Home > Kids & Family > Feeding Accessories > How To Choose Utensils

Mommy, I Want to Do It!!!

Jun 9, 2001 Write an essay on this topic.

The Bottom Line Choosing the proper utensils can be tough, but if you remember the three "s"'s, you should be alright!

It's hard to believe that someday that tiny baby lying in your arms will be a big girl or boy, capable of eating and drinking on their own. Looking down on your infant while you are breast or bottle feeding, choosing the spoons and forks that they will someday use is probably the furthest thing from your mind. But, now is the time to start thinking about it, cause you never know when your child is going to start showing an interest in solid foods, and you want to be prepared.

So, where do you start? Well, there are a wide variety of styles from a wide variety of manufacturers. You'll want to look over the selection and think about what you want for your child. And, realize that not every spoon and fork will work for every stage in a child's life. That little tiny spoon that you use when they are 6 months old isn't going to "cut" it when they are 2!

For the littlest eaters, you'll want to look at a soft tipped spoon. A number of companies make ones with a metal handle and soft plastic spoon for the end. It is not very big, and doesn't hold much, but it's great for those first bites of strained peas. Remember, babies at this age don't have teeth, for the most part, so you want something gentle for their tender gums.

At this stage, you can also find spoons that change colors. This is very helpful if you plan on heating the food prior to feeding it to your child. When the tip hits the food, if it is too hot, the tip will turn white. This is great because it may prevent you from burning your infant's tongue!

The tips come in a variety of colors. You can find pastels, bright colors, or just plain white. They are fairly inexpensive, and I've found a good beginner spoon for the little eaters.

Eventually, though, your child will grow into a semi-independant toddler! That's right, they will soon want to start feeding themselves! And, luckily, there are toddler spoons and forks to help them! These are usually much more colorful, and have special handles to help toddlers feed themselves.

Most of the toddler silverware is actually made of plastic. They may have a soft rubber handle for better gripping. Some are shaped to form an oval handle which your child can fit their hand in. The spoons have a deeper base, letting them get more food on the spoon and in their mouth. The forks usually have dull prongs, so that your little one won't poke themselves.

Some companies make nifty little travel cases to carry your child's utensils in. These can be handy if you plan on travelling a lot. It also keeps the silverware clean and ready for when your child is ready to eat.

Dishes are probably the hardest thing to pick. There are bowls, plates, covered dishes, etc. You can pick travel bowls with lids on them. These are great for taking snacks along on trips. There are bowls which have something on the bottom to help the bowl stick to the child's tray. There are even some that have separate compartments for keeping each food apart from the next.

Dishes are normally plastic, but you must be careful because some stain easily. It's also a good idea to get ones that have rounded edges, as it helps your toddler scoop the food onto their spoon or fork easier. And, of course, make sure it won't hurt if your toddler whips it at your head:)

You'll want to make sure your utensils are dish-washer safe, and stain-proof. This is especially important if your child is a pasta freak, like my son. Make sure there aren't any little cracks and creases for food to catch, as this may cause bacteria to become lodged onto the plate.

As with everything, you want to make sure there are no parts that could become loose. There are some types of forks and spoons which have plastic handles and metal ends, which can break apart. If you trust the company, chances are the product will be safe. And, as always, make sure you keep an eye out for product recalls.

Eating solids, and feeding oneself are important milestones for every child. Help them along the way by picking out great utensils for them to use. Safe, soft, and sturdy always wins the race in this game. And, make sure you provide fun colors and styles that will help your child want to do it all on their own!

Read all comments (4)|Write your own comment

Write an essay on this topic.

Share with your friends