What’s the best age to start introducing utensils? Any time that you feel your child is ready is fine, but don’t expect your one-year-old to be an expert just yet. While some babies master this skill around 12 months, others may not get the hang of it until closer to a year and a half. Here are a few tips to get started:
- Start with a spoon. If you’re concerned about your baby biting down too hard, you can use a plastic or rubber-tipped spoon, readily available in baby stores. For the sake of food safety, don’t use disposable plastic spoons because they can shatter.
- Don’t worry if she takes her time. Most babies do things at their own pace. Mimic the movement of eating with a spoon, then offer it to her. But if she’s not interested, don’t worry about it. She’ll give it a try when she’s ready.
- Practice makes perfect, so it may take a while for your baby to get anything much into his mouth. Be prepared for a mess, and possibly some food flung onto the walls by accident!
