advice on when to start cutlery !

[sweetbean]

my daughter is 18 months old and can feed her self finger food with no problems at all she also loves to dip her food in diffrent sauces but we have not as yet let her feed herself with a spoon or folk can i just ask what age is best to start this? thanks x

According to some weaning books, they start showing an interest around 9 months and should be encouraged but giving them their own spoon while you feed them with another, I should think she is old enough, try her with a plastic baby fork, that way she cannot harm herself.