https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 02 Nov 2026 02:32:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-should-kids-start-using-forksutensils-exclusively-to-eat#post-1237821 Sat, 23 Nov 2013 01:17:24 +0000 lamariniere 1237821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is almost 3 and we have been using utensils since about 18 months. He eats with a spoon or fork most of the time, but will often push food on to the utensil with his left hand if he can't spear it or spoon it right away. We also try to encourage eating continental style (using fork and knife), but I don't think he is quite coordinated enough for that yet. Even though we encourage proper eating, he is also just finding his way naturally as his coordination develops. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-should-kids-start-using-forksutensils-exclusively-to-eat#post-1237751 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 23:31:22 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1237751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 19 months and eats exclusively with spoons and forks. She uses mini metal utensils, so they aren't blunt plastic and work much better. She absolutely refuses to get her hands dirty and has bad aversions to many textures, so utensils work better for her. She even eats grilled cheese and pizza with a fork. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-should-kids-start-using-forksutensils-exclusively-to-eat#post-1237718 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 22:59:40 +0000 twinmama 1237718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine are 16 months and are very interested in utensils but don't use them consistently. They are best with a fork themselves, but are typically eager to eat from our spoons or chopsticks as well. We have recently seen a major decline in throwing things on the floor and 'playing' with food, so that's enough manners for me at this point. Like others said,there is more to manners than utensils- the ability to sit quietly, chew with mouth closed, ask politely for more, etc. I would like to see them able to confidently use utensils by, say 3? But it won't be a mealtime mandate unless it's causing a problem. Their dad and I eat plenty of food by hand on a regular basis ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-should-kids-start-using-forksutensils-exclusively-to-eat#post-1237662 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 22:11:31 +0000 birdofafeather 1237662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my LO is only 10 months, but for some reason, 3-5 jumped out at me. i don't think that every food needs to be eaten with a fork and knife, but even when eating with their hands, kiddos can have manners? no idea if i will change my mind, but my infant-mom brain jumped to this idea. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-should-kids-start-using-forksutensils-exclusively-to-eat#post-1237453 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 20:15:41 +0000 T-Mom 1237453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD is 5 and we never really asked her to stop eating with her hands... She just doesn't like getting her hands dirty so I think she went to eating with utensils exclusively at around age 3.. My DS doesn't seem to care so I foresee him eating with hands for a while. I'm not sure when we ask him to only use utensils.. I don't care how it gets there as long as he eats! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-should-kids-start-using-forksutensils-exclusively-to-eat#post-1237239 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 18:19:38 +0000 yoursilverlining 1237239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lindsay05: I agree with a problem being the blunt kid forks. We actually have LO use an oyster fork; it's as small as a kid fork, but has sharp enough tongs to grab more food, so she doesn't get frustrated and revert to using her hands. It has helped a lot!!</p> <p>LO is 17 months and mostly eats with utensils. I offer her a spoon and fork at dinner so she can use whatever works best (I.e., fork for meat and spoon to scoop peas). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-should-kids-start-using-forksutensils-exclusively-to-eat#post-1237190 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 17:40:50 +0000 Lindsay05 1237190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am strongly trying to encourage this at 17 months. One problem we just overcame is using those blunt kid forks. They do not poke food very well so I gave LO my fork and she ate the rest of her meal with it. I am hoping by 2.5 she can use her utensils exclusively. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-should-kids-start-using-forksutensils-exclusively-to-eat#post-1237149 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 17:15:07 +0000 mrbee 1237149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've been trying to encourage good table manners lately, and have been really encouraged by how well the kids have taken to it!</p> <p>One thing I've noticed though is that our two year old often struggles to eat her food with a fork and will just use her hands (or ask for help, and then we will help feed her with a fork). I'm totally fine with that. The trickier case is our (almost) four year old. He eats food like pasta or pancakes with a fork, but if the food is hard to eat with a fork (sometimes fish won't hold together on a fork) or if it's something he can grab (like a hot dog), then he will switch over to using his hands.</p> <p>I feel comfortable that given her current skill level, two years old is too early for our daughter to stop eating with her hands. But I'm not sure how to think about our four year old. Both kids don't eat that much, so I have been reluctant to insist too strongly that they use utensils 100% of the time. But at the same time, we do want to encourage good manners.</p> <p>So my question for you guys is: when did your kids start using forks/utensils exclusively to eat? How did the progression go... did you encourage them to stop using their hands, or just wait for it to happen naturally? </p>