How old before they stop eating with their fingers?

[colditz]

My ds is 2.5, and he will eat with his fingers unless I say, every mouthful, "Use your fork!"

I know i shouldn't let it get to me, but he doesn't understand a star chart yet.

to my shame, I use his friend as a good example, and say things like "Well, X always uses a fork/eats his potato/sits nicely, because he's a 6big^ boy isn't he. Can you be a big boy like X?"

Is this very wrong?

dd is 4 and would still use her fingers mainly , given the chance.

In the house I really am not bothered, unless it involves gravy or sauce or soemthing. They know when we eat out they are expected to use cutlery and will do, they are 3 and 5. I def wouldn't worry at 2.5. He wants to use his fingers, to explore and feel food as well as taste it - I would let him.

DD is 2.4 and loves to eat peas in gravy with her fingers!! (yep v. messy!) she will use a fork if pushed and a spoon is preferable for most things!

I used my fingers at breakfast (Starbucks marmite and cheese panini and muffin - yum, yum, yum!) and will have a sandwich at lunch (again fingers!) so I guess at 35, I'm still eating most of my food without cutlery!

Seriously, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I think they play with their food a lot at this stage and maybe you should just let him eat 'finger-friendly' foods - healthy sandwiches, veg and fruit until he's a bit older and can be 'reasoned' with/'bribed' with stars etc.

ds2 (5) eats a lot with his fingers unless reminded. When we eat out it's usually indian, thai or italian and he uses a spoon and fork then so I'm not too worried.

DS1 (about to be 13) still eats with his fingers from time to time. Actually he's very good with his knife and fork but we all eat chicken drums and wings with our fingers. Tbh with the number of people worrying that their kids don't eat, I think you should just smile and be glad that he has a healthy appetite

My dd2(15months) is more willing to use spoon than dd1 (3). I agree with the idea that be happy that they are eating and try not to worry . I think you just teach them how and some manners and let em get on withit. I try to remember that when my dd starts playing with her food, otherwise mealtimes drive u crazy.

My 13-year old sometimes eats with his fingers, or even worse, using a fork in one hand and his other hand as a 'knife'.

Well, he is American

ML he doesn't have a good appetite, it's crap, but I just don't worry about that as my appetite was crap at that age, and now I'm a heffer

I hate it when he eats yoghurt with his fingers!

ah yes.... yogurt!!!!!!!!!! What about giving him frube tubes?

That would be helpful, actually... is it true you can freeze frubes into icepole things?

yup! Which is a good idea until the blimming 7 yo decides to be in and out and in and out and in and out.... ad nauseum.... of the freezer. Grrrr.............

My 3 yr old uses her hands mainly, for meals like mousaka or spaghetti hoops, spag bol etc makes for a messy and amusing meal time!