Eating with utensils?

Question

At what age should a child be able to feed himself with a fork and spoon? My first son did at like 1 year and did fine. My second was taught everything the same way and is almost 2 and still won't feed himself. He will try somtimes but he can't get it and gives up. If it isn't finger food he just won't eat it, and then I end up feeding him just so he will eat.

I've tried not feeding him and making him do it himself but he refuses and when he won't feed himslef I don't want him to go hungry or malnurished, so that is not an option.

I can't just give him finger food all the time, because I think he should eat what the family is eating.

Any suggestions on what i can do or buy (like a special type) to get him to use his fork and spoon?

Answer 1

I can definitely understand the frustration you are experiencing, though it must be realized that the frustration is shared by him. Pushing him will only result in more refusal to try. There are special shaped spoons and forks by Gerber, they are not overly priced, and they have lots of great, fun colors. Do a mix, give him enough finger food to have something to eat and have some spoon and fork food on the plate as well, continue to place both by his plate and let him go. Eventually he will accept them on his own, every child develops in different stages, some can be as old as four before they start feeding themselves with spoons and forks, I would not worry at this point. I know how Mothers hate to hear this but just relax, and give it some time, he is doing fine for him. The happier a child is the more receptive they are to new things. He may just be the type that does not like change, and there is nothing wrong with this. My son was 2 and 1/2 when he started feeding himself using spoons (actually I had two that did this), one child that was 3 before feeding herself and three that began at age one. Everyone has different ways of accepting things and beginning on their own. Be patient, maybe he just likes the closeness he has with his Mommy and does not want that to change.

Answer 2

Every child is different in their learning. Just be patient and don't stop giving him fork and spoon...his frustration is part of his learning.

Not feeding him once or twice if he doesn't do it himself will definitely not make your child go hungry and certainly won't put him into a state of malnourishment. He'll get frustrated and hungry enough to start doing it himself. The key, however, is patience and persistence.

Answer 3

All kids learn at different stages. My son is 3 and a half, and he just finally figured out how to use a spoon, still doesn't use a fork though.

Answer 4

any special toys or something like that put in the microwave and tell him he won't get it back ever or else it should work it did at least 4 my cousin, or just make up an amazing story that will amaze him that has to do with eating w/ forks and spoons

Answer 5

He still lacks fine motor control. Some kids develop it early like your first son did. To engourage your child to eat by himself, let him eat things like puddings and yoghurt that will stick t o thespoon every time it is dipped into the bowl. also give him blocks to play with and help him stack them. encourage him to manually put the food onto the fork and then putting it into his mouth. He is actually quite normal. just have a little patience with him.

Answer 6

2 or 3 old

Answer 7

all kids learn at different paces, however "the baby" often refuses to do things for him/herself because everyone else often jumps in to do it for them first. target has some good plastic kid utensils, like "sporks". give hem those, and if he uses his fingers for mashed potatoes, fine. he'll grow out of it. they always do. hope this helps. ( i have a 9y and a 6y)