We're rounding out Kitchen and Bathroom month here and we wanted to at least touch on this important part of table etiquette: using utensils. If things are getting messy...well, we can't help there- but we do have a few useful tips...
You should be prepared for a mess as you enter this stage, so make sure you have a good bib, possibly a splat mat under the table, and a lot of patience as your toddler learns this new skill.
Our best tip is to find a good spoon and let your toddler go at it. Start with something thick that will stick to the spoon. We've had success with applesauce, oatmeal, and yogurt. This way your toddler will be rewarded for their efforts with at least a little bit of food in every mouthful.
The most interesting tip we found below is using shaved ice to teach your toddler: less mess to clean up and it'll soothe sore gums at the same time. A nice idea for the summer months.
More tips:
• Introducing Silverware from Foodie Mama.
• Ten Tips for Getting Your Kids to Use Their Utensils
• Using Peanut Butter to Teach a Toddler to Eat * NOTE: Be sure to check with your pediatrician on this one about when to introduce nuts.
(Image: Good Housekeeping.com)
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The molded Baby Bjorn bibs are the best at this stage...the wide pocket catches all the drips and fills the gap between the babe and the high chair tray. Ikea has molded bibs, too.
One other tip would be to use a wide, flat bowl with straight up and down sides. Much easier to scoop out of.
thank you! perfect timing for me - i started letting my 14 month old use a spoon this morning. it was messy - but he was so happy and proud of himself every time he got food on the spoon and a bite in his mouth.
Cream of wheat also works great for learning to use a spoon. I have had more luck with adult yogurt or the Yo Kids yogurt rather than the baby yogurt which is too too drippy. Yo Kids sticks to the spoon better.
The "Eureka!" spoonfeeding moment for my younger child came when the rest of the family was eating ice cream for dessert. He wanted some, too, naturally, so we gave him a little bit in a bowl. After one taste, he was VERY motivated to use his very best spoon skills to get as much as possible in his mouth without spilling. The lesson stuck, and to this day he's been exceptionally proficient with utensils. :)
My little girl won't keep a bib on - so I take her shirt off. I also have a damp rag ready to go and she's learned to wipe her own hands on it. Still messy, but getting there. We've also had luck with the deeper silicon spoons that hold more - work well for rice and quinoa.
We followed Baby Led Weaning so gave our son a spoon to use himself from when we introduced solids at 5.5 months of age, before his first birthday he could confidently feed himself with a spoon. Although he still switches between cutlery and his hands depending on how hungry or keen he is on the food at 15 months he can use a metal knife & fork correctly and is working on using training chopsticks.
We have never had to do anything other than model how to use them. I have found appropriately sized versions which look as close as possible to ours and set his place exactly as I do ours. Other than praising him when he does a great job I don't intervene with how he feeds himself, he wants to eat like us so learns well in his own time.
Just started trying to teach daughter how to use cutlery so thanks! She was able to use a fork successfully this week yeah!