Toddler spoon feeding?

Question

My 19 month old is stressing me out with the spoon feeding. I got her started late using one. She just started about a month ago. She has been such an easy going child who hardly ever gives me a hard time but it has been a battle since she started with the spoon. She has suuuch an attitude. She refuses to let me feed her anything now. She just turns her head away and screams like a little drama queen lol. I know I should just be patient with her but occasionally when we are in a hurry or its something extra messy then I just wanna help her out. She wont hold the spoon right which is the problem. She just holds the tip of it in a fist long ways instead of sideways (like you hold a pencil) and then somehow flips it and dumps it all out before it ever hits her mouth. she refuses to let me show her how. I cant touch the spoon without her freaking out. I'm trying to be patient but she wont let me teach her. Any tips or advice?? Thanks

Answer 1

Ahhh, the joys of self feeding. My son just turned two, has been using utensils for a very long time, I think since he was about 12-14 months or so?, and only now has he gotten to a point where he's pretty adept at using them.

Anyway, here's a trick, use two spoons. Give her one to use and "play" with, while you scoop food into her mouth with the other one. When she's flipping hers around the wrong way, offer her yours. Most likely, she'll gladly accept it, in the proper way for a few seconds anyway, and give you the one full of food she's about to fling across your room. At first, you'll probably have to do it a lot, but she'll get the hang of it soon enough.

Your question has got me thinking though... a few months ago I was swearing I was going to invent a double sided spoon as my son is always flipping them around and trying to eat from the handle. Then I told myself, nah, who would buy such a thing? Maybe I should, huh? Apparently we're not the only ones with back of spoon usage. Tee hee.

ETA: The independance thing is normal too. My son went through a stage like that with eating, "No mommy. Me do it!" I think it's that they finally have control over something big in their lives and they are very loath to give it up for even a second. Used to drive me nuts as mealtime was VERY messy for awhile but it only lasted a few months before he got the hang of it enough that food wasn't everywhere, at least it wasn't everywhere by accident. :)

Answer 2

I've seen toddler spoons and forks (round-tipped of course) with handles that look like the handle of a coffee mug.  Seems like it would be easier for a little hand to grip it if it wraps all the way around the hand.  Of course, when I was teaching my little girl, I didn't see anything like this.  The first couple of times she slopped the food everywhere it was cute.  But I remember cleaning up got old pretty fast!  LOL

Best of luck!

Answer 3

I would let her have a spoon and then you use one to show her and help feed her with. That she has one so she can try and do what you are doing.

Answer 4

Stop trying to show her....she'll figure it out on her own, and you are making it harder to get the food in there. Bring extra food in a separate bowl, and sneak in bites while she's trying to feed herself with her own spoon. You'll be sure to get enough into her that way, and she can still practice.

Answer 5

i have not even started with my daughter and she is almost 20 months. she has tried in the past but never got the hang of it. i didnt know that 19 months was late. oops. but dont worry im sure our babies will be fine. they will figure it out. she holds the spoon and knows what it is for she just turns it upside down. its funny when she has it all over her face.