toddler antics -

toddler antics

I'm curious how mealtimes should go for toddlers...my son (20 mos) isn't really using utensils unless I put the food on it first, and bowls or plates are non-existent as they end up on the floor! We also find that if we put more than a couple of bites in front of him, it's like he short circuits and stuff goes flying, even when he's really hungry! Anyone else experience this??

See also: toddler mealtimes

Written by Karensa

Posted on 02/16/2009

See all posts by Karensa

Answers:

I have twin boys who are almost two and they started eating with utensils at about that age. But they found it frustrating when they couldn't get food on the fork or spoon and preferred to use their fingers. They made such a mess, I ended up feeding them myself! But after a while, they'd try to take the spoon or fork away from me so they could feed themselves. I didn't want them to regress so I let them use utensils.

Yes, there were lots of times when more food ended up on the floor and bowls and plates went flying but that's to be expected from toddlers at mealtime!

Now they are more accustomed to eating with utensils and I recently bought them bigger toddler spoons which hold more food. The only thing they do that annoys me is they'll sometimes dump their food on the tray and play with it. Squish it between their fingers or smear it all over the tray like it's finger paint!

They also hate when they get food on their hands! Guess I'm to blame for that because I'd wipe their hands off even before they finished eating.

They used to throw their bowl or plate on the floor if they didn't like what I gave them. Now they shake their head and either push the bowl/plate away or give it back to me.

posted by Angela on 02/17/2009

Toddlers have small tummys and even small attention span. So I only offer my two year only a few bites on a plate if he finishes he will ask for more and if he does decide to dump it on the floor there is less to clean up. My son is now 27 months and consistently eats with utensils. I do how ever make one meal a month that is finger foods only maybe tocos or chicken strips (homemade baked not fried) to let him be a kid.

posted by Jessie on 02/17/2009

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