Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Eating and Drinking Like a Big Girl

Pin It Now! About a month ago my sister (C) and brother-in-law were in town and my sister mentioned letting Avery start drinking out of a cup by herself.  She has been using a sippy cup for quite a while but C said that in the infant room where she teaches, they start using regular glasses (child sized of course) well before the kids' first birthdays.  Avery was just about to turn 1 so I figured we would give it a try.  We have this little measuring glass that is just the right size for it so we started letting Avery practice, with our help, during meals.  She still uses a sippy cup at other times during the day but at meal time she always drinks out of a regular glass now.  It's so cute and she's getting really good at it, she can even do it by herself sometimes.  When she first started, she would do this crazy thing with her tongue that I can't even describe but it was hilarious!  She doesn't do it anymore but it used to crack Eric and I up.  The other thing that cracks me up about it is that the glass she uses, even though it is a measure glass, it actually looks kind of like a shot glass, same size and shape.  So it always looks like we are giving our 1 year old daughter shots of vodka!

Then a couple weeks ago, Amber at Nater Tot wrote a post on Toddler Tip: Learning How to Use a Spoon so I figured since we were using a glass we might as well start using a spoon too.  She had some great tips, like use two bowls and two spoons and use a suction bowl.  We've been doing it for about a week now and although she's not perfect at it, she is getting much better.  She still has a hard time scooping the food out by herself and she's always wanting to put the spoon in her mouth upside down but she has come a long way.

Since we started, I have been using scaffolding to help her learn how to feed herself.  At first I helped her through the whole thing; holding the spoon with her, helping her scoop, guiding it to her mouth, and then repeating.  She always held the spoon with me but I helped her learn how the process and steps.  As time went on I gradually pulled back support, letting her do more and more of it on her own.  It worked really well and has really helped her learn to eat on her own.  We try to practice at least once a day and she gets so excited when she sees those bowls and spoons come out!


 Look at that smile, so proud of herself!  : )

21 comments:

  1. very cute she looks very proud of herself. my