BLWs- when did you give your child a spoon?

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

ds is 11mths and does brilliantly with his fingers (even the spaghetti we had tonight!) He seems to manage pretty much most things, which is great, as with 2 other monsters small children to monitor/ nag at mealtimes, it is a godsend not to have to feed him. However, things like yoghurt/ soup etc obviously are less amenable to manual acquisition! Up until now I have been feeding him these things, but just wondering when I can expect him to do it himself [lazy mum emoticon] My girls were brought up on the spoon-fed puree system, so I'm not sure when to let the wee guy fly solo with the cutlery! Any advice welcome!

Ah, thanks! I've kind of started giving him the sppon and the yoghurt pot when there is just a small amount left (how mean is that!?) just so he can practice, but haven't really had the guts to "go live"! Guess I need to suit us all up in those overalls forensic people wear, erect one of their "tents" around us and just go for it, huh?

DD has always had a spoon and I've had one to sort of show her what to do and shovel the odd bit in when it looked like all was landing on the floor. she mostly used to wave it around but got used to it and seeing what it should be used for.

She is now 17 months and can use a spoon or fork quite well, but has been trying to use them to good effect since about a year old.

Now I'm not even allowed to hold the yogurt pot for her; she just pushes me away.

Ahh!Thanks , LL! And think of its alternative uses- I now have this lovely vision of me sitting with said hose at the ready, waiting for the first member of the family to say "EWWW, What IS this? I won't like it!" (DH beware!)

Still trying to get him used to a spoon at 12 months. He'd still rather use his fingers, especially when it's something messy like yogurt or readybrek.

Makes for lots of cute photo opportunities with food all over his hands, face and hair though.

It's spaghetti sauce that makes me laugh; it obviously tastes better once it's been rubbed all over your head! It makes for good conditioner as well as DDs hair is in beeeooootiful condition

and she can't pronounce the "sp" in spoon.....so she calls it a balloon (but pronounced as if she were French; tis very cute)

My 11 month old refuses to be spoon fed at all but does often demand a spoon. Sadly he is not very competent with it. He will spend ages putting it on top of his food and then carefully conveying the empty spoon to his mouth- repeat ad infinitum.
This is very similar to his technique for putting on socks -balance sock carefully on top of foot, then look surprised when it falls off as he crawls away

Yesterday!

DS is 7 months and a bit and has resisted any spoon feeding thus far. But I managed to get some yoghurt in him yesterday and he's now feeding himself with the spoon. It's kind of a one-in/one-out policy. I give him one loaded with yoghurt, he eats it, waves it about, etc, and then I swap the empty spoon with another full one. It's quite an efficient (but very messy) process with only seconds between the hand off. I reckon he gets about 60% of it in his mouth.

FaintlyMacabre

I think your child and mine are kindred spirits!! Putting socks and shoes on by sitting them on top of his feet (even if he is already wearing socks and shoes) and concentrating so hard on positioning his empty spoon. It breaks my heart really when he gets nothing in his mouth in return.

To the OP, DS has had the spoon to play with/loaded up by me since day 1 practically. But to be honest, I've done a bit of a mish mash of BLW and spoon feeding, no purees though.

Just had to post, you ladies have really made me laugh tonight, talking about all the spoon waving (laugh) my little girl does the same thing