Fingers, Spoons, Forks, and Cups

Starting around 6 months, your child will begin learning about food and how to eat and drink from a cup. At first, you may be helping your child. After children are about 12 months old, they will quickly get better at using spoons, forks, and cups. Your child will start to use fingers to pick up food. This helps your baby develop fine motor skills. Offer your baby finger foods small enough to pick up and soft enough to chew. Here are some examples: Small pieces of soft, ripe, peeled fruit or soft-cooked vegetables. Small slices of mild cheese or crackers. By the time children are 12 months old, they should be able to easily feed themselves with their fingers. Use a spoon when feeding cereals or pureed or mashed foods to your child. Never give your child cereal or other foods from a bottle. At first, babies learn how to swallow solid foods such as pureed or mashed foods you feed them from a spoon. Most babies can swallow a spoonful of pureed foods without choking at around 6 months old. Babies can start to use a spoon by themselves at around 10 to 12 months old. Your child will continue to get better at using tools like spoons and forks. Give your child a chance to use spoons and forks—even if this makes eating messy. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that you can offer your child a cup when they start eating solid foods, usually around 6 months. You can use a "sippy" (training) cup with a spouted lid or offer a cup and straw. Children can start learning how to use a cup without a lid when they are 9 months old. When children are about 12 months old, they can hold a cup with two hands. Give your child a chance to use a cup. Be ready for some spills. Talk with your child's doctor or nurse if you have any questions about things your baby can do at this age.