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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

When do they start to feed themselves with cutlery

17 replies

mrsflux · 30/12/2009 13:25

As above really. I know it's way too early for ds - he's only 9 months!
Just wondering really as he is fab at finger food but doesn't really get how to use a spoon.

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LIZS · 30/12/2009 13:28

dd was just over a year - she got bored waiting for me ot feed her one day so did it herself!

needtomoveon · 30/12/2009 13:33

IMVHO actually eating at this stage is a lot more important than cutlery. some babies seem to be more adept/interested than others but his general interest in finger food and willingness to eat it (as opposed to sticking it in his ear or offering it to the cat/dog) is a good sign. Leave him a spoon to play with when you are doing yoghurt or make really thick soup and see if he is interested. But a word of warning - spoons can be even messier than fingers (think projectile yoghurt four feet across the room )

LowLevelBahHumbug · 30/12/2009 13:36

I would agree with needtomoveon, give him a spoon at every meal (and close your eyes to the mess!) whilst you are feeding him. Just let him play with the spoon so he can get a feel for it and eventually he'll start trying to feed himself.

moaningminniewhingesagain · 30/12/2009 13:36

DS is just turned 12mo and I now give him cutlery every time, just the last few weeks.

Fork easier than spoon as he can stab the food easier than scoop it up and laughs every time he catches a bit.

I let him self feed with thick fromage frais but not runnier yoghurts, still makes a terrible mess though

Gargula · 30/12/2009 13:40

Hi
My DS is just over 2 and still likes me helping him out with the cutlery!!
[really should get tougher emoticon]

mamakoukla · 30/12/2009 13:51

We gave DD spoons to play with before she started rice cereal at 6 mths. When she began solids, she also showed an interest in self-feeding (fingers and spoons) and began to regularly feed herself at 12 mths. 18 mths accurate use of fork and could feed herself soup with little spillage. Having said that, she does use a fork but often decides that certain foods were meant for fingers! It's an ongoing exploration.

StealthPolarBear · 30/12/2009 13:53

Spoons and forks somewhere between 12 and 18 months
Starting to use a knife now (coming up to 3) to cut / butter etc

BikeRunSnowflake · 30/12/2009 14:04

DS has just started at 15 months.

minervaitalica · 30/12/2009 14:50

DD only started now to feed herself properly - 17 months. Used fingers from 8 months though!

sabinar · 30/12/2009 22:31

my DS is almost 2yrs and I've been giving him cutlery for probably the past 12 months and he still prefers either to use his hands or for me to feed him. Apparently he's not a cutlery guy... yet!

SazzlesOnASled · 30/12/2009 22:38

DD2 is 16mths and just starting to use a spoon, but she seems to believe you need to turn the spoon upside down to get the food off . DD1 is 3.1 and eats well with fork and spoon. Knife hit and miss, but she still likes to be fed too

magnolia74 · 30/12/2009 22:39

Ds1 is 3.1 and still prefers fingers
He's had cutlery since about 1yr but ignores my gentle persuasion!

maxybrown · 30/12/2009 23:53

DS is 2.3 and MR Independant, used spoon from about 10 months (but messyish although competant with it at 12 months) now enjoys trying to use a knife and wants to prepare everything himself too (butter toast etc)

He does a lot of the time pick the food up to put it onto his fork Tonight though he kept knife and fork in his hands the whole time for first time ever. I had already cut the food but it was interesting to watch him as he did the use the knife to push it onto the fork and I have never shown him. If you can cope with mess then go for it!! I think anything physical be it gross or fine is my DS's strong point though

pigletmania · 31/12/2009 08:06

My dd 2.9 uses a fork or a spoon (if finding it difficult to pick up peas and other slippery foods), however i dont think she has the control yet to use and knife and fork together like we do(i was late learning myself as i am dyslexic). I would probably expect her to be between 3.5-5 years when learning as it does requires some coordination.

pigletmania · 31/12/2009 08:08

I have tried to show her how to use knife but no, not just yet i think we will wait a bit plenty of time to learn.

MrsBadger · 31/12/2009 09:19

dd (2.5) can use a knife to chop and spread but not with a fork in the other hand yet

pigletmania · 31/12/2009 11:35

My dd can use a knife to spread things and chop but not knif and fork together i feel that she is a little too young at the mo tbh. I was 11 when i learnt to use a knife and fork in a proper way not caveman style . Dont know why my parents never corrected me, a girl at school showed me and it was so simple the way she showed it

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