Spoons and Forks
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
United States
July 11, 2009 12:09pm CST
How old was your baby when they started using a spoon or fork well?
I was just watching my 18 month old son eat some applesauce and was surprised at how well he was using his spoon. We started giving him spoons quite awhile ago for him to practice with, but mostly he just played with them. Now he's using them like a pro.
I don't think my twins were doing so well at his age. I remember they had "Lil Dippers" which they used to dip in yogurt and other type foods. This was for practice using spoons and forks. I remember they made a huge mess with their dippers and got more yogurt ON themselves than in!
I never gave the younger 2 those lil dippers, just a spoon, even though I knew the spoon would be used more as a toy than an eating utensil!
Guess practice does make perfect.
Does your little one use spoons or forks? At what age do you let them hold a spoon for practice? What age did they start using the spoon properly?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
20 Jul 09
Time will tell with my son. But my daughter was right at 18 months. As I remember, she did a pretty good job. And shortly there after was a pro. Oh. Lil dippers! I had forgotten about those, guess I'll have to get ready for that experience again. Those were a big hit with my daughter and one nephew.
@ladymoonstone143 (1507)
• United States
14 Jul 09
My daughters started using utensils when they are about 2 years old. They still use their hands now and then but I buy all these colorful spoon and fork that it encourage them to use it. My oldest at 5 prefer to use the spoon and fork alternate in one hand if she thinks am not looking. But if we are all together eating, she would imitate us and uses it correctly.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
14 Jul 09
That is great. I think we started giving little sis a spoon at 12 month..a small spoon and she did get more food on then in her mouth but as you said practice makes it better. Lord sometimes even I still miss my mouth especially when I am doing something else while eating.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
12 Jul 09
I'm trying to think about how old my kids were. I think they probably were around 18 months old when they started using them good. I started them using spoons and forks early. As soon as they were eating table food I started giving it to them. I figured they could practice with them atleast. It is so cute to watch them try to use them the right way.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
13 Jul 09
I am actually not really sure. I know that my daughter did it a little bit sooner than my son. Or I should say did it well sooner than my son. I think I gave him utensils a little bit sooner, but he was not really good at it till he had lots of practice. I think my daughter just liked food too much to drop any off her spoon or fork. lol
@Wylkeridge (4)
• United States
12 Jul 09
My youngest daughter is "using" a spoon and she's about 18 months and some days she's decent and other days it's put down for fingers. My oldest was horrid until nearly three and my middle was decent about 20 months watching her sister.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
11 Jul 09
My younger one started toddler school at 18 months and started using a spoon around then...and he had it perfect in the first shot. My younger one started school later....around the age of 3 and he didn't have problems using a spoon then.
You must be wondering what school has to do with spoons and forks. Well, I'm from India, and here we usually use our fingers for eating ...at home...and it's only at school that they insist the kids use spoons and forks.
