dilemma with utensils

[mommyOfX]

Xavier will be two next month, and he is not eating with utensils.  He knows how to use a fork, spoon is iffy, but lately, he has not been interested in using anything but his hands.  He plays with the utensils and drops/throws them on the floor.  After a few times of this, we take them away, but how can he learn to use them better when we keep taking them away??  I'm not sure what to do!  He needs the practice but refuses to use them properly.  Any suggestions would be really appreciated!

[mommyoftwo]

Do you all have dinner together?

I found that my son played with his utensils (or not even use them) when he eats dinner before us.  But since we have been eating dinner together, he has been using his fork/spoon (though awkwardly) most of the time.  He then plays with them when he's finished eating or when he is not interested in the food we are serving him. 

[mommyOfX]

Yes, we all have dinner together.  He used to be okay, in the last few weeks, he has been getting really bad.  Maybe it's the onset of the terrible twos.   He's been 'fighting' us with everything these days.  Argh, so frustrating.

[mommyoftwo]

I know what you mean by terrible twos.

This will pass.  Sooner or later he'll get bored playing with the utensils and that's probably when you will see an improvement.  But, we did have the same dilemma.  I guess it's a waiting game.

[*Nicola*]

Hiya

Just wanted to add that Ciara went thru this too. She is now 3 and can use her fork and spoon perfectly well but often she will choose to use her fingers instead.  Sometimes I think it is because it is easier, other times for the novelty and lastly to see if she will be stopped!

I normally just leave her to it unless she is messing about with the food, and try to remember when I thought it was fun to do those things eg;  using teaspoon to drink juice!!

Best to pick your battles, it sounds as thou your lo is doing really well and just exploring/testing his world.

x

[lilmonkey]

Hi Angela

What I found with dd is to give her the Chinese porcelain spoon (it looks very much like a small row boat) to scoop things up.  The food doesn't fall off on the way to her mouth and she can scoop more food onto it vs the regular toddler's utensils.  You can get these spoons in plastic as well.  Do know where you live but all Chinese grocery stores have them.  DD has several with cute little aminals on them.

HTH

[Lana]

Sometimes Ewan still uses his hands , it would seem that it is faster that way .  We just always keep a fork or spoon available.

[mommyOfX]

Thanks everyone!

The Chinese spoon idea is great! Why didn't I think of that? We have the porcelain ones (I'm Chinese), so I'll have to go get some plastic ones.  After fork and spoon, we get to teach him how to use chopsticks!  Wheeee!

[*Nicola*]

Good luck with the chopsticks

Maybe you could teach my dp

[lilmonkey]

After fork and spoon, we get to teach him how to use chopsticks! Wheeee!

Hehehe...dd is already grabbing for our chopsticks.  Don't know how or when to start teaching her that yet!  But it is going to be fun and messy!