When did your DC start to use cutlery?

[fluffacloud]

DD1is 2.8 she can use a fork and spoon, although not together.

If left to it she'll use her fingers, for everything inc yogurt, mash even weetabix.

She's a bit of a fuss pot at the best of times, so I don't make a song and dance about it - however, my DP does and when he is at home to eat with us, he asks her to use her cutlery approx 10 times per meal! She tries but either uses her finger to push the food onto her spoon or picks it up and puts it on her fork/spoon

Cue lecture about table manners from DP.

At what age did your DC start using their cutlery with confidence?

DD started using a spoon at around 9 months, but then at some point she went back to using her hands. She's 2.9 now and is starting to use cutlery again. I'm more concerned with how much she eats rather than how, so I just leave her to it. Hopefully over the next few months she'll be using cutlery only.

My ds is 4 and still prefers to eat with his hands .

He is more than capable of using a fork and spoon properly and can cut up easy things with a knife.

Tbh, its a pick your battles thing with me, he is a picky eater who doesn't eat alot so I don't care too much how he is eating it.

Incidently in front of anyone else, he will always use a fork .

Thank you both for your replies!

DD1 is also a bit of a fussy eater, so I'm just happy when she eats. Will try to get DP to see reason, table manners are a bit low on my priority list and hers. I think I'd rather focus on stopping her eating her own boogers

My 3.8 year old DS uses both depending on what he feels like. Spoons with pudding, yoghurt etc but with dinner anything goes.

Sorry, but I am with DP. I understand what Bonkey says about picking your battles, but I wouldn't tolerate DD (2.5) eating something like mash or weetabix with fingers. She has been eating that type of food for at least a year now using a spoon, and has been using a fork since way before her second birthday. She has been using adult sized cutlery for several months now.

Using cutlery with confidence takes lots of practice to master, and is best started as young as possible. Helping food onto a fork with fingers is fine at first, as long as DD is getting the message that some things are eaten with cutlery.

I vividly remember the look of horror on my mother's face when she saw a boy of about nine in a restaurant eating a yorkshire pudding with his fingers. I don't want anyone looking at my children that way! Sorry, it's just one of my 'things'.

FWIW, DD is an INCREDIBLY fussy eater. After having a DS that eats anything and everything, I have found it a complete culture shock having a child who can seemingly photosynthesise (how else can she stay alive).

There is NOTHING wrong with finger food - DD eats a lot. There are just some things that should be eaten with cutlery.

Maybe I should clarify that my ds will eat thongs like shepards pie, spaghetti bol etc with a fork/spoon....I don't let him shovel it in with his hands . Plus those types of meals are easier to eat with cutlery .

And fwiw the 'proper way' to eat a yorkshire pudding is with your hands .

*things not thongs

Bonkey (great name btw), I was agreeing that it is up to every parent to pick their own battles. To some parents, eating a decent amount of food is more important than HOW it is eaten. I just think that cutlery is important for some foods. I have seen a child try and eat spaghetti with fingers - it was not pleasant (and not successful).

I have no idea how to eat a yorkshire pudding. My grandmother used to have marmalade on one (and probably ate it with fingers). He actually at the whole roast dinner with fingers - the yorkshire pudding was the only bit I saw.

Well depends on your culture - in many using fingers is normal. No biggy at 2 anyway - if you can't use your fingers at 2 when can you! Highly unlikely they'll be doing it when they get to school.

All my 3 have been keen to avoid using cutlery (and often to avoid feeding themselves at all) until nearer 3. DS3 is 2.9 and fine with a fork, bit wobbly with spoon, ignores knives other than to brandish his "sword"!

DS1 is 9 and regressing. All rather wearing really but I expect they'll have it nailed by the time they leave home

Oh, don't sweat it.

DS1 would have starved had cutlery not been invented as he detested anything sticky/wet - he never, ever had fingerfood, ate strawberries etc with a fork, jam on toast cut in little pieces with a fork, from about 8-10 months onwards. I can honestly not remember. He is now 9 and more relaxed about 'sticky' things.

DS2 is now 8 1/12 and knows how to use cutlery competently, but would be quite happy to shovel anything in manually .

The younger 2 I don't have the time to watch how they eat, but they do not seem to starve .

I do think nice table manners are something to encourage, but honestly, your DD is not even 3 yet. Tell your DH to chill - she'll do just fine with encouragement rather than being harangued about it every 10 seconds. He'll end up putting her off...

Our DD is 3 and using fork and spoon well although she very often wants us to feed her (she will do that only with us) and will use her fingers more often than we'd like. We tell her to use her fork or spoon but don't make a big deal of it as we know she's eating properly in other settings.
I would not stress about your DD - if she's eating by herself, that's already great (ours always ask us to help her)! Good manners will come