How to teach a child to eat independently and accurately - a complete instruction for parents

Growing up, the baby goes through important stages of development. At first he holds the bottle with his own hands, but soon it is time to learn to eat the peanut on its own without the help of adults. For mom, this is a difficult and responsible process, so she will come in handy with useful tips and lessons on self-eating.

How to understand that a child is ready to eat on his own?

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of at what age it is time for the baby to give a spoon. It depends on the level of development and on the curiosity of the child himself. Some children grab a spoon at the age of six months, although they still can’t really hold it, while others refuse cutlery up to 2 years. There are some babies who start to eat on their own only in 3-4 years.

However, there is no need to delay training. The sooner the child begins to eat without the help of adults, the easier it will be for mom. Moreover, these skills are very useful in kindergarten.

Experts advise teaching a child to keep a spoon from the age of 9-10 months. In this case, by 1.5 years he will be able to confidently wield cutlery.

Observe the baby, make sure that the child is "ripe" for a spoon and a cup. Only if he is ready can training begin. If he is already interested in food, takes pieces of food and pulls them into his mouth, tries to grab a spoon from his mother’s hands - he is ripe in order to eat on his own. Of course, mom will feed faster, and at first the baby will scatter food throughout the kitchen. However, this stage will still have to go through all the parents. Therefore, it is better not to miss the moment.

Instructions for parents who want to teach a child to eat with a spoon

When the baby begins to reach for a spoon, he is ready to try to eat on his own. If you do everything right, in a few months the child will learn how to use cutlery. No matter how expensive your time is, no matter how you like to keep the kitchen clean - do not miss the moment! If the baby requires a spoon, give him a spoon. And then - follow the instructions.

Useful Tips

• Be patient. The hands of a one-year-old baby have not yet become stronger. At first, it will be very difficult for him to hold a spoon, and he will miss her by the mouth. The training will take from 1 to 6 months;
• Train in different places. A great way to teach your child something is to turn the process into an educational game. Offer the little one to feed the plastic bunnies with sand with a spatula when he plays in the playground.So he will improve coordination, which will come in handy later in a real kitchen;
• Do not leave your baby alone with a full plate - he may choke or be squeamish because he cannot eat. In addition, at first the child will still succeed in bringing no more than 3-4 tablespoons to his mouth. Then he will get tired, and you will have to help him;
• Choose the right food. The consistency of the food should be such that the child can scoop it up with a spoon and bring it to his mouth. The baby will spill the soup, and take the pieces of food with his hands. Therefore, choose thick porridge, mashed potatoes or cottage cheese. Do not immediately put a full plate in front of the child, but rather put a little bit of food in it;
• Do not forget about the plug. Alternate the cutlery so that the baby develops fine motor skills of the hands faster. At breakfast, the child tried to pick up porridge with a spoon? For lunch, invite him to eat fish meatballs with a safe fork;
• Connect all households to learning. If you teach the toddler to use cutlery, and your grandmother continues to feed him with a spoon, the process will be delayed. The baby will not understand why he should try to do something himself, if there are adults for this. Explain your family learning principles to all family members and ask them to follow them too;
• Follow the schedule. Feed your baby strictly at the same time every day, constantly consolidating the acquired skills. So you can develop a habit in the baby. In addition, scheduled meals improve digestion;
• Avoid coercion. In the process of learning, the child will sometimes be capricious and refuse to eat on his own. If this happens, feed it yourself, and postpone training until the next meal. When a child is not in good spirits, it will still fail to teach him something;
• Dine with the whole family. It will be easier for a kid to master a spoon if he sees how other people are operating it. He involuntarily begins to imitate them. For the same reason, in kindergartens, kids learn to eat faster, dress and go to the potty;
• Invent gamesto warm up the interest of the little one in learning. You can buy him a plate with a funny picture at the bottom and offer to eat porridge to see a surprise;
• Start learning with your child’s favorite food and only on an empty stomach. The kid will not want to make an effort to eat something tasteless, especially in the absence of appetite;
• Praise the baby even for minor successes. To please his mother again, he will try his best;
• Keep your kitchen comfortable. Buy color dishes for the child, lay a beautiful tablecloth on the table, decorate the dish. Such little things increase mood and improve appetite.

