful and reassuring and the bc link was v. informative. DS has several years left to get the hang of things by the sound of it. I will start plying him with weetabix on a regular basis and stop worrying about it. Thank you again!

OP posts:

fallenpetal · 10/12/2011 15:27

My 15yr old prefers his fingers, drives me batty! LOL. Seriously dont worry My 2 both got the hang of using a cup stupidly early but neither grasped cutlery very well, for the longest timed it seemed DD preferred a spoon to fork and I think secretly she still does

brettgirl2 · 11/12/2011 14:53

The problem is that their fingers just do the job better!!!! Fork at 13 months

Flip