training spoons/forks

Are the special trainer spoons and forks really worth it? Do they make it any easier to learn to use utensils? My kids are starting to get really interested in trying out the silverware. So far we're just giving them small spoons and forks, and they're not getting much food in their mouths, but they're also not poking their eyes out with the forks or anything.

 

We are using the plastic take and toss (gerber) forks with the girls. Thought of them chewing on metal silverware just skeeves me.

 

We used the Take & Toss ones too, mostly just because they're smaller and the forks are not sharp. But they had trouble spearing things with the forks sometimes, because they're... not sharp. So we switched to these cheap metal ones from Target (I found them in the $1 seasonal bin), which seem about the right size for their hands and mouths, but are more like regular silverware. When those break or get lost, I think I'll just start giving them salad forks and tea spoons.

 

We started off with plastic utensils at first too. We then switched to the Gerber ones with the gripper handles and metal spoon/fork.

 

We used the Gerber ones with the metal ends and the forks worked much better than the plastic set we tried at first... but the plastic Sassy set had the better (deep) spoon. Then, when their stuff was in the dishwasher, I let them try a regular salad fork and there was no going back. They didn't poke their eyes out To do it again, I'd give them a regular fork and those deep Sassy spoons.

 

We got the Sassy sets with the bent rubber handles, and the spoons are great for helping them learn to go from bowl to mouth without spilling ("helping them learn" being the key words). But the forks are just annoying. I gave them salad forks this morning for their eggs and they worked very well (and they're SHINY), though I don't think I'll be leaving them alone with them any time soon.