What are training utensils and kids' cutlery?
Your own kids' cutlery is the best thing for small children. With kids' cutlery, spoons, forks, and knives are made specifically for small children's hands and also look fun. A great gift idea for a birth!
As your baby slowly turns into a toddler and the urge for independence while eating keeps growing, it's time for their own, child-friendly cutlery.
Does kids' cutlery make sense?
Kids' cutlery is characterized by its small, compact size, which is precisely tailored to small children's hands and mouths. Thanks to the short, somewhat thicker handles, toddlers can hold the cutlery better and guide it to their mouth with accuracy. A non-slip coating provides extra secure grip. The narrower shaped ends of the spoon and fork also make it easy for vegetables, noodles, and more to disappear into the mouth.
Important for safety: kids' cutlery is rounded, so your child can't hurt themselves – this is especially important for the fork and knife.
Kids' cutlery is also characterized by fun, colorful designs that make it unique compared to adult cutlery. Fun animals or colorful patterns ensure your child immediately recognizes "their" cutlery – often, having their own cutlery is also a great motivation to finish their portion.
What should I look out for with training utensils?
Which material?
Kids' cutlery is usually made of sturdy, lightweight plastic (BPA-free) or metal – the somewhat heavier but also more elegant option for kids' cutlery. A third option is kids' cutlery made of melamine. Melamine is lightweight and shatterproof, but not microwave-safe, since it must not be exposed to high temperatures for extended periods.
Kids' cutlery – starting when?
Kids' cutlery can be used relatively early on. As soon as motor and cognitive skills have matured, children want to do everything themselves – including at the dinner table! Around their first birthday, little ones become more interested in eating on their own. The rule here is: practice, practice, practice! Eating independently is a tricky business – but your child can only learn to eat by doing it themselves.
The earlier your child starts practicing, the faster independent eating will work out. You can hand your child a kids' spoon now and then starting at around 6 months – by 8-9 months, little ones often no longer want to be fed. Then it's time for kids' cutlery!
Tips for learning to eat
Even if your child's first attempts with kids' cutlery come with a lot of mess: trust your child, be patient, and take your child's desire for more independence seriously!
Even though it's faster for you and keeps the table and clothes clean: feeding your child yourself could demotivate and frustrate them. The second year of life in particular is crucial for the development of eating behavior. So only help your child when they really need help, and not when they no longer want to eat. Then independent eating will soon work out too!
