Feeding questions for moms of 15-18 month olds

Ds is 18 months (16 corrected) he likes the happy tot food pouches as a snack, but he refuses to squeeze it into his mouth himself. I do it for him and when I try to get him to do it himself he squeezes it all over the place! How can I get him not to do that?!?

Also, when are they supposed to start using a spoon/fork by themselves? If I scoop some food onto his fork he'll put it into his mouth, he can't scoop himself though.

Thanks

Re: Feeding questions for moms of 15-18 month olds

DD will squeeze the pouches, but she really doesn't love them anymore. I can sometimes get her interested if they are cold. As for getting him to do it himself, I would just continue to show him, and then stop and say, now use your hands.

We have been giving DD a baby fork for a month or so now, but she still can't actually spear the food herself. She holds it and tries to pick things up, but I usually put the food on it for her, then she brings it to her mouth.

DD is 14.5 months old.

Feeding questions for moms of 15-18 month olds

My DS doesn't quite grasp scooping or spearing food, but when I assist he'll use the fork or spoon to eat. It's still easier for him to use his hands. He's 15 months, 14 adjusted.

Re: Feeding questions for moms of 15-18 month olds

I started giving DS a fork at around a year old. He tinkered with it for a while, and now uses it pretty efficiently at 18 months. He is just starting to use a spoon. I will put things on the spoon and he'll eat it and now he is starting to actually use it to get the food himself.
AS far as the ouches go, IDK. I have applesauce ones and DS can squirt it in his mouth, but it gets messy after a while. I don't love them, so we barely have them in the house.