At the start of food diversification, baby will eat with your fingers and his meal will be directly placed on the tablet of his chair. But what is the right time to introduce the cutlery and the plates at the time of the meals?
Eat with a spoon from the start of the BLW
During the food diversification led by the child, your little one will discover lots of different textures. However, some of them will not be able to be taken with their fingers. Smooth textures like compotes, purees or other are difficult to eat with your hands . It is in these moments that the pre-filled spoon is very useful!
At the start, baby will need to be filled with the spoon he will catch and put his mouth alone. Then, with time and the development of its fine motor skills , baby can fill his spoon alone and eat like a big one!
The plate at the meal from 12 months
Before the 12 months of baby, the food will be directly placed on the chair tablet . Indeed, at the beginning, eating requires a great effort and a lot of solicitation from baby and it is useless to bring him a new element on his tablet when everything is still new for him! The most important thing at first is to go to the point: food on the tablet and bring it to the mouth. It will already ask him for a lot of effort! A plate on the table would risk diverting your attention. In addition, your little one could also play with the plate and throw it on the ground. It is better to wait for baby to be 1 year old to offer him his meal on a beautiful compartments plate ! Practical plates to have the different recipes that make up the meal, but in addition to a suction cup to prevent the plate from being found on the ground.
Obviously, we will find a container at the meal before the 1 year of baby, when you make him discover the smooth textures which are not practical to eat when they are on the tablet of the chair.
Eat with a fork from 12 months
The introduction of the fork at the time of meals will be well after that of the spoon. The use of the fork requires much more coordination of movements . Your little bit should be able to sting in a food and turn your wrist to bring it to your mouth. It is generally around 12 months that baby is interested in the fork by wanting to imitate you. During family meals , baby will see that you eat with a cover that he does not have and will want to try too! Give him a fork and let him test.
Your little bit will eat like a large with its cutlery. But don't forget that each baby evolves at their own pace ! Baby may be interested in the fork before 12 months or after this age for example!
Photo: © Moon and the other
