should i be teaching them how to use the spoon yet?

I guess I am trying to avoid the dreaded spoon=incredibly huge mess ordeal but I know it has to come none the less. I had tried several months ago but they just kept dropping it on the floor. Guess it's time to try again?? When did your kids actually master picking up food with a spoon and getting into the mouth?

 

I think I introduced it to them around this time. I would help them though and guide it. One of my daughters insists on using her fork/spoon and the other will get frustrated and revert back to using her fingers at times. Eventually they will get it. Just be close by to help avoid an even bigger mess.

 

I was dreading it too, but it really wasn't so bad. Mine were probably around 14-15 months when I started giving them a spoon/fork and bowl at meals. Yes, they still end up on the floor most of the time, but they do use them at least 60% of the time. The first time I tried, Madison thought it was so neat that she actually ate her peas (which is very iffy)!! To teach them, I'd just put the spoon in their hand and then help them scoop up food and get it to their mouth. I'd say try it and start giving them at every meal. They'll eventually get the hang of it and may suprise you at how quickly they pick it up. If they aren't interested, I wouldn't worry either, but I'd say it still wouldn't hurt to at least present them at every meal. Mine now eat cereal with milk on their own!

Also, I use the Take n Toss spoons and forks. I like it because if we go somewhere its not a big deal if they lose one, plus their all plastic, so I'm not worried about them poking their mouth too hard with the metal ones.

 

I was dreading it too, but it really wasn't so bad. Mine were probably around 14-15 months when I started giving them a spoon/fork and bowl at meals. Yes, they still end up on the floor most of the time, but they do use them at least 60% of the time. The first time I tried, Madison thought it was so neat that she actually ate her peas (which is very iffy)!! To teach them, I'd just put the spoon in their hand and then help them scoop up food and get it to their mouth. I'd say try it and start giving them at every meal. They'll eventually get the hang of it and may suprise you at how quickly they pick it up. If they aren't interested, I wouldn't worry either, but I'd say it still wouldn't hurt to at least present them at every meal. Mine now eat cereal with milk on their own!

Also, I use the Take n Toss spoons and forks. I like it because if we go somewhere its not a big deal if they lose one, plus their all plastic, so I'm not worried about them poking their mouth too hard with the metal ones.

I was dreading it too, but it really wasn't so bad. Mine were probably around 14-15 months when I started giving them a spoon/fork and bowl at meals. Yes, they still end up on the floor most of the time, but they do use them at least 60% of the time. The first time I tried, Madison thought it was so neat that she actually ate her peas (which is very iffy)!! To teach them, I'd just put the spoon in their hand and then help them scoop up food and get it to their mouth. I'd say try it and start giving them at every meal. They'll eventually get the hang of it and may suprise you at how quickly they pick it up. If they aren't interested, I wouldn't worry either, but I'd say it still wouldn't hurt to at least present them at every meal. Mine now eat cereal with milk on their own!

Also, I use the Take n Toss spoons and forks. I like it because if we go somewhere its not a big deal if they lose one, plus their all plastic, so I'm not worried about them poking their mouth too hard with the metal ones.

 

Sorry about the triple post, my computer locked up for a minute!

 

I started giving them a spoon/fork when they were about 20-24 mos old. They are now 2.5 yrs old, and my DD is just starting to master using it. She does pretty well with it. DS isn't as proficient with the spoon, but he seems to do well with the fork. I think he just likes spearing his bananas with the fork. It has become a game to him.

I have endured a lot messes in the last year, but I figured that they have to learn. I usually had to mop the floor after each meal because they made such a mess.

I would give them a demo, and let them try it on their own. I just showed them a couple of times. If they really want to learn, they will do it.

Good Luck

 

Mine started using the spoon at daycare at 12 months. The teacher said it was mostly "bang, bang, throw" and then they'd just use their hands. But I started giving them a spoon at home at 13 months, and it turned out that Sarah knew how to use it already! She's been eating yogurt with a spoon ever since (and amazingly, has not gotten any less messy ). We put big plastic bibs on them for every meal anyway, so it isn't that big a deal -- the mess mostly stays on the bib, the tray, or the face, but not on the floor.

Amy took longer to get the idea, like maybe 16 months. She is more a fan of the fork, although she will usually pick up the food in one hand and push it on the fork, then put the fork in her mouth.

It's a slow process, but the good news is that (for us at least) eating with utensils is no messier than eating without them.

 

I started the spoon and fork around 18 months since I was waiting for signs that they had the motor control to get it down a bit faster and not get so frustrated. They are really good at both now, although Nikki prefers her hands most of the time still ;-) I think it's entirely up to you when to try. You could always give it a shot and if they get too frustrated, try again in a few weeks.

 

:rotflmbo: master it? Heck, most days, I don't seem to have it mastered. Well, they are pretty proficient at it now. I'd say around 18 months is when I probably REALLY felt confident that I wouldn't end up with a huge mess from a spoon. They've been in daycare since they were one and the daycare has always used standard sized disposable plastic spoons with them so that's primarily what they've learned on.

 

We tried the first (successful) time today! hooray! We tried cream of wheat, which I loaded on the spoon for them, and then handed to them. It took about 6 tries for them to get the idea of what I wanted, but then once they got the hang of it it was fun for all, but the cleanup was heck! My pedi said 15 mo is a good time to start trying b/c thats when that aspect of motor control usually starts to kick in. Good luck to you. It looks like your little ones are about the same age as mine, so we're in this together!

 

I guess I better start trying to do this. :blush:

I am definitely finding I am doing things later with the twins than I did with my oldest DD. I guess because there are two of them now and sometimes it exhausts me just thinking of trying something new.

 

My girls just turned two and didn't show an interest in using a spoon until the last couple of months. I would wait until they show an interest. It's a very messy experience. I usually just strip my girls down to the diaper and then head to the tub with them.