I realize that all babies learn at different paces. I'd like to know at what age yours started to learned, and how you went about teaching him/her. Id' also like to know MORE or LESS how long it took for him/her to master soon feeding (if ever, yeah right!). I also realize that they are likely to make a mess in order to learn. I have a hard time NOT controlling the situation. I really don't mind that he spills food on the floor or dets dirty. I just like meals to be done with as quickly as possible. I know I need to change that believe me I am working on it. Any advice, and please be nice.
2006-10-26 04:55:08 · 10 answers · asked by larechiga26 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
What is the average age a Baby/Toddler learns to spoon feed him/herself, & how do you go about TEACHING him/her? Sorry, for the typo!
2006-10-26 04:57:50 · update #1
We have been trying to teach my daughter to spoon feed herself since about 12 months old. She is now 13 months and is starting to get the hang of it. However, it is very messy! We have also found that giving her a baby fork works much better as she is able to "stab" the food (of course we are always nearby to keep an eye on her). I think the biggest thing, like you mentioned, is time. My daughter takes nearly 45 minutes to eat her dinner but she is so proud of herself when she is done! Just give your child his dinner someplace where you can do other activities while he is eating.
As far as teaching them, I think just hand them a spoon and see what they do with it. If he kind of grasps the idea that food goes on the spoon and the spoon goes in his mouth, he is ready. I would suggest starting with Macaroni and Cheese or mashed potatoes, they are easy to pick up with utensils!
2006-10-26 04:59:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My child was about 8 months old when I started to let her take the spoon herself. Our course there was a mess, but what I did was basically feed her most of her meal. Then when everything was almost done, I would give her the spoon herself and let her try to eat it. If you keep her/him right next to you in the kitchen, you can clean up the dishes, the table and everything else (except for their little mess) while the child is exploring. You cant rush these things, it takes time. By the time she was one and a half she could eat by herself.
2006-10-26 05:16:41 · answer #2 · answered by jam_psb 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When my son was 10 months, he refused to eat anything he couldn't feed himself. After a couple of days of finger foods, I distracted him by giving him his own spoon to hold while I fed him. It worked. At that age, he would just dip the spoon in the food over and over, without bringing it to his mouth. But it worked to distract him.
At 18 months, he can now eat mashed potatoes with a spoon (they stick to the spoon even when turned upside down). I still feed him a lot of finger foods. I'm scared to let him use a fork, but will sometimes put a spoon on his tray for him to experiment with. He doesn't usually get TOO messy. He can eat yogurt also but it is more messy than mashed potatoes.
I have a hard time coming up with activities to do day after day... so taking 45 minutes to eat a meal is okay with me, that's less time I have to try to fill. Could you tidy the kitchen while he eats/plays so you don't feel like time is being wasted by waiting for him? My laundry room is right next to the kitchen so I do laundry while he's eating.
2006-10-26 13:46:57 · answer #3 · answered by Mommy Girl 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It can take quite a while for a child to learn to use spoon properly. I started by giving my baby a spoon to play with when she was about 9 months old. Just let them bang it around on the tray and get used to holding it. When she was closer to turning one, I began helping her to use it, hand-over-hand (put your hand directly on top of the child's and move the spoon) to scoop and put the spoon to her mouth. Most children have figured out how to do this (with guidance from an adult) by 15-24 months (with some spilling). By 30 months, a child should be able to use a spoon with very little spilling off. It takes lots of practice, so the more time you allow him to try on his own, the faster he will get the hang of it. You have to allow him to learn at his own pace, and if you keep rushing in to do it for him, he won't have the opportunity to practice and develop this skill. I know they make a huge mess when they first start- but it is worth it when they are able to hold the spoon correctly and get it all in their mouth! My daughter is now 34 months, and has been holding the spoon properly for about 12 months. Usually the only reason she spills now is that she is so busy talking, it falls out of her mouth! Relax, and let him practice... just use lots of bibs!
2006-10-26 08:10:31 · answer #4 · answered by dolphin mama 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My baby is six and a half months old now and we have been feeding solids for a month and a half. Our pediatrician suggested giving her a spoon of her own to hold while she eats, and just dodging it with my spoon. She's already putting the spoon in her mouth between bites, and is pretty accurate and correct with it.
Feeding them is a messy business, isn't it? And it does take time to let them learn. I understand about wanting it done. We are so used to just sitting down, shoveling it in ourselves that we want our babies to learn to do the same. I have the same problem, being uptighht about getting through and keeping her on her schedule...
Good luck!!!
2006-10-26 05:01:13 · answer #5 · answered by ♥♥♥ Mommy to Two ♥♥♥ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i also use to want mealtime to be over but with a toddler (mine is 15mo) you have to realize that playing w/the food, spoon, sippy cup is part of learning. my sons likes to throw spagetti on the floor and eat his fruit off the table, not his plate. it use to drive my batty but now i just relax listen to the news and let him play until i see no more food making into his mouth. he has not mastered the spoon as of yet but he tries everytime and one day i know he will be a great spooner!!!!
2006-10-26 05:36:40 · answer #6 · answered by Lori C 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i never allowed mine to eat with their hands as infants/toddlers i fed them with utensils, and as soon as they could hold a spoon they had one, mastering it was about the age of 2 for all. (i mean when they got it all in their mouths and not on their clothes.)
2006-10-26 05:16:31 · answer #7 · answered by Kelly D 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
wow, i'm surprised at some of the answers. my son is 22 months now, but by about 14 months old i'd say, he was eating anything on a spoon by himself. cereal with milk, soup, noodles, you name it. i guess it was because i just gave him the spoon and said 'eat by yourself' once he turned about a year and i just helped him along. he now uses a fork to poke foods as well, and is doing fine.
2006-10-26 15:05:30 · answer #8 · answered by itendstoday 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They can't do it "well" until about 2 years old. Around 1year to 18 months they will discover it's many functions and practice picking up food.
2006-10-26 04:59:47 · answer #9 · answered by Jody 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it really depends on the child....my son is 24 mos. and he can eat w/ utensils quite well, but sometimes he just wants to use his hands!!
2006-10-31 12:35:02 · answer #10 · answered by amethystaquarius0205 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