Teaching your toddler to eat on their own
By the age of 1, your toddler will have already spent around 6 months learning to eat and appreciating new tastes and textures. But learning to eat isn’t just about the food itself, it’s also about teaching your toddler how to eventually feed themselves.
Toddler feeding tips
As they become more confident and independent, many toddlers will want to take control of their own feeding. Here are a few tips to help you encourage this stage of your toddler’s development:
- Offer them finger foods which are easy for them to grab and chew
- Give them their own spoon to play with during mealtimes
- Have regular mealtimes together, so your toddler can learn how to eat by watching the rest of the family
- Prepare for flying food and bowls by placing a splash mat under your toddler’s chair and using plastic crockery
With patience and encouragement, your toddler may be able to feed themselves with a spoon, albeit rather messily, by the time they reach around 15 months of age. It won’t be long before your toddler gets to grips with using a knife and fork. However, as with all stages of toddler development, this is just a guide, so don’t worry if your toddler takes a little longer to get the hang of learning to eat by themselves.
If you’d like any further advice on toddler feeding, our Careline team of experts includes feeding advisors, nutritionists and experienced mums. Call us free anytime on our new number 0800 996 1000, or use our confidential instant messaging service, Live Chatfrom 8am to 8pm.