Eating Habits - Englewood,NJ

Updated on October 29, 2010
S.B. asks from Englewood, NJ
10 answers

Hello Moms

My son will be 2 years old in two weeks but I am wondering if he is progressing with his eating habits. He is still more likely to eat with his hands than with the eating utensils I give him. I continue to give him his spoon or fork ( the kid's version) and sometimes he will try to use it but the majority of the time he will pick up the food with his hands.
Is there something else I should be doing to help him progress? Do I need to buy some other utensils for him. Please let me know what you think.

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So What Happened?

Thanks Moms...I guess I just want to make sure that he hits the correct milestones. He is not delayed in anything. I guess I just want to make sure I am doing what I need to do to help him with his eating besides feeding him myself.

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M.H.

answers from New York on

I just wanted to mention here that my 2 yr old twins (boy/girl) do the same thing ....My twin daughter,by comparison, has much better fine motor skills and clearly does much better with utensils. However, even she will grab that macaroni-n-cheese by the fistful.... I think they realize it is more efficient: "more food in the mouth and faster."
But my daughter is more interested in practicing her fine motor skills... even with toy choices. So, where I originally wondered if my son was behind, I then realized he is just prefers to focus on different things.... He will try new things first, but then master the skill over a longer period of time. Whereas, his twin sister will watch him do it long before trying something. So once she tries it ... she masters it pretty fast.
Just keep pushing the utensils.... it gets better between 2 and 3. my 3 1/2 year old boy was the same way.... but now he just asks for bigger utensils... Seriously, he wants to eat his mac-n-cheese with a tablespoon these days!!
Good luck.

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E.C.

answers from New York on

Those "What to Expect..." books are good for developmental milestones. Once he can be expected to do something, the next step is for you to decide how important it is to you. Once you are clear about that, then you can enforce it. If you don't care, he'll know and if he doesn't want to do it, he won't - whether it is go to sleep on his own, use a utensil or get potty trained. Kids have an incredible honing beacon - always be clear of your boundaries, goals, limitations before heading in to battle. You are the adult and he wants you to be clear and consistent - but he'll put up a fight anyway.

A.G.

answers from Houston on

i wouldnt worry too much, there are some cultures that never pick up a fork or spoon(india) so much so they will not perform certain activities with their right hand, because that is the one they eat with, and some cultures have hard to use utensils, and many faux pause sourrounding their usage (china)

soon enough he will want to mimic you and your husband, in accordance with his culture.

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J.P.

answers from Boise on

I would give him your utensils, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. My son also likes to eat with his hands, but knows how to use utensils.

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

My son is 3 1/2 and sometimes he uses a spoon and fork nicely while at other times he eats like a complete and total caveman!

He is actually eating what we're having as a family (last night it was turkey sausage and green beans, the night before it was chicken pesto pasta, before that was salmon and asparagus)...so I figure if he's going to eat the healthy stuff partly with utensils and partly like a savage, I don't care - he's eating!

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

My son is 4 and he still prefers hands ... some say it is an issue, some say not there could be worse things, I think you have to look at your son and see if there are any other areas he may be delayed in before you make a big fuss.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

At less than two, this is quite normal. Be happy if he's a good eater (as in, eats a variety of healthy food). You don't need to do anything and you do not need to spend money buying "other utensils." He needs a fork and a spoon. Eat meals at the same time as your toddler so that he sees the rest of the family eating with their forks and spoons. He will catch on.

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B.B.

answers from Dallas on

My 17 month old, has always preferred adult forks and spoons. They are much easier, for him to use. Maybe, you could give him the same utensils you use? I'm not sure there is any set age for using utensils regularly. I think some kids would just rather use their hands. I can't imagine that means they are behind.

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R.S.

answers from Mansfield on

I agree with the other moms here! My son is about two and a half and will sometimes use his spoon and fork and sometimes just his hands! It will be a new thing for him to learn for quite a while! As some foods are trickier than others to pick up with a fork he may become frustrated and just use his hands. When this happens with my son I will get his next bite ready for him so he just needs to pick up his fork and eat the bite- he's more apt to give it another try then!

I wouldn't worry about it! All in good time I'm sure!

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M.B.

answers from Dayton on

I wouldn't fuss about it. He'll get it eventually. My kids would often hold the fork in one hand and eat with another at that age! Now at 3 and 5 they're doing fine. Although, sometimes they still need reminded to use their fork...

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