Hey there, parents! As you embark on the thrilling journey of introducing solids to your little one, remember: the more they play and explore, the better. Why not let your bub join the fun with their own spoon (or two)? It's not just about the grub but also letting them get hands-on with their food. And even if a spoon (or two) does fly past your head at breakfast, each meal brings your baby one step closer to mastering the developmental milestone of learning to use a spoon.

Starting solids? Two spoons for the win!

Try using two spoons for the most joyfull of mealtimes. Handing your little explorer a preloaded spoon (a fancy term for a spoonful of food) allows them to take the lead while you get the second spoon ready. While they're investigating their spoonful of food, you can prepare the second spoonful, so you can swap out the empty one with a new preloaded one as soon as they're ready (instead of making a hungry baby wait- or shout). 

 

Giving them the reins (or, in this case, the spoons) provides your baby with the freedom to approach their meal and munch at their own pace.

 

 

Handing over the spoon can go one of three ways, however:

 

 

Model Self Feeding by Eating Together

 

During mealtimes, you may notice a bit of 'monkey see, monkey do' going on as dinner becomes a delightful 'one mouthful for mum, one for me' game. But by watching you eat with a spoon at mealtimes, your baby learns to extract food from their spoon and chew and swallow it (yes, even with just gums). You can even use a spoon the same as your baby's, and they'll observe and imitate you, learning every second.

 

We know babies love the 'drop-the-spoon' game (what a classic). To avoid this becoming a regular habit, try simply retrieving the spoon straight away (with a straight face) or leave it on the floor and move on. Either way, the aim is to blow past it and continue with the meal so 'drop the spoon' doesn't end up your new-but-not-so-favourite dinner time activity.

 

Mealtimes are messy- so be prepared and try to relax into it. Arm yourself with a bib and splash mat, and get those washcloths ready, as each mealtime is an adventure. Double up on spoons and get ready to double the fun. 

When Using the Two-Spoon Strategy, Make Sure You…

Let your baby set the pace.

Remember, your little one is new at this. What seems like second nature for us is entirely new for them. Take things slowly and never rush them along. When you think you've held the loaded spoon out for them and waited… wait some more (hello, crickets.)

 

Don't force things.

If your baby is showing you signs they aren't interested in holding the spoon that day, that's okay. They might display this by turning their head away or pushing the spoon away. 

Signs that your baby is ready and wants to take the loaded spoon from you may include the following:

 

• Eyes tracking the spoon keenly as you load it up with food 
• Reaching out for or grabbing the spoon
• Making impatient noises that they want that loaded spoon NOW!
• Opening their mouth

 

Resist the temptation to put the spoon in their mouth for them. By giving them the time to approach spoon feeding at their own pace, you're helping your little person learn agency of choice right from the get-go, setting them up for a lifetime of happy and contented eating. 

 

What if Your Baby Doesn't Like What's on the Spoon? 

Don't sweat. It can take up to 20 times (it might feel like 67578934!) for a baby to try or even have exposure to a new food before they like it - or will even try it. This isn't too unreasonable when you consider how it's the same for us as adults, too. How many tries did it take to decide that you liked spinach, for example? 

 

If spoons are getting rejected right, left, and centre one lunchtime, take a break and try again another day. You can also try mixing a particular food with one you know they like. Your baby is naturally more likely to prefer sweeter tastes like fruit than vegetables with a bitter taste, so trying an apple and broccoli combo puree could help. 

 

Overall, remember that babies know their innate hunger and fullness cues and are developing their taste palette, so you can trust them to let you know when they are ready and what and how much they want to eat.

 

Remember- Mess is Good

At Joyfull, we know life is busy for parents and carers and that the last thing you might want at the end of the day is to clean lentils off the wall and wash yoghurt out of your hair. 

We also want you to know that the more you encourage your baby to explore self-feeding through touching and even PLAYING with their food, the more they develop their ability to handle different textures orally. 

 

Your little one might not seem interested in getting tactile with the contents of their dinner bowl at all. You can gently model to them that getting messy is okay. Yes, you! That means not cringing out loud and pulling a face at every plop of food on the table.

And if you're really struggling, take a deep breath and remember you can do a complete clean-up after dinner.

 

Extra tip: if changing out of your cute top and into an old t-shirt will help you fully relax into a messy lunchtime, do so.

Why Two Spoons is Better than One

Having two spoons at hand makes feeding easier for your baby and you, too- which is why Joyfull's Taste Testers Second Spoons and the Tiny Tongues Silicone First Spoons are available in sets of two. When you use the two-spoon strategy, not only does your little one not have to wait as long for their next mouthful, but by handling the spoon, they are developing their fine motor skills day by day. By doubling up on spoons, you're supporting your little ones' self-feeding journey while empowering them to explore the wonderful world of food just how they want to.