When to introduce eating utensils for baby?

[Blunt]

Ladies,

My son is 14 months old and he has self fed since he was 9 months.

When am I supposed to give him a spoon or fork to feed himself? When did you? Any tips and advice appreciated.

Thank you for your mature and informative answers

 

[beemom]

when he shows interest in using them. Get some plastic ones for babies and help him learn how to use them. Have fun !

 

[jlb]

I introduced them at 12 months. We only break them out a couple times a week and I guide her hand from bowl to mouth a couple times then let her to do her own thing. At this point (she is 14 months old now) I am just letting her get used to using them on her own, not forcing anything.

 

[Mama of Zee]

I probably gave my daughter a spoon/fork at 11 months. She didn't actually do anything with it but hold it.

At around 14 months she did use a spoon to eat yogurt of applesauce. However, she made a big mess of it (and still does).

At 18 months, she does insist on having utensils. She even tries to use them - but her skills are still off. Like she tries to eat rice or spaghetti with a spoon/fork... but most of it misses. She usually turns the spoon over too early and the food will fall off before it reaches her mouth. After a while, she quits and starts using her hands for stuff like rice/spaghetti. She'll use a spoon for stuff like yogurt though... because she can dip and lick it.

I think there is no harm in giving your son a spoon and letting him start practicing. He's probably not going to use it all the time...but will just get used to having it in his hand.