Can we talk about spoon use?

[Deleted]

I am rarely a worrier about milestone stuff. Butttttt

Thad absolutely sucks at using a spoon. Like he can't really do it. He can sort of get really stiff yogurt or oatmeal into his mouth but he usually turns it over and sticks the spoon in his mouth up side down or sideways. Crap goes everywhere and he gets annoyed and asks me to do it.

Same with the fork.

How well does your kid do with a spoon?

[The Foozzler]

Tyler loves to use a spoon or fork, but he is terrible with it. He usually gives up and holds it while eating with his other hand.

[TrudyCampbell]

Violet sucks at the spoon, is pretty good with the fork. We've rarely worked with the spoon though, we've just really started pushing it recently.

[Na]

A does exactly what you are describing. Then he uses it as a catapult. Then he throws it at the dog. Then he stuffa both hands into yogurt. Then he shakes them spraying yogurt everywhere. Then he styles his hair with said yogurt. End scene.

[teamhayes]

Throws it and shovels with his fist

[Regina Philange]

We have to practice more. Lately it's a win if he eats anything never mind a utensils.

I'll try stepping it up.

[charmediamsure]

Jack does really well now; he rarely loses any food. But at the beginning he used to turn it over all the time. I think he's doing so well with it because he has always refused to let us help him so he's had a lot of practice.

[jenbelle]

Mar 8, 2014 22:05:06 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

Tyler loves to use a spoon or fork, but he is terrible with it. He usually gives up and holds it while eating with his other hand.

This is Joshua too. And he does the same thing you described with the spoon. 

[bebeetmoi]

Are you using a baby spoon, or a teaspoon? DD does well with utensils, but I found when we were starting out that an actual small spoon (teaspoon) was easier for her than a baby spoon. 

[Deleted]

Max is pretty good with a fork but terrible with a spoon.

[silverjm]

Not great. What I've really found helpful is I let him use my measuring spoons. They have nice deep bowls so stuff doesn't tip out or roll off as easily if he doesn't keep it level as he brings stuff to his mouth.

[mumegs]

Macy has gotten pretty good with the spoon lately but she eats yogurt every morning w a spoon, applesauce a lot and macaroni and cheese a lot too. We have been working on it for a long long time like since last summer. She's not as good with the fork, she can't really figure out how to stab anything with it.

[jamaga2583]

M really sucks at spoons. He prefers to use them as paintbrushes while he eats his oatmeal/yogurt/whatever with his hands. Then fingerpaints with whatever it is he is eating.

[imimahoney]

Ari is great with a spopn but sucks with a fork. I vote for nbd.

[AndyCohen]

Not good. She dips the spoon in her yogurt instead of scooping so it takes her FOREVER to eat that way. The problem is, once she gets bored in the high hair, the meal is over. So if I want her to finish her yogurt, I have to take over and feed it to her. She can't stab with the fork, so I'll usually stab for her, then set the fork down and then she'll pick it up and put it in her mouth. I need to start working with her more, but meal times are already a pain in the ass. Ugh!

[bigapple]

Mar 8, 2014 22:10:13 GMT -5 bebeetmoi said:

Are you using a baby spoon, or a teaspoon? DD does well with utensils, but I found when we were starting out that an actual small spoon (teaspoon) was easier for her than a baby spoon. 

Agreed. C is so much better with regular metal utensils than the baby ones. I don't know how anyone could pick anything up with a crappy baby fork or bitty spoon.

[creamsiclechica]

She is good for approximately three minutes, then realizes hands are better, uses them for the rest of the time, even for yogurt, etc. she can't use a fork to save her life. She does try to brush her hair with a fork like she's Ariel or something. Dinglehopper!

[TrudyCampbell]

Mar 8, 2014 22:51:52 GMT -5 creamsiclechica said:

She is good for approximately three minutes, then realizes hands are better, uses them for the rest of the time, even for yogurt, etc. she can't use a fork to save her life. She does try to brush her hair with a fork like she's Ariel or something. Dinglehopper!