We also read:How to teach a child to eat with a spoon - 10 simple tips

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To make it easier for parents to teach their children self-feeding, experts have developed detailed instructions:

1. Lay an oilcloth on the table, and put a bib on the child.
2. Scoop a spoonful of porridge from a children's plate and eat, smacking with pleasure and portraying delight.
3. Give the spoon to the peanut. While he cannot hold it, hold his palm with his hand, help scoop up food and bring it to his mouth. Help until the child can hold the appliance by himself.
4. When the baby’s handles are strong, teach him how to hold a spoon - not in a fist, but with your fingers.
5. Giving the child a spoon, take the other yourself. While the child is learning to eat himself, help him with another spoon. That is, one spoon - to him, one - to you.

At first, the crumb will simply play with a spoon - stir the porridge in a plate, spread it on the face and table. Give him time to get used to the cutlery. If you are tired of the fact that the child is constantly turning the dishes, put a plate with a suction cup on the table.

In the same way, you can teach the little one to use a fork and a non-spill cup (learning to drink from a mug)Start with small portions, making sure the child is interested, and never show your indignation at the dirty clothes and furniture.

Cutlery to help the baby

For the child you need to pick up special dishes and cutlery. The main requirements are safety and bright design, which will stimulate the interest of the peanut in learning. To set the table, parents will need:

• Plate made of food-grade heat-resistant plastic. It should be bright, preferably with the image of the characters of your favorite cartoons of your child. To see them, the little one will quickly eat all the porridge. It is good if the plate has a suction cup for attaching to the countertop and an inclined bottom - it is convenient to scoop food out of it;
• Non-spill cup made of non-toxic materials. It is recommended to choose a model with two handles - it is more convenient to hold such a peanut. Make sure that the cup has a silicone or soft plastic nose without burrs, otherwise the baby runs the risk of scratching the gums. An additional advantage will be the presence of a rubber stand, which gives the dishes stability;
• Anatomically shaped spoon made of safe plastic. So that she does not fall out of the child’s palm, she should have a rounded non-slip handle;
• Curved fork made of non-toxic plastic. Choose a product with rounded teeth so that the child is not injured;
• Comfortable highchair. The one that comes with the table will not work. The child must sit at the same table with the adults in order to observe how they eat and imitate them;
• Waterproof bib. Many children resist feeding and tear off bibs. Therefore, it is better to choose a colored bib with cartoon characters. It is good if it is made of soft and flexible plastic, and the lower edge of the product is slightly bent upwards - so all the food will remain in the bib and will not stain the clothes.

We also read: What kind of dishes do you need to buy for a child first

What if the child refuses to eat himself?

Children are different. Many are drawn to the spoon, perceiving it as another toy. There are those who flatly refuse to pick up cutlery. In any case, you can not force the baby to eat for himself. Parental pressure will lead to the fact that the baby will form a negative attitude to eating.

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If your child is already a year old and still refuses to take a spoon, try the trick:

1. Feed the baby yourself, let the baby relax, and try again after a couple of days.
2. Ask the baby's brothers or sisters to show him how cleverly they handle the spoons.
3. Organize a children's holiday - in the company of friends, the child will be able to work out skills.

Although coercion is unacceptable, postponing self-feeding training for a long time is also not worth it. This skill is important for the overall development of the child and for his social adaptation.

The rules of accuracy and safety at the table

A small child will not be able to behave at the table, like an aristocrat. However, parents have the power to accustom him to eat carefully and observe hygiene rules. Just follow these conditions:

