Using proper cutlery rather than kiddy stuff

[MNersanonymous]

Just wondering, at what age do people tend to get their kids to use proper grown-up cutlery rather than scaled down kiddy stuff?

I think ds was almost 5. As soon as he had learnt not to stab himself with a fork and not to put the knife in his mouth.

ds3 aged 3 still uses toddler cutlery and does put the knife in his mouth so thus will it remain for a while!
I do remember ds2 objecting loudly "But we're not babies!!!" when given the same toddler cutlery at the same age, but he couldn't have been any better than ds3 as he (ds2) has dyspraxia so even now at 9 isn't great with cutlery.

DD (3) has refused point blank to use toddler cutlery for the last 6 months or so. She knows I take the knife away pronto if there's any messing around...

my ds (nearly 4) insists on using a 'grown up' fork, but we don't let him have a knife...

DS is nealry six and although he uses proper cutlery, it's the desert cutlery from our canteen so it's a bit smaller than the stuff we use.

oh both mine do. ds is nearly 5

its not about it being safer imo, its just that its easier for them to use, being smaller

also its cute

Mine are 5 and 3 and generally use toddler cutlery (not the really small Winnie the Pooh-type stuff, just slightly scaled down metal knives, forks and spoons). Their dad lets them use grown up cutlery when he cooks but i think it's too big for their mouths.

DS2 eating ice cream with a grown up spoon is the equivalent of me eating ice cream with a serving spoon imo.

DS uses a dessert fork and bread knife (as opposed to the full size ones) in our cutlery set.

He's just 4

He also likes to use a proper sized spoon to eat cereal or pudding

Sounds like 'by 4 or 5' is the answer. I guess they have proper sized cutlery at school if they have school dinners not packed lunches?

dd3, who is 3, today put her plastic knife and fork back in the drawer and got herself big cutlery. she is now saying she is old enough for adult size cutlery.
'i dont want baby ones, i'm a big girl'

dh is trying to teach ds who is nearly 3 to cut with a knife and use cutlery 'properly', he is mad no? give me ammo pls.

Yeah, DD1 refused to use toddler cutlery after she started school. She uses our desert knifes and forks and a child-size (but bigger than toddler size) spoon.

Fishie - my 2.5 yo has a reasonable stab at cutting with a metal, toddler's knife. And she normally uses a fork. But she likes doing it. DD1 didn't use any cutlery at all until she was 4, unless we REALLY nagged.

If your ds is enjoying it, then your dh is not mad. But if your ds is not enjoying it, he is p*ing into the wind!

DS(22 months) only has metal cutlery, and happily uses adult size knife and fork. He likes cutting up his food (not always very successfully), and spreading butter etc with a knife.

DD is 3, nearly 4, and has used adult cutlery for ages, other than for her breakfast cereal when she insists on having her rabbit spoon (personalised christening present - metal cutlery). She does cut with a knife and fork so long as it is easy to cut (couldn't manage her jacket potato skin today for instance). She also cut up some mushrooms for me today - using a table knife, would not have let her loose with a sharp knife.

DS is 5 ans still prefers scaled down smaller cutlery. I don't see why there's any rush to get him to stop.

It's not a safety issue for us though, he uses sharp knives in the kitchen when he's helping me cook.

What happens at school - do they get given full size cutlery in reception?

I've always seen smaller cutlery at primary schools, not full sized stuff.

Never used childrens cutlery here, it just never occurred to me. Once they were able to feed themselves they used the same cutlery as us.
Ooh I feel mean now.

We didn't phase out the childrens cutlery, our boys just never used it! They went straight from weaning spoons to wanting the big ones like mummy and daddy.
But at nursery they use the smaller stuff, so they aren't fussed really.
DS1 is 3.4 and ds2 23m and they have both used the larger stuff ok since about 18m.

What got me thinking was a relative of mine who is 4 has toddler cutlery still whereas ds is not 3 yet and manages fine and indeed prefers full size stuff (with a few exceptions e.g. teaspoon instead of bigger spoons for desserts)

On a similar note, what age do you expect yours to sit through a reasonable length meal in a restaurant without leaving the table?

Ds is 4.3 and we have just started.

never used it

Ds has been eating at nursery with a knife and fork, cutting his own potatoes and using his knife to push food onto his fork, for a good few months. I know he does this at nursery, becasue they tell me what a good eater his is (the amount and they way he eats), but he struggles at home. We ignore, encourage and perservere, becasue I know he can do it.