[shockandawe]

So, Maggie did great with a spoon and plates/bowls when we were feeding her purees. Since we introduced finger foods and got her engaged in eating independently, I'm hard pressed to get her on board with eating with the proper utensils.

She's still good at eating off a plate, but she'll get half way through, and decide that this is way too inefficient, and she dumps the plate on her high chair tray and basically hands it off to me, or spends the rest of the time until I catch her with it investigating the bottom. With forks and spoons, she's okay again if I'm holding it, and she'll take a few bites off them for me, and she'll even hold them - she knows exactly what to do with them, but left to her own devices, she won't eat off them. She'll just chew on them, or play with them.

Any btdt mommies have some creative ideas on how I can get my child to start playing properly with tableware?

[SarahBethsMommy]

Just keep working with her. There isn't a way to just make them understand how to use it really quickly. But that she is playing with them and eating from them when you offer it is a good thing. It sounds like she is right where she should be. Kids learning to eat are really messy. LOL. There were times I would strip Sarah Beth naked, put her in the tub and put things like pudding in there with her to help her learn to eat using a utensil from a bowl. She'd make a mess, but then I could just rinse her off and clean the tub and it seemed easier than cleaning the entire high chair and floor and walls... LOL.

It takes time to learn how to properly use all of it. I've been giging Kail utensils and regular plates since she was about 8 months, and although she doesnt throw her plate she does the fork and spoon. She is no where near a pro at using them at all. Not even close. Best thing you can do is show her by using yours, allow her to play with them, and give it time.

[Daffodil]

LOL I was lurking on the May boards earlier today and they were talking about this...some btdt moms said they aren't even bothering giving their babies utensils this early because they did with their older kids and the older kids apparently regressed after a certain point anyway. One mom said her 3 year old twins use their spoons to slather applesauce onto their hands and then they eat off their hands.

[AmandaEliz]

Honestly, I don't even really give them to her yet. Sometimes she plays with them & I feed her off of my fork for some things, but her fork & spoon always end up on the floor. Ethan will be 3 in September & I still have to remind him to use his fork instead of his fingers with certain foods. Just keep practicing with her, she'll get it... it just takes time & a lot of paper towels.

[shockandawe]

Thanks ladies. I'm in no way trying to rush anything. I just wondered if there was something else I should be doing to give her the right foundation for finding her interest in them. I've been pinning down that plate with my left hand during every single meal for nearly 2 months, lol...it's a bit tired.

So, for now we'll keep going the way we have been then. The bathtub thing sounds like an interesting little exercise though. I've had her naked in the highchair for one meal (I relaly needed to keep her shirt clean), and have enjoyed the few meals we've done outside (hooray for not having to mop up the floor after dinner!). Thanks again!