Another feeding question- feeding themselves

[Susan]

How old was your toddler when they started feeding themselves (all the time using cutlery)

My LO is 18 months and apprently by now they should be able to feed themselves using a spoon. He can and does but very quickly gets bored and resorts to using his hands (nice, yes I blame his father!). Just wondering if its a 'grip' issue with him which apprently some babies have (difficulty holding spoons etc)

Thanks

[Fuschia]

My latest has been managing it since about 12 mOnths ... The others it was much much later

I put his success down to lots of watching other people, and having the best spoons (baby Bjorn deep round ones) with yoghurt or soup served in a small handled cup rather than a bowl

I do think 2+ is pretty normal

[KateW]

I've been wondering this too. My LO is 20 months and whilst she can perfectly well put a loaded spoon in her mouth (and has been able to do so for months), she too gets bored and sits there like a sparrow, waiting for me to feed her! I'm making more of an effort to encourage her to pick up the spoon and do it herself, some days she's much more up for it than others. The thing is, she is such a good eater and wolfs down her food, that she can't get it in quick enough herself. I'm sure she'll hit a point where she'll become more independent and want to do more of it herself; until then, I guess i'll just keep encouraging and praising her when she does it herself.

[etta166]

My kids have both been early with wanting to use cutlery, so mixed between spoon/fork and fingers at about 12m, and then they very confident with cutlery at about 15m. They both hated being fed, would scream at me and snatch the spoon from me if I tried, so I never really bothered that often.

However, even my 3yo will still feed himself with his hands from time to time, and my 16mo will almost always eat some of the meal with her hands. Not only is every child different, but they also vary hugely within themselves from day today.

I remember it being a question in the health visitor 2 year check up - can your child self feed with a spoon? So I'd guess that being able to by 2 is normal, but that doesn't mean that it will always be the preferred way...

[njc97]

Our 3.5 year old used a spoon almost immediately. However he still insists on eating rice (and other things) with his fingers. Bit messy in a restaurant last weekend...

[Saffron]

My 2.5 yr old also likes to use her fingers! She could use a spoon from around 1 yo, but always put it aside in favour of fingers.

[Fuschia]

Eating with fingers is one way they enjoy their food, exploring the texture and temperature etc... I not think there should be a rush into fussing too much about cutlery, to be honest. Main thing is to enjoy eating as an enjoyable and social activity. A spoon is just a tool to assist with the practicalities of sloppy food!

[Ruth_Baldock]

2.5yr old; around 16mo, but he still prefers using his fingera for everything despite not doing BLW w/him.

1yr old: Laughs in the face of cutlery, uses her littl fat hands to eat absolutely everything. Did BLW with her.

[KatDew]

My eldest took forever to use cutlery but was BLW so was self feeding, he just prefered hands.

My twins took to cutlery early and were succesfully using spoons and forks at around 12 months. I have no idea whether this is due to a desire to remain clean or just because they are copying their brother?

[srisky]

I would try not to worry (easier said than done) about cutlery versus finger feeding versus spoon-feeding, as in my (limited) experience when it comes to feeding they do what they want - the phrase 'you can take a horse to water...' comes to mind. As long as you are offering your baby the opportunity to explore and have a try themselves then they will get there in their own time.

From what I have seen of babies of a similar age to my own (approx. 17months), they are all good at different things - for some it's fine motor skills, others it's gross motor and others it's language and then a combination of the three.

To me, it sounds like your son is quite smart and efficient - why bother with all the effort of using a spoon when hands are much easier?!

[Susan]

Thanks srisky, was kust wondering if it could be got to do with weak grip. Apparently some toddlers need help to develop it, toys etc. Anyone have any experience of this?

[srisky]

Ooops, sorry, Susan - missed that bit of your post and no specific advise to offer on that, I'm afraid. Have you noticed any problems with his grip when using other things e.g toothbrush, toys etc?

[Fuschia]

I don't think a lack over enthudiasm for a spoon necessarily means much to be honest

If you are worried about his grip, though, the gp can refer him to be assessed at sunshine house