Using a spoon / Feeding self
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12860
Printed Date: 25 July 2025 at 3:14pm
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Topic: Using a spoon / Feeding self
Posted By: FionaS
Subject: Using a spoon / Feeding self
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 10:43am
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Like some of the others on here, Elle is hardly eating anything. She gets really upset at meal times. I'm wondering, though not sure, if perhaps she wants to feed herself. However, she just throws the spoon away and tries to eat the food (including weetbix and milk) with her fingers. I'm not concerned about the mess but doing it this way she doesn't get much in before it all goes on her clothes and the floor.
She is a VERY picky eater so won't go near finger foods such as veges and meat so mushy stuff and a spoon is our only option (I keep trying bitsy stuff but usually end up pureeing everything as otherwise she won't eat it). She has sandwiches etc for lunch and they go down quite well. She used to love yoghurt but won't even have that at the moment. At what age to kids usually start to feed themselves? Any tips for teaching her to use to the spoon? Of course I could be wrong...she may just be very very very very picky with what she will and won't eat! ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Replies:
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 10:52am
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Benjy loves to experiment with feeding himself but doesn't have very good coordination yet, so not much goes in!
I feed him until he's had a reasonable amount and then let him go for it with whatever is left over. Sometimes if he's getting pissed off with all the food tipping off before it gets to his mouth I'll hold his hand with the spoon too and guide it in. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: baalamb
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 12:18pm
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Give her a spoon while you're feeding her with another one. She might try and put the spoon in the bowl that you're holding. Maybe if she can see how you're doing it, she might want to give it a try herself.
I do the same as Mel. I feed Ashlee most of whatever it is and then give her the bowl and a spoon and let her go for it. She's not good at the scooping part of it, but at least she digs the spoon in the bowl then puts it to her mouth. I guess practice makes perfect and she absolutely loves it!! |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 12:24pm
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we always gave the kids a spoon from them being really young. not sure what exactly we did right but the kids eat well, and generally nicely.
can tell you what NOT to do though. Friend of ours is anally tidy and while her child was learning to feed herself, Mum walked around cleaning her, after each spoonful saying "oh, not like that, that makes a myucky mess doesn't it?". kid stopped wanting to make a "mess" and mum kept feeding her til she was quite old. |
Posted By: Bubbaloo
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 3:33pm
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James feeds himself pretty much now with spoon and hand he is getting better with the spoon all the time I think it just takes a bit of time and doesn't make to much of a mess either. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08 |
Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 4:06pm
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Hmm, Elle doesn't try, she just throws it. I guess we will get there but she is really anti-eating ATM. I think her ear infection might be contributing though as she is quite miserable. ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Posted By: emmaohara
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 6:48pm
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She sounds exactly the same as Ben and hes 18 mths so I wouldn't worry at all!!! Some toddlers do not like to eat! ( even naughty things like chocolate yogurt!)
He refuses to eat with a spoon and has to be fed his weetbix, and like Elle used to love yogurt but now has a mini fit as I make him eat it! He is also the worlds worse most fussy eater who would happily never eat or eat bread..., so don't worry you are not alone. I have started breaking up a multivitamin into his weetbix just to make sure hes having enough of the good stuff!, and adding omega oils for his brain!! 
I'm hoping tis all just a phase and he will one day transform into a food lover... well we can hope, just try not to get stressed and if she will not eat then just leave it or give her some milk before bed to fill her tummy, good luck!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 6:51pm
Maya was self-feeding really early coz they encouraged her at daycare, but the gremlins don't self-feed at all coz I'm not ready for the mess! They probably *can* coz when I give them a spoon they put it in the bowl etc. but at the moment they're happy to let me feed them so I say why create unneccessary mess! Might let them practise while we're at Mum and Dad's over Xmas lol  -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 6:56pm
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Elle sometimes puts the spoon to her mouth (upside down) but NEVER dips it in the bowl....strange. ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 8:06pm
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Briona has liked trying to use the spoon from quite young, as does Kryssi - at times. I suspect that's one of the benefits of being younger siblings though.
As for Hannah, we started insisting on using cutlery for meals when she turned 3  ------------- |
Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 9:47pm
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Alyssa can't be bothered feeding herself with a spoon (bar a handful of times), and is quite happy to get me to do it for her while her hands are busy drawing with crayons or something like that.
She does like stabbing food with a fork though, and sometimes even hits the target so we have more success with that particular utensil. |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 9:54pm
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We started at 6 months by giving McKayla a spoon too while I was feeding her. At about a year she just threw my spoon away the whole time and fed herself. If she couldnt get it with a spoon she will use her hands. Lots of mess.
But at about 15 months she started with a fork and lately trying to use a knive. I just make some extra food if it goes everywhere and she is still hungry. Or perhaps let her try and feed herself while you feed her. Or even use two spoons. Let her hold the one. Put food on the other one and let her take that one and she will hopefully release the other one so you can put food on that one. That way they get in more as half the trouble is getting food on the spoon in the first place. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 10 December 2007 at 10:44pm
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i'm the same as lizzle here - the kids have had spoons from quite early. i wouldnt worry too much till she was over her ear infection... ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 4:47pm
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We've tried the spoon a few times, but find she has more success with the fork. I guess some kids might get put off if they can't get it right all the time?!?! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 12 December 2007 at 9:59pm
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James is only 5.5months and i give him the spoon or he gets angry at me. HAleigh was the same.
There maybe alot of extra mess but at least they have fun while they learn  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |