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Learn tips to help your toddler master self-feeding skills, encouraging independence and confidence at mealtimes with fun, nutritious food options.
Why is it important for toddlers to feed themselves?
At what age should children start to feed themselves?
What foods should you start with?
What to expect when children are learning to feed themselves
At what age will my toddler start using a spoon or a fork?
Tips for successful self-feeding
How to Deal with Mess
As babies develop, so do their feeding skills. All babies are different, some pick up new feeding skills quickly, while others need a bit more time to practise and really adjust to this new way of doing things.
Encouraging your toddler to feed themselves is an exciting and essential part of their development. There’s no set timelines or rules for the way you should do things, but it’s good to allow your little one to start feeding themselves as soon as they are able. At HiPP, we understand that the journey of self-feeding can be messy and challenging, but it's a vital step towards becoming an independent eater.
Children generally love being given autonomy but self-feeding is more than being enjoyable it has positive effects on other areas too:
Your baby can begin self-feeding right from the start of weaning. In the UK it is recommended that finger foods are offered alongside any spoon feeding you are doing from 6 months. At this stage you should be offering large pieces of food that are a similar length to an adult finger and 1-2 fingers wide.
Somewhere between 8-10 months of age your baby will develop a pincer grip, meaning they can pick foods up between their thumb and forefinger. At this stage, they’ll be able to get much smaller foods into their mouth, so make sure you give them lots of exciting things to practice with! Be sure to be mindful of choking, though (you can read more about gagging and choking here).
Most babies begin to show more of an interest in self-feeding between 9 to 12 months. However, every child develops at their own pace. You may be wondering when to stop spoon feeding your baby; and again, there’s no set time; once your baby has mastered feeding themselves and is showing an interest in doing it, let them!
When introducing self-feeding with finger foods at the start of weaning, start with soft, easily manageable foods. You can always spread some of their puree or mashed foods onto some finger foods to get two things in at once and to spark a little interest in sucking finger foods if your baby isn’t sure what to do at first.
As your toddler starts to feed themselves, expect a range of behaviours:
By around 15 to 18 months, many toddlers can start using cutlery like spoons with increasing proficiency. It’s essential to observe your child's readiness, as some may prefer to be spoon-fed for a little longer or to simply use their hands; which is fine as it helps them to learn about and understand the foods they are eating. By around the age of two your little one will probably be able to hold cutlery in both hands, probably a spoon and fork, and will continue to build on those skills all through childhood.
Mess is an inevitable part of weaning, but especially self-feeding! It can be hard, but sometimes we’ve just got to lean into that problem and see it as part of learning a new skill that will eventually make your life as a parent easier.
Teaching your toddler to feed themselves is an important step toward independence and self-confidence. Remember, every child is different, and some may take longer than others to master this skill. Be patient, provide encouragement, and celebrate their efforts, no matter how messy they may be. Before you know it, your little one will be well on their way to becoming an independent eater!
