Using cuttlery

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Using cuttlery

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:35 pm
by girlinleeds
pippa was baby led weaned so has always fed herself and i think she's really good with spoons and forks, obviously not that great with a knife, but i'm pretty laid back about her using them, but dh isn't. we had lasagne for tea last night and she did manage to eat most of it using her fork (i'd chopped it up for her) but the last few bits we're stuck to the plate so she asked me if she could use her fingers please and i said yes. me and dh then had a rather heated discussion about her using her fingers dh said i should have told her to use her fork and i said she's only young does it really matter and he said she's old enough to eat properly now.
but then he said she should also be in her high chair, she was sat on a dinning chair on a cushion. she told me on friday she's a big girl now and doesn't want to sit in her highchair and got a cushion and put it on a chair like we do when we sit outside. i am getting her a booster seat the cushion is a temporary measure till payday.
i don't get it he's trying to make her act grown up and like a baby at the same time, at the grand old age of 27 months do you think it's still acceptable for her to use her fingers to eat with, is he being to uptight or am i really to laid back about it???

Re: Using cuttlery

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:40 pm
by Kirstyh
I don't see a problem at all with her using a bit of both, G still does in fact Anna would use her fingers given a chance!!!

Re: Using cuttlery

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:41 pm
by Shaunie
Isaac uses his fingers lots and he's 3 in August. He tries hard with cutlery and sometimes does really well but at other times he clearly thinks fingers is faster and easier so he does it. We do encourage him but we're not super strict over it. He's been sitting in a normal chair since he was 2 or so.

I'd say don't worry about it :wink:

Re: Using cuttlery

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:43 pm
by docmaggoo
It's perfectly ok to still be using fingers at 27months! Well, it is with our ds. He's brill with a fork & spoon, and starting to get to grips with a plastic toddler knife- but towards the end of dinner his fingers are much faster for him!!
We always encourage a fork, and as long as he starts with his cutlery, I don't mind the fingers at the end.
Ds is 2 & half.
We use a booster so he's right up at the table
Go with what your dd wants - the last thing u want is battles with the highchair at dinnertime.
Good luck with hubby, it's always hard when u don't agree
Hugs x

Re: Using cuttlery

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:49 pm
by indigosky2k
Well Kacie is also 27 months and still uses her fingers to finish off a meal. Geez I'm 34 and still use my fingers for certain things :oops: :giggle: I've never made an issue of Kace using cutlery, just always put it on the table and she's progressively started using it, copying us. In fact if she's struggling with her fork/spoon I'll suggest she use her finger as I'd rather she ate as much as possible than leave it because she can't manage with the cutlery IYSWIM

I think your DH is being a bit unfair TBO, to expect a 2 year old to clear her plate using a fork/spoon :?

Re: Using cuttlery

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:17 pm
by JenKyleKaitlinRoo
Ruairidh is 26 months (almost) and he uses his fork or spoon 80% of the time but for things that annoy him like stray beans or peas he chases them for so long then gives in and uses his hands. I don't mind tbh as long as he is eating it :oops:

I'm pretty laid back when it comes to things like this. I'd hate to be frustrated eating my food so long as the kids can use a fork properly by the time they are going to school I don't bother too much!

Re: Using cuttlery

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:27 pm
by northernruth
Martha will still try to use her hands given half a chance and I hate it, but she is 4! On holiday she was eating scampi and chips with her hands and I was a bit :oops: about it so I've been all on it ever since. She can do it tho, and has been able to since being little, but like OPs LOs will default to fingers if it's easier.

On the highchair front if she's happy and not getting down all the time then why bother with the highchair?

Re: Using cuttlery

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:42 pm
by girlinleeds
thanks ladies guess dh is just going to have to try and chill abit, i think she eats about 80% of her meal with cutlery and just finishes of with her fingers so i think she does really well, last week she tried to eat pizza with her fork :giggle: . she sits really nicely on a chair and doesn't get down till we've finished, and it's the whole big girl thing, big girls sit on chairs, wear knickers and use the potty (that's what pippa told me) so i don't want dh making her feel like a baby by sitting her in her highchair iykwim

Re: Using cuttlery

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:58 pm
by confusinglady
Sounds like she's doing really well and the fact that she asked to use her fingers shows that she's got the understanding to know that the ideal is fork but she is still small.
Tis difficult when you disagree though. Sounds like you both have the same aim but he s trying to get there faster ( with the fork stuff).
Is the high chair bit a cleaning, containing thing for him do you think? I can t think of why he d want her to stay in there, i m sure he s got his reasons. Booster sounds good, sounds like she's ready for it and a natural progression.
Good luck ! Xx