How to Teach a Baby to Eat With a Spoon

Babies might become interested in learning to feed themselves with a spoon when they are about 10 months old. However, do not expect them to become experts right away because most children cannot eat independently with a spoon without spilling until well into their second year. You need patience to teach your baby to eat with a spoon, but your rewards include decreased mealtime effort for you and an increase in independence for your baby.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic mat
  • Baby spoons
  • Thick food
  • High chair
  • Non-slip bowl

Instructions

    • 1

      Lay down a plastic protective mat under the baby's high chair. This will make cleaning up much easier for you, especially if the room is carpeted.

    • 2

      Select two baby spoons with large handles, which make them easier for the baby to grip. In addition, the spoons should have deep bowls, which will help the food remain on the spoons.

    • 3

      Prepare a food that is thick and easy to pick up with a spoon, such as applesauce, yogurt, thick pureed foods, mashed potatoes, pudding, oatmeal and refried beans. Choose a food that your baby likes to help motivate her to keep trying.

    • 4

      Put the food in a bowl with a plastic bottom that will stay stationary on the high-chair tray. Your baby might get frustrated if the bowl keeps sliding around on the tray.

    • 5

      Choose a time when your baby is happy and not overly hungry and put her in the high chair.

    • 6

      Place the spoon in your baby's fist, with the end the baby will eat off extending out the same side of the fist as the thumb.

    • 7

      Hold your baby's hand as you help her scoop up a spoonful of the food. Continue holding her hand as you navigate the food into her mouth. Repeat a few times to help her understand the process.

    • 8

      Provide additional help for your baby with the extra spoon. One idea is to feed your baby spoonfuls in between her attempts to help her from getting too frustrated. If your baby is having trouble getting food onto the spoon, you could scoop up food on the extra spoon and then swap spoons with her so she can navigate the food into her mouth and you can prepare the next bite.

    • 9

      Praise your baby verbally when she manages to successfully take bites from the spoon. Your excitement will help keep her motivated in the learning process.

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