• Teach your child by examplehow to hold a spoon and a fork, how to eat, drink from a cup, wipe with a napkin;
• Wash your hands before eating. - yourself and the baby. This should become his habit;
• Follow the diet. Only eat in the kitchen and at specific times. This is important for the child’s appetite and strong nervous system;
• Eat in a relaxed atmosphere. Do not let the baby watch cartoons, indulge and be distracted at dinner;
• Repeat the rituals: Mom washes her baby’s hands, puts him on a chair, binds a bib, puts a plate of food on the table. It is important to explain all the actions so that the baby understands their meaning (the importance of rituals);
• Decorate the table and dishes - it stimulates the appetite. Lay a fresh tablecloth on the table, put a napkin holder, beautifully put dishes on plates;
• Get together at the same table with the whole family. Make lunches and dinners with loved ones your family tradition.Sit at the table in a good mood, do not rush while eating, and carefully chew all the pieces. So you can enjoy the taste of dishes and help your digestion;
• Do not pick up food that has fallen to the floor. Teach your baby not to pick up food from the floor. What has fallen can go to a dog or cat bowl, but not to a person’s plate;
• Gradually give your child new appliances and utensils. When the baby is only 1 year old, he has enough plates and non-spill cups. However, by the age of 2 he already needs his own fork, a teaspoon and a tablespoon, a mug, as in adults;
• Follow the rules and rules of etiquette. Teach your baby to be neat at the table, wipe with napkins when he gets dirty. Make comments to the child if he is swinging in a chair, indulging in food, laying his elbows on the table or taking something from someone else's plate. Let the whole family abide by the rules of good form - and for your son or daughter they will become natural.

We also read: Rules of conduct for children at the table. Lessons in Etiquette and Good Manners

Mistakes of parents, or how not to teach a child to eat with a spoon

It’s difficult to teach your baby to eat on your own, and at first many parents make mistakes. Use the experience of other mothers and fathers - and you will significantly speed up and facilitate the educational process.

1. Do not rush the baby when he is eating. Phrases like “chew faster, I need to wash the dishes” should disappear from your vocabulary. It is important to chew food carefully so that it is well digested, and this takes time. In addition, the meal itself is a great opportunity for mom to talk with the baby, give him his own care.
2. Do not interrupt training. If you began to teach your child how to use a spoon, continue to bend your line. Do not succumb to laziness, do not look for excuses. Explain to all family members that from now on the baby will eat without their help.
3. Do not force the child to take a spoon. If he is full, sick or just naughty, leave the baby alone. The lesson on independence can always be rescheduled.
4. Do not scold the baby for being soiled with food, even if he dabbled. These are temporary difficulties, because soon the baby will learn to eat, like adults. Your aggression will frighten the child, and he will lose all motivation for learning.
5. Do not let the TV turn on while eating. Cartoons and any programs distract the baby, and yet he needs concentration in order to learn how to use a spoon.
6. Do not put a huge portion in a plate. Better give your child less porridge, and then put the supplement if he asks.
7. Do not succumb to child blackmail. Toddlers try to control their parents with the help of whims. So, a child who is already perfectly wielding a spoon and a fork can declare that he will eat only a cutlet, but not soup. This means that the baby is not hungry, so safely remove the plate.
8. Do not force the child to eat the whole portion. He eats as much as his body needs for normal functioning. If your baby pushed the plate away, it means he’s full, let a third of the serving remain there.
9. Do not use double standards. If on a trip you allow your child sweets for lunch instead of soup, then at home it should be exactly the same. If in your kitchen you turn a blind eye to the fact that the baby wipes his soiled face on the tablecloth, do not make him comments while visiting.

The main advice for parents whose children began to develop a spoon is not to panic if the training is delayed. Over time, the baby will surely learn to eat independently.

Do not forget: dexterity comes with experience. It is best to select the types of food that are better for sticking to a spoon. Remember: starting to learn to eat with a fork and spoon and getting dirty with everything around is normal!

Video: how to teach a child to eat for himself

1. I STAGE. From 6 months you should always give your baby a spoon. The child must necessarily touch the food with his hand, do not forbid him to do so.
2. II stage. From 7-8 months, the child will try to lower the spoon into a plate and pull it into his mouth. Dip a spoon into the food and, at first, help him try using his hand to bring the spoon into his mouth.
3. III stage. Start eating with your child so that he copies your behavior.Let the baby watch you, watch how you chew and send a spoon to your mouth. Show your empty plate, and then begin to feed the baby. Very quickly, the child begins, watching his mother eat himself.