When Do Babies Start Using Utensils?
As soon as babies are born, they begin drinking milk, whether that be formula from a bottle or breast milk. As they get older, they begin growing teeth and gaining the ability to eat soft foods. From there on out, they hone their skills to eat adult food that we all know and love, such as juicy burgers, cheesy pizza, and even chewy candy!
Until then, your baby is continuously learning how to eat and chew. One of the skills they need to master on their journey to sophisticated eating is the use of eating utensils! Don’t expect your newborn to feed themselves with a spoon- but your 18-month-old just might!
Not sure when your baby should start working towards feeding themselves with utensils? Keep reading for more information!
When To Introduce Utensils
Introducing your baby to the use of eating utensils from the time they begin eating soft foods is a great way to get them used to the concept of eventually using them yourself. At six months old, when they begin trying new soft foods, they will have no ability to independently use utensils themselves, but they will be more than happy to snatch them out of your hand! Let your baby hold a spoon and chew on it while you grab another and feed them with that one.
Around 10-12 months, your baby may have the ability to use utensils independently, but they won’t be an expert by any means! They may clumsily bring some food to their mouth and drop it before it reaches its destination, and that’s okay. They can get used to holding the spoon and the process of feeding themselves, but they will spend most of their time eating with their newly learned skill of pincer-gripped eating.
By the time they hit 18-24 months old, they can usually use utensils a little more reliably- and a lot less mess than they used to! They may not use utensils all of the time, but they should have the ability to use them much more independently than at a year old.
How To Teach My Baby To Use Utensils?
Babies can be introduced to utensils as early as six months, although they won’t master the concept until nearly two years old! The earlier you introduce your baby to using silverware, the quicker they should learn this skill. If you want your little one to become a whiz at the art of feeding themselves, check out some of these helpful tips:
Early exposure: Exposing your baby to using utensils early on will give them the confidence and familiarity with the concept that they will need to master the skill of feeding themselves. Don’t expect your baby to be feeding themselves at six months old, but chewing on the spoon will give them the idea that the spoon is a means to getting fed.
Put purees on a spoon for them: When your baby is small and can’t articulate how to feed themselves just yet, you can put purees on a spoon for them, so all they have to do is put it in their mouth! This encourages them to associate the spoon with food. Not only does this reinforce this concept, but it also keeps your little one from getting frustrated from not getting food in their mouth fast enough!
Be a role model: They say that you should be eating meals with your child, even if you aren’t eating the same thing. This allows your baby to watch and learn from you! You can even talk them through it, and be sure to draw attention to how you use your utensils. Your baby is a sponge and soaks up everything that you do!
What Utensils Should I Give My Baby?
Because of how small your baby is, it’s probably not a good idea to give them a full-sized spoon. It wouldn’t fit in their mouth! Thankfully, they make baby spoons that will not only be the perfect size for your baby but there are also other alterations that keep your little one in mind. You want to find baby silverware that is:
Easy-to-grip
Easy-to-clean
Lightweight
Silicone or other natural materials
BPA-free
Durable
Curved (this can be helpful for toddlers)
You can find these utensils at most grocery stores.
What Food To Give My Baby?
As your baby just starts learning how to use utensils, they will most likely use a spoon. Because of this, some foods are easier than others to learn how to eat with silverware! Here are a couple ideas of what to give your little one with utensils:
Cream of wheat
Oatmeal
Unsweetened applesauce
Plain whole yogurt
Pudding
Fruit or veggie bowl
These foods will not only help your baby learn to eat with a spoon but will also be a yummy treat!
Monitor Your Baby’s Progress with Baby Connect
As a parent, one of the most important things you can do is to help your child learn and develop their skills. When your baby is small, they won’t have the muscle strength or motor skills to hold onto utensils. As they grow, though, they will begin developing the skills they need to feed themselves with utensils.
From bottle feedings to solid foods, you can keep track of all your baby’s feeding in the Baby Connect app. As they begin solids, you can even track what foods they are trying to be sure they don’t have any allergies! Baby Connect has the ability for you to keep a record of any additional notes you want to include, such as the first time they held a utensil by themselves or the first time they used the potty on their own!
