When Should a Toddler Start Eating With a Spoon?

Chances are, your little one started eating solid foods between 4 and 6 months of age. That doesn't mean she simply picked up a spoon and knew what to do, though. Up until now your child probably needed lots of help getting food from the container to her mouth. Now that she's a toddler, she can begin feeding herself with a spoon. You'll still have a mess on your hands, but self-feeding is a necessary skill that gets better with practice.

  1. Age Range

    • In the early months of toddlerhood, finger feeding is appropriate. Your little one is more likely to get food to his mouth when he's able to grab it with his fingers rather than navigating a spoon from one place to another. Once your toddler is between 15 and 18 months old, introduce a spoon at mealtime, suggests the Kids Health website. In the beginning, your toddler may just play with the spoon or hold it in one hand while feeding himself with the other, but with time he'll figure out how to use it properly.

    Signs of Readiness

    • Children develop at their own pace, so your toddler might not be ready to eat with a spoon at the same time her siblings or cousins are. However, you can watch for some signs that she might be ready to try out a spoon at mealtime. If she reaches for the spoon you're feeding her with every time you offer her a bite, it's likely she could begin using a spoon of her own. When your toddler is adept at bringing food from her plate to her mouth with her fingers, chances are she could do the same with a spoon.

    Choosing Utensils

    • You can't expect your toddler to successfully use a spoon if you give him one that is too large. Instead of offering him a spoon from your set of utensils, give him a child-sized version, suggests the website of Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. Not only are they made with toddler-friendly materials that won't hurt his teeth or mouth when he bites them, they are small enough to hold with little hands. Look for a spoon with a small bowl that allows your toddler to take small bites of food. This helps minimize the mess, but also prevents him from taking large bites that increase the risk of choking.

    Tips for Success

    • Most toddlers won't be able to pick up a spoon and figure out how to use it right away. It takes practice to get it, so stay patient and give your toddler plenty of opportunities to hone her skills. "Exposure is just as important as accuracy," says registered dietician Rachel Brandeis on the Baby Center website. Offer your toddler small dishes of food and let her try out the spoon, then feed her a meal afterward to ensure that she's getting enough to eat during the transition from finger feeding to spoon feeding.

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