how well does your 20-24 mo old feed themselves?

DS is almost 23 months, and is our first. he tries to feed himself with a fork and spoon... but he very messy. and he'll still ask us for "help" with scooping up the stuff on the spoon, or getting it onto the fork. he also has some trouble getting it up to his mouth without having it fall off.

i'm pretty sure this is all "normal"... but don't know if i should be pushing it more, or if he should be better with it at his age....

how well does your 20-24 mo old feed themselves?

Just let him keep practicing and keep makingba mess lol. Dd is 22m but by about 19m she refused to let us feed her anymore. She only wanted to do it herself. She made a mess and got more on herblap than her mouth but she did it and now she can even eat soup by herself. She syoll spills and makes a mess but much less if a mess.

Re: how well does your 20-24 mo old feed themselves?

My son is also 23 mos and eats yogurt with a spoon by himself--not entirely neatly, yet not a complete disaster. I give him a toddler fork or spoon for all dinners but he really doesn't use them and I really don't care. He's my 3rd.

Re: how well does your 20-24 mo old feed themselves?

DD is 21 months and spoon feeds herself things like yogurt, applesauce, and oatmeal pretty well. Fork feeding is hit or miss. She knows how to use it but sometimes has trouble getting things on the fork. She likes to use her hands because she's a bit of a food shoveler--can't get it in her mouth fast enough. I just keep encouraging her to use the fork but let her eat with her hands, too.

Message edited 10/3/2012 4:43:43 PM.

Re: how well does your 20-24 mo old feed themselves?

My twins are 21 months and do pretty good with spoon feeding things like yogurt etc. with an occasional spoonful dropped on their bib.

They do well with stabbing with a fork.

Small thinks (peas, corn etc) is painfull to watch!!! They get a big scoop and by the time it gets to their mouth there is nothing left!
They won't let me help at all!

Re: how well does your 20-24 mo old feed themselves?

Posted by allIwant

They get a big scoop and by the time it gets to their mouth there is nothing left!
QUOTE]

HAHA this is Cole, too!! I always feel so bad because he works really hard to get a nice big scoop of food on the spoon, and then by the time he gets it to his mouth, it all falls back on his tray he has to start all over again LOL
Thanks for all the responses- I know they learn by doing, so I'll just let him keep making a mess

Re: how well does your 20-24 mo old feed themselves?

Very well. She has been feeding herself with a spoon and fork (toddler fork with no sharp points) since 13 or 14 months.

Re: how well does your 20-24 mo old feed themselves?

DS is 18 months and does great with a fork. If he is spooning thicker things he has no problems but he still makes a mess with thinner things like soup.