regressing with utensils?!

When we first giving the boys utensils (around 14-15months) they loved using them and really seemed to be getting the hang of the fork and somewhat the spoon. Now at 20 months they are now strictly using their hands to eat. I present them with utensils at every meal and most of the time they never touch them. They use the spoon backwards and by the time the spoon reaches their mouth, all the food has fallen out. Anyone else experience this? This started right at the beginning of the year.

 

My one daughter seems to be doing the same thing. She is completely capable of using her spoon but seems to prefer to manhandle all her food and toss it on the floor. I am assuming it is a stage, maybe the novelty of the utensils is worn off? She also dumps all food given to her in a dish out onto her tray. She's a real treat at the moment!

 

my girls are coming up on 3 & still eat with their hands at least half of the time. ardon: i think at this age, the way food feels is almost as interesting to them as how it tastes. i would just keep doing what you're doing (offering the correct utensils with every meal) & let them go to it however they want.

 

I agree with Rachel. My two are three and half the time they still eat with their hands. I would keep offering the utensils and they will come around to it. Interesting to note, my kids will ask for utensils at every meal and it's a crap shoot whether or not they use them.

 

Yup...my 3.5 year old still has to be reminded to use his utensils . I haven't been trying very hard with the girls as the mess is crazy but I feel like they will be 18 and still not using utensils the way things are going now :unsure:. I don't know how people do it with two, I would almost rather they eat with their hands to avoid the clean-up!!!!