[monkeybabe]

We had to get Zoe shorter spoons. She was absolutely awful at using the infant spoons. I don't know what Thad is using and we've never done soup, but she's really good with yogurt, oatmeal and ice cream type stuff.

[sunnysong]

W is good with utensils, but I think it's mostly because he had to figure it out quickly at daycare from around 16 months. He was bad at it at first, but the more he practiced, the better he got. He really likes to eat too, so I think he had good motivation to figure it out.

[abbypug19]

Abigail is pretty good with a fork and spoon. I realized she's much better with regular sized metal utensils than with the kiddie ones. Sometimes she'll use her other hand to load up her forks though. Her only problem with the spoon is that once she puts it in hey mouth she uses the other hand to push the food in more or take some out lol.

[biblionerd]

Fiona is great with a fork and spoon, but Linus still sucks lol. She's whooped him on pretty much all fine motor skills though.

[laurensmomma]

Mar 8, 2014 22:10:13 GMT -5 bebeetmoi said:

Are you using a baby spoon, or a teaspoon? DD does well with utensils, but I found when we were starting out that an actual small spoon (teaspoon) was easier for her than a baby spoon. 

I was going to say exactly this. Half the time L uses a teaspoon or even a small regular fork, and it seems like she has an easier time using those.

[devotchka]

Max is decent w/ the spoon when it is something sticky or goey that goes easily on the spoon, like yogurt or pureed (thick) soups, etc. It's harder for him when it is a very liquid-ey soup and he asks for help. He is not great at getting a lot of food onto the spoon - and I think he can do it but he asks for help because it's easier. He loves forks and I've realized he is a lot better at using a metal fork so I give him the gerber ones bc they are plastic w/ a metal fork part, whereas the ikea plastic ones we have he can barely use. He can't really scoop up food w/ it but he can fork things... sometimes. Today I made roasted broccoli and chicken. It was taking him forever to use the fork and he was giving up so I just told him to use his hands and he ate a ton of it and loved it. He often gives up very quickly w/ food bc while he has learned to use utensils in theory, he's still not great at it and it seems like it frustrates him.

Anyway, it's a work in progress but I'm not sure where he needs to be as far as milestones go. I need to figure that out I guess :/

ETA These are the utensils that seem to work best: www.amazon.com/Gerber-Graduates-Kiddy-Cutlery-Piece/dp/B008X6RGZK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1394341219&sr=8-3&keywords=gerber+graduates+utensils

They have them at target. We have the spoons too.  

[Deleted]

He has a little metal spoon and the gerber metal fork. I think he just hasn't practiced enough but now he just doesn't want to. Hands and mom are so much more efficient.

[musiclover]

He does really well, we use the little metal ones.

[sallyowens]

The feeding specialist at my office recommends the take and toss spoons and forks. E does really well with that brand.

[puppylove64]

L is really good with them. He has wanted his own utensils since he was probably 8-9 months. He always has one with his meals and I rarely ever feed him. He is solely responsible. Some nights he gives up and eats spaghetti or yogurt with his hands and sometimes he eats applesauce without a mess at all. He is free to do dinner on his own and we just clean up the mess when he is done. I feel like practice is the best way to learn. Good luck!

Eta we just use plain ole baby spoons and forks, nothing fancy

[carawestt]

Lincoln's actually really good with both a spoon and a fork. He still does flip the spoon with thick food like yogurt but if it's something that will fall off, he knows not to flip it. We use the munchkin spoons and the plastic kid spoons and forks from IKEA.

[kandrze1]

She's pretty good with a spoon. I usually give her plastic gerber spoons, but she's okay with a metal spoon. She has trouble putting too much food on her spoon sometimes. She's not that good stabbing with a fork yet. I know this is something daycare works on during meals.