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Behaviour/development

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

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Original poster

I stopped my DS from self-feeding with a spoon..

19 replies

pipo · 02/05/2006 10:35

... when he was smaller due to all the mess. Now that he is older and would be capable of feeding without so much mess he won't have anything to do with spoons!!! I know that it is all my fault and I'm kicking myself for not letting him get on with it at the time but now I need to work out how to get him to self-feed with a spoon.He has hysterics every time I offer to put the spoon in his hand. He is 14 mnths old and will pick up finger food from the high chair tray.Mmmm I think I have answered my own question..I will try putting a full spoon on the tray and see how we get on at lunch-time.Thank you for listening.
I'll be back later if it doesn't work..

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Bozza · 02/05/2006 10:39

I think you just have to persevere with putting a spoon on the tray and let him him pick it up when he decides. My sister didn't let my nephew have a go either, and I told her she should, and he is now 14 months and just the same as your DS. Still you will know for the next one.

Original poster

pipo · 02/05/2006 10:43

OP posts:

Pinotmum · 02/05/2006 10:45

TBH my 2 never showed too much interest in spoons at that age prefering finger foods and hands. He'll get the hang of it so don't beat yourself up

WigWamBam · 02/05/2006 10:47

He's quite little to be worrying about this - it will come in time. My dd couldn't use a spoon until she was almost 2, and she'd been given plenty of practice. It's a skill that's quite hard to master, so I wouldn't be too concerned that he's not doing it yet.

When my HV asked at dd's 21 month checkup whether she was using a spoon and I said no, her suggestion was to try a fork instead as they often find the stabbing motion much easier than the shovelling motion you need for a spoon. It worked for my dd, it might work for your ds.

Bozza · 02/05/2006 10:49

Why ? Just put a spoon on the tray and let him decide for himself. My DS refused to let me feed him (except puddings eg yoghurts) from 10 months. I let him have a spoon but he spent a hell of a lot of time picking up individual grains of rice with his fingers...

Now he is 5 and I realise I have left it later than I should have in giving him a knife, so he is struggling with that a bit. So DD will be getting one sooner.

Original poster

pipo · 02/05/2006 11:02

sorry bozza- at idea of 'next one'.

OP posts:

beansprout · 02/05/2006 11:08

Make sure he sees you or other kids eating with a spoon as well.

Bozza · 02/05/2006 11:42

Was being slightly flippant there pipo. IME you learn from all the little mistakes you make with the first one and then manage to make a whole different set of mistakes with the second one.

starlover · 02/05/2006 11:53

pipo i wouldn't worry too much. My ds is 15 months and although he WANTS to use a spoon he isn't very good at it!
I let him have one and he does his best with it, but I still feed him most of his food, unless it's stuff he can eat with his fingers.

So, just give him a spoon, and let him figure it out, but don't worry too much if he doesn't really use it properly just yet

Original poster

pipo · 02/05/2006 14:19

Thank you for all the encouragement. However, my mum and dad dropped in at lunch-time so I chickened out with spoon food and fed DS finger food again (or rather my mother barged me out of the way to get to DS and hand over his lunch ).

OP posts:

chipmonkey · 02/05/2006 14:25

Pipo, my ds3 has been given a spoon for months now and he uses it to bang the bowl while he scoops up food with his other hand!Fine except when it's yoghurt! It all comes eventually. I hope mine has the hang of it by the time he's married!

starlover · 02/05/2006 19:08

I also let ds use a tiny cake fork I have, i help him spear something and he can get it in his mouth... much easier than a spoon, which he inevitably turns over so it all falls off!

it does of course depend how well your ds can handle it though, don't want him poking himself in the eye!

stoppinattwo · 02/05/2006 21:26

MY DH still cant use a knife and fork and he's well over 21!!!

Bozza · 02/05/2006 22:03

starlover I have a set of cake forks and fruit spoons that came from my Grandma. They are ideal for the children.

Original poster

pipo · 02/05/2006 22:46

Well... I tried DS with the loaded spoon on the high chair tray. DS grabbed it straight away in his left hand......and used his right hand to pick the food off the spoon to put in his mouth! We did progress to me putting the loaded spoon in his hand a few times but he got a bit worked up so I went back to the spoon on the tray ploy. I am pleased it went so well,I just need to be very patient I think and not rush him as he did feed himself with the spoon a few times before it all got a bit much for him. I made twice as much tea as normal for him which was just as well as he was a bit encrusted by the end-I remember now what put me off before.

OP posts:

starlover · 02/05/2006 22:59

they're great aren't they bozza?

sounds like good progress pipo... he's still very little, but he's figuring it out!

chipmonkey · 02/05/2006 23:15

Cake forks? You are all frightfully posh.

misdee · 02/05/2006 23:18

dd3 ate a full roast yesteray whilst holding a spoon. she didnt use it, except to poke the handle at a potato.

chipmonkey · 02/05/2006 23:30

Fingers were invented before forks! And definitely before cake forks!!!

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