When to introduce cutlery?

[BotBotticelli]

DS is 9mo and I started weaning him at 5mo. He loves his food and eats a wide variety of things - a mixture of finger foods and I spoon feed him too.

At each meal I try to make sure he feeds himself some things and I use a spoon for some other things (eg for dinner last night he has spag Bol which I spoon fed him, and then some brocoli florets as finger food and slices of nectarine for pudding.)

My DM made a comment last week about how I ought to e starting to try and get him to use a little fork at around 10 months old....this sounds very young to me? When did you start getting your DS to use baby cutlery? DS seems quite happy using his fingers and being fed by me. Should I be in a hurry to change this? Xx

I gave DS a fork from about 10m much easier than a spoon for them to manage
He was feeding himself from early on, it was great.

Just offer spoon and fork to him and let him get on with it - he will take it or not .

DS1 never touched anything wet or sticky so useda fork from around 9 months old to impale pieces of fruit and toast.
DS2 loves his finger food and is a very messy eater - even now, he is now 9.... years

No right or wrong ages IMO, as in so many things wrt child development.

Btw, by the time DS3(5) and 4(3) came along, I did not worry about these kind of things any more - they all eat, they all use cutlerly now, we can take them to restaurants (well, the family friendly ones).
Don't sweat it too much.