When babies get older, many mothers will start to focus on a new skill - the use of toddler utensils.
On the one hand, they think that they can't eat with their hands all the time and that eating with a spoon is more hygienic and more in line with the conventional perception of how to eat. On the other hand, they think that their babies are old enough to master this skill.
So parents start to try to let their babies eat with a spoon. But sometimes babies don't seem to be so cooperative, scooping up food and flying around, or not touching the spoon at all. Which part is not right?
1st Myth: Blocking attempts
In the early stages of learning to use toddler utensils, many babies will tap the spoon, use the handle or turn the spoon upside down to scoop food.
Some parents feel that their babies are just playing and are not using the spoon properly. So they reprimand, discourage, or take away the spoon, hoping that the baby will use the toddler utensils in the "correct" way in our experience.
During previous meals, babies may have had many opportunities to touch the spoon, but the experience of using it in their hands for a long period of time is still limited, so tapping and testing actions that are not excessive and exploratory are allowed.
In fact, think about us adults themselves. When you feel very fresh and exquisite toddler utensils, or get a new thing, you will also look at the play first, and then go to use them.
Give your baby more opportunities to explore and try on their own. There are experiences that need to be explored by the baby himself, and it is difficult for family members to help the baby skip trying to get the experience.
2nd Myth: There is no patience.
Sometimes parents tend to be too eager and want their babies to eat very smoothly with a spoon the whole time. This is especially true in the early stages of eating with toddler utensils. Some babies will often throw down the spoon and grab it with their hands instead, so anxious parents will force the spoon into the baby's hands and demand that the baby eat with the spoon. In the face of this situation, babies who are not yet skilled in the use of toddler utensils and who want to fill their tummies quickly may get annoyed.
The use of toddler utensils is a matter of responding to your baby's interest. If you give your baby a boost at the right time, he or she will be willing to keep trying to learn. Our haste will affect the rhythm of the baby's toddler utensils. At first, the baby will be willing to use the utensils for less time. But as the baby's abilities improve, so too will the parents'.
3rd Myth: Haste in correcting
Have you ever done this? As soon as you see that your baby is not doing well, you hold your baby's hand and try to correct him, or just grab the spoon from your baby's hand and start feeding.
Some persistent babies may be directly rebellious at this time and must eat on their own. No matter how adults feed, the degree of cooperation is not very high. For babies who do not express their own will very strongly, as soon as adults do not let them eat and feel that they do not eat well, they will not use toddler utensils.
The way of guidance is important, but giving confidence is also essential. Too much correction and blame may affect the baby's willingness and confidence to try, and slowly they may be more reluctant to learn.
4th Myth: Excessive intervention
When babies first start using spoons and forks, the precision of their movements is not that high and they are not very experienced, so they often stumble and fall. For example, scooping several times can not scoop food; it is easily scooped up to the mouth on the way to losing...
This time the family is anxious, will be eager to point out the baby, will be on the side of the baby, keep saying how to do it, do not know how to do it. The baby, who was concentrating on how to use the spoon, was distracted when he heard the adults keep talking. The baby starts to interact only with the adult, and his attention is diverted from the spoon.
Frequent pointing may also make the baby more nervous and unsure of what to do.
5th Myth: Tool Preparation
Toddler utensils are an important part of your baby's learning to use utensils. Many parents don't pay attention to this and feel that learning is the most Many parents don't pay attention to this and feel that learning is the most important thing and has nothing to do with what utensils are used. However, the problem is that toddler utensils do not fit the baby's small hands.
Baby spoon:
Choose a spoon with the right size, depth, and handle for the belly of the spoon.
The size of the spoon needs to be about the same as the baby's mouth. A spoon that is too big for the baby's mouth is difficult to accommodate. A spoon that is too small for one bite will affect the efficiency and consume the baby's patience.
The spoon should not be too deep; otherwise, it will be difficult for the baby to eat the innermost part of the food. The next scoop is also more likely to spill. A spoon that is too shallow can easily drop the food, which can also lead to frustration and impatience, and a lack of confidence to continue trying.
The shape and length of the spoon handle can be chosen according to your baby's situation. Generally speaking, a spoon handle with a certain curvature will be easier for the baby to grasp.
Baby Fork:
The fork is suitable for eating some solid foods with a shape and long foods such as noodles.
At the beginning of the baby's movement stability, precision is not so high, you can choose a fork. Fork food is less likely to fall, increasing the chances of Fork food is less likely to fall, increasing the chances of success. Here we recommend the HEORSHE® Baby Spoon & Fork, which is safe and specially designed for babies. Help your baby learn to use utensils successfully.
Final Words
In the early stages of your baby's independent attempts to use toddler utensils, mothers need to be more inclined to develop their baby's confidence and willingness to do so than to see how well they do. Put aside for the moment the criteria of how many points your baby must score, and let your baby have the confidence to sit in the examination room and take the test first.
If you can't help but intervene, it's actually very easy to change. Don't watch your baby all the time. Under the premise of ensuring the baby's safety, do something about yourself. Don't pay too much attention to what your baby is not doing well or right. Do not do the right criticism to correct, do the right when appropriate to encourage. Change your perspective and discover your baby's progress from the smallest details!
