New to cutlery

[MummaBear]

Babybear has just started to become proficient (sometimes ) with a spoon & fork (he's 14 months). Just wondering....how did the serving of your LOs meals change with this progression?
I am obviously finding that the previous finger food favourites are far too difficult to manage as they are too big to be forked. Did you just cut the meal into smaller pieces? What sort of size? Thanks

[FestiveTidings]

Roo will spoon/fork up some of his food and then eat the rest finger food style so I kind of do half and half - cut up some and leave some finger size. If he wants more to fork up then I cut up some of the finger food. I cut it to about 2cm square? Anything bigger and he just takes it off the fork and eats it with his fingers!

[MummaBear]

That's great! Kind of what I have been doing, but i have been making the fork sizes just enough for a mouthful, otherwise Bear puts it in his mouth, forgets he can bite the amount he wants & just drops the whole lot out into his scoop bib!

[Sophie2011]

Good question - we have just started trying out with forks and spoons. TBH finger food is so much easier than using utensils. But Miss I loves using her spoon to eat yoghurt and pops her ravioli on her fork to eat. She can't quite stab it properly yet.

Will have to play around with the size of foods to get it right.

Oh also I'm worried about giving her plates/bowls as she tends to throw things. Can they still use their utensils with food plopped straight onto tray?

[Violet_Cue]

It might be easier at first with food just dropped on the tray, as then they don't ahve to contend with a moving plate/ bowl at the same time.

J is starting to get the hang of the cutlery too, but insists on having a big fork (even though the little ones I got are very much like what we use) and spends a good bit of time mixing and play cooking rather than eating. At least it keeps him occupied while we have dinner.

For the throwing things... I usually leave most things once they are dropped, but will pick up and give back his drink after a bit. I have taken to having two plates for him, one that has a small amount of everything, and one I use to add to his plate. Limits the amount that hits the floor when he is done.

[babydsmummy]

You'll probably find that using cutlery is hit and miss for a while to come - it still is with my 3.5 yr old! I think you just have to play it by ear - sometimes they are tired and would far rather pick up a whole fish finger and chomp on it than use their fork. Other times they insist on stabbing each individual pea Use plates when you feel lo is ready - if they get flung then don't bother yet. You can still let him use his fork.