Each milestone a toddler meets is a move from stationary baby to a functioning little person. This is a huge help for parents, who can be anxious trying to figure out if the child has eaten enough.
Plus, when a child gets the proper vitamins and essential nutrients, she will continue on the trajectory of growing and developing. When your child starts to feed himself, he is tapping into his fine motor skills. It can be a real giggle session watching your small fry learn to maneuver his way around a dinner plate, but every time he smashes bananas all over his face or spoons his favorite nibbles into his mouth, he's actually cementing muscle strength and coordination into his memory. These skills will continue to improve far into childhood and help him with a lifetime of daily functions.
Down the road, strong fine motor skills will help him write legibly, type on a computer keyboard, turn pages in a book, and brush his hair and teeth. It can be exciting to have your sprout saddle up to the dinner table with you now seating table for three!
At around 8 to 12 months, your child will begin to use her thumb and index fingers to feed herself, Dr. Chung says. So, believe it or not, it's acceptable for her to start playing with her food using her fingers. Between 13 to 15 months, she will start using a spoon, and by 18 months, she will start using her utensils much more consistently. Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals.
When can your toddler be expected to use silverware to feed herself? It all depends on how much practice she gets. Back to Top. In This Article. Continue Reading Below. Recommended Reading. Calcium for Toddlers and Kids. View Sources. Utensil use allows for more options when eating meals, it fosters more independence, and potentially lets you enjoy generally less messy meals! Like any skill, when a child masters it will be different for each and every one.
For example, if a baby or toddler has been spoon fed their entire life, or perhaps have only had minimal experience self-feeding, they may not have mastered the skill of accurately bringing food, or a utensil, to their little mouths with precision. It all really depends on the amount of practice and encouragement they get. Mess will always be a factor! Good question! The best place to start is by modelling utensil use.
Give them a utensil to play with, wave around, and mouth. When mealtimes actually start, there are a few things you can do. This method keeps baby in control of the feeding process and gives her the practice she needs to master that hand-eye-coordination! Mom said before, she would always turn the spoon the opposite way and bite the other end. Now she has gotten it after some practice! She enjoys yogurt and soup now. You can also simply dump some puree directly onto the highchair or into a bowl , and allow them to try and dip into it on their own and self-feed.
Nothing replaces independent practice! This can work for a lot of people to help their baby get the scooping motion. I often see babies not exactly loving this method because sometimes we overdirect, and they just want to do it all themselves!
Baby Products. Bookmark BookmarkTick BookmarkAdd save. When should I give her a spoon? How about a fork? By Erin van Vuuren. Plus, more from The Bump:. Next on Your Reading List.
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