Silverware

At what age did your kids use a spoon and fork? And what about plates? My dughters just turned one and while I know they are not ready for either one, since they still like to throw things onto the floor. I am just curious... TIA!

 

Im very curious about this too

 

He have given my son a spoon/fork since before one when he started on table food. We have also always given him plates too, sometimes they are plastic and sometimes they are just our regular corningware plates that we use everyday. He introduced a cup when he was about 15/16 mths and has been drinking from that by himself since about 22mths. Now even though we have introduced everthing at that age he still uses his hands most of the time (he uses a spoon always when eating yogurt) but at dinner it's his hand. He will hold one of the silverware in one hand and eat with the other, so we have to remind him to use his fork or whatever and then he will pick it up and use it for a little while and go back to his hands. He also still dumps his plate sometimes when he's done but it's not as often as when we first started giving it to him.

I think the earlier you introduce it the better so they can get used to it. But I wouldn't expect them to get it right away. Let them hold it in their hand while you feed them with either their help or you use something else so they get used to it.

 

With my oldest, I introduced silverware around 15 months. The others all got it earlier, and these last 2 used both a fork and spoon well by 10 months (they were abnormal...they saw it and refused to use their fingers, always had to have silverware). The same with a cup (with no lid). The oldest around 15-16 months, the others all earlier. Last two got cups without lids at 11 months.

 

Around a year I got the bowls & plates with suction cup bottoms. If the tray is really clean, they stick fairly decent.

Right around 12 1/2-13 mos, I started introducing the bowl & spoon. At 14 mos, I introduced the fork. They LOVE using the silverware & get so proud when they do! Aiden is a big time eater & prefers to eat FAST, so he still uses his hands a lot. Conner will work a while & does GREAT with a spoon & is getting good with a fork.

Everything still gets thrown to the floor when they start getting full or bored if we can't intercept fast enough. If the bowl or plate gets dumped, it's usually on the tray. They get scolded, the food gets put back ONCE, & the 2nd time it happens they're done.

I'm afraid to try a cup without a lid. I've seen the boys try it in the bathtub & it's a disaster! I don't think I'm quite ready for that one....

 

I think I let them play with them while I was feeding them and then around 18 mos. let them try.....wow, have a hard time remembering! (This old age thing is tough!)