Using utensils

[legitsince86]

The cup thread reminded of yet another thing.

Utensils.

Have you started teaching LO to use a spoon and/or fork?

[legitsince86]

I have done it off and on. When she starts to get fussy during meals, I'll give her a spoon or fork depending on what we're eating. She uses both utensils in a stabbing motion. Most of the time I have to guide her hand to get food on the utensils but she is able to bring it to her mouth.

[Unknown]

She's pretty good, but does struggle getting the food on the fork or mad when the peas fall of the spoon.

[junewife]

DS knows how to use both a spoon and a fork, but when he's really hungry he ditches them after 10 seconds and uses his hands (which is most days).

[fiveohfive]

Just purchased a spoon/fork on Amazon... She will eat with them sometimes but prefers to use a chip or her finger to "scoop" (she doesn't eat the chip)

[annarose]

She has just started using a spoon, even though it eventually turns into more of a stabbing them a scooping. plus she holds it ackwardly when trying to get the spoon into her mouth with the food on it but I figure its age apropriate. She tries with the fork but its diffcult to get the food to stay on. we also use the Nuk ones

[lilqt3929]

We've been giving LO a spoon to use for a few months (the fat handled ones, as well) and just recently started giving her the fork to try. She does fairly well with the spoon but does want help scooping the food onto the spoon when the bowl isn't as full.

[zoly1103]

He's been using a spoon, although he's not very coordinated with it. We usually end up with yogurt all over his face and shirt. But now that he's doing it himself, he doesn't want me to do it for him. Which is good and bad.

I dropped him off at daycare one day and they were serving breakfast, which was oatmeal and all of the kids were using their hands to pick it up. I must have given a look because the teacher asked me if he uses utensils. I know it would be difficult for the teacher to help all of them at once, but I can't imagine what a mess that would be to clean up.

[happymama]

DD insists on using them, though she still just stabs until something sticks. She even insists on using chopsticks if we are, though she has zero luck with those so she just stabs away and intermittently picks something up with her fingers.

[smilingeyes]

We actually haven't tried yet. Either she eats with her fingers or I feed her if it's something super messy. I just bought a set of cutlery for her so we'll see how that goes!

[sugarkissed]

We use forks and spoons, but she needs a lot of practice! The food almost always falls off before it reaches her mouth, but she loves using utensils regardless.

[carli]

I'm trying to let DD get the hang of utensils but she's always been such a neat eater when I fed her and now she is so messy! LOL, I'm having to let go a little though. She's pretty insistent that she do it herself these days and comes home filthy from daycare anyway so it's getting easier. That said, she's not particularly skilled. lol

[zoly1103]

Jan 29, 2015 15:38:00 GMT -5 jnetx said:

Jan 29, 2015 13:58:05 GMT -5 zoly1103 said:

He's been using a spoon, although he's not very coordinated with it. We usually end up with yogurt all over his face and shirt. But now that he's doing it himself, he doesn't want me to do it for him. Which is good and bad.

I dropped him off at daycare one day and they were serving breakfast, which was oatmeal and all of the kids were using their hands to pick it up. I must have given a look because the teacher asked me if he uses utensils. I know it would be difficult for the teacher to help all of them at once, but I can't imagine what a mess that would be to clean up.

I was having this problem too...he wouldn't let me feed him once he discovered he could do it himself but eating one container of yogurt was taking half an hour and was a huge mess. I eventually had the genius idea to get a second spoon. He gets one to practice with and I get one to sneak bites in between his attempts. It works for him and he doesn't care that I'm feeding him as long as he has a spoon in his hand too. It's still a little messy but not as bad and much much quicker. Perhaps you've already tried this, but it helped us!

I hadn't thought of that. Good idea!

[ajaan113]

DS likes to have a spoon, fork or both (one in each hand) while he eats. He tries to use the spoon or fork to stab or pick up food. We usually put food on the spoon or fork and give it to DS. He will feed himself. He does a better job with the fork. We have Gerber/Nuk set.

[krose]

Dd can use a fork really well and generally uses it for most of her meal if it's out. She gets the concept of using a spoon (puts it into the food then to her mouth), but doesn't know how to really scoop so she doesn't get much with each bite.

[princessvespa1]

She's been using them herself since we started feeding her real food (not Purées). She is pretty good with a fork and a spoon.

[af1004]

DD has used a spoon since 8 months or so... I often gave her one when I was feeding her almost from the beginning. Of course she wasn't good with it at first but does pretty well now. But she still uses her hands a lot. And yogurt is the messiest. We use the nuk ones and a set I got at the dollar tree, they are small and light weight perfect for her.

[joi922]

J likes to use both a spoon and fork. But, he still isn't good at it, and will generally end up holding the utensil in one hand while he eats with the other.

[marley629]

We have tried but are far from succeeding....we haven't fully transitioned to sippies yet either..I have tried on numerous occasions but LO flips out when I give him his milk in them.

[amy11401]

We use both and his hands too! He is fair with using them....getting better. If he has a food such as yogurt and oatmeal he now wants to use his spoon to feed himself....not have me feed him.

[wowcheezits]

Nope, she just learned how to drink from a straw. Still doing finger foods here.

[redfraggle]

We started that as soon as, maybe even before, we started feeding her solids. My babies really loved playing with utensils, even if they weren't eating with them. We allowed them to follow a natural progression of playing with utensils to trying to feed themselves using them. DD is adept with a spoon and does ok with a fork. Both my kids usually eat with their fingers, though. I'll push utensil use more as they get closer to school age.

[salemkitty]

I offer him a spoon or fork. He uses them some. He will pick up food with his fingers to put on his spoon then put the spoon in his mouth. I usually feed him with a different spoon like jnetx said if it's oatmeal or applesauce (something in a bowl)