Teaching my boys to use a spoon

We've been letting the boys experiment with using a spoon to feed themselves. I'm wondering what worked well for those of you who've been through it or are going through it. So far we've tried applesauce and fruit mixed with yogurt. Owen's pretty good with the spoon, but Ben holds the spoon in one hand and shovels fistfuls of sloppiness into his mouth with the other. The mess is out of control! I know this is just the deal, and they'll eventually learn, just wondering if you have any good suggestions for foods or methods that worked well.

Thanks!

 

Let them eat around older children. Works wonders!

 

Practice practice practice. Also control how much they have to work with.

 

I just helped them with a few bites and then let them go for it. The mess is INCREDIBLE, but how else will they learn? Just gotta let go and let them try!!

 

A great food suggestion is to mix baby cereal into yorgut to get it thick and sticky!! That stuff won't fall off the spoon.

I also love the high chairs that pull right up to the table--no trays so they are integrated into the family meal. Even if they mainly eat at other times, start giving them a little plate of something to eat when the rest of you sit down to eat. They will immitate and learn.

 

We would just help them and be sure they were holding it right. Other than that, practice, practice, practice. They will get it.

 

The only thing that made a difference for us was to have the right consistency of food. Really runny things don't work so well -- the best is something that really sticks to the spoon.

But it's mostly a question of practice.

 

Practice, practice, practice makes perfect. Also, try mashed potatoes or regular (instant) oatmeal.

 

We didn't really start until our boys were 18 months- we had tried a couple times before then but they would get frustrated. When we got them going at 18 months, they did pretty well. So, if it doesn't go so well, give it a few weeks and it will be a bit easier.

I agree with above suggestions. I would strain applesauce so it was less runny, or mash up a banana. Gerber used to make a good toddler cereal that would get good and soggy with milk, but I don't know if they still sell it, I stopped being able to find it.

Good luck- it will get less messy before you know it!

 

I found these spoons and have used them for all my boys when they've been learning. I think they work like a charm to hold the sticky stuff on the spoon longer. The holes create sort of a vacuum and the spoon itself is just the right size and shape for toddlers to learn. I have purchased them at Wal-mart and Babies R us.

 

QUOTE(~* dfaut *~ @ Mar 10 2008, 05:29 PM) [snapback]662268[/snapback]
I just helped them with a few bites and then let them go for it. The mess is INCREDIBLE, but how else will they learn? Just gotta let go and let them try!!

The same here w/my twins as I practice with them every day. They're getting better but it is still a huge MESS to clean up!

Diana w/Rianna and Justin (17.5 mos)

 

I agree w/Diane... I gave a short demonstration using the word "scoop" while showing the motion and then sat on my hands and left them to it. My rationale was the more you let them do, the quicker the process so I tried to avoid helping unless they asked. They were able to eat soup at a restaurant using a regular spoon without making a mess by 24 months so it's not like it goes on forever :good:

More food ideas... cottage cheese, cream of wheat, rice, corn, thick bean soup...