How old was your DC when they used a fork/spoon?

My DD will be 13 months old on Sunday and she still picks up her food with her hands. I've tried giving her a fork or spoon but she doesn't seem to be able to pick anything up with it. Is she still to young? If I put the food on the fork for her she will put it in her mouth. I am not trying to rush her I think its kind of cute the way she eats. Just curious

Thanks

Re: How old was your DC when they used a fork/spoon?

I asked my PED that very question at her 1 year. He said most babies dont' have the cognitive/motor skills until about 18 months to "get" that you stick food with the fork and put in your mouth to eat. He also said they'll pick it up on there own, you don't have to really show them what to do, they watch us intently and do by mimicking.

I give dd a fork, she usually hold it with one hand and eats with the other, but now at 17 months, she sorta is trying to eat with it. She's not there yet

It's the cutest thing though when they get it in!

Re: How old was your DC when they used a fork/spoon?

around 17 or 18 months she started stabbing the food with a fork more consistently, she is 19 months and still prefers to eat with her hands though...
A spoon...forget it, the food goes flying everywhere!

Re: How old was your DC when they used a fork/spoon?

When Marron was 13-14 months, she got a spoon or a fork to try to start using it. She did try, but often just held it and still ate with her hands. By 15-16 months, she was really able to stab the food with the fork and get it into her mouth. She is almost now 17.5 months and she really uses both the spoon and fork pretty well. Food still sometimes falls off of them when she is getting it into her mouth, but she is getting better. I would say at this point, she is about 50/50 with the utensils. And if we don't give it to her, she asks for it and definately wants to use it. She just resorts to her hands still because she just knows it is faster that way!

ETA: I would say your DD is right on track, and just keep doing what you're doing. As the PP said, she'll pick it up just by watching you and DH.

Message edited 10/11/2007 9:49:15 AM.