We recently hosted an incredibly insightful Instagram Live session with the brilliant Catriona Fahey, Paediatric Occupational Therapist (OT) from Empower OT, to tackle one of the biggest milestones in a baby’s food journey: introducing utensils!
Catriona was part of our Academy series and came back on to take part in our Weaning Month Live Series.
Check out the Live here
When Does the Spoon Adventure Begin?
Utensils are more than just tools for eating; they are instruments for development. Catriona broke down the timing and purpose of early spoon introduction:
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Early Exposure is Key: Even before your baby can independently manage a spoon, it’s great to introduce a spoon for play and exploration around 6-7 months. The goal of this is exposure and familiarity, not feeding proficiency.
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Look for Developmental Milestones: The true signal for readiness isn't an exact age, but observing skills like a developing pincer grasp (picking up small food pieces) and stable sitting balance. A well-supported baby is a well-feeding baby!
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Pre-Spoons vs. Regular Spoons: Catriona detailed the benefits of pre-spoons or dipping spoon, their flat design allows the baby to safely scoop and learn the motion without the frustration of a deep bowl.
*OT Tips for a Successful Mealtime Setup
A huge focus of Occupational Therapy (*OT) is the environment, and Catriona stressed that proper support is the foundation for self-feeding.
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The Power of Foot Support: One of the most surprising takeaways for many parents was the importance of the highchair setup. Optimal highchair positioning, especially firm foot support, provides the trunk stability a baby needs to focus their fine motor energy on their hands and mouth. No more dangling feet!
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Mess is the Best: Catriona passionately explained why allowing a baby to play with and explore their food is vital. Sensory exploration (touching, squishing, smearing) directly supports oral motor development and helps the child become comfortable with various textures.
Tackling Common "Spoon Wars"
We put some of the most common parent dilemmas to Catriona for her expert advice:
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The Spoon-Throwing Phase: If your baby is treating the spoon like a boomerang, Catriona advised that while it's normal exploration, it shouldn't be fully ignored. Stick to a firm routine and offer it back, but focus on the child's communication they might be signalling they are full or tired.
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Toddler Resistance: For the older child (18 months+) who still demands to be spoon-fed by a parent, Catriona suggested gradually moving towards a "hand-over-hand" or "parallel feeding" approach, gently guiding them to take over while praising every independent scoop.
Thank you so much to Catriona for an incredibly informative session! To learn more about setting your child up for feeding success, be sure to follow Empower OT and check out our Free 4-Week Weaning Masterclass!
Our Weaning Advice page provides information and advice on weaning your baby. It includes recipes, tips, and articles on a variety of topics related to weaning, such as introducing finger food, adding herbs and spices to baby food, and healthy snacks for your baby, and lots more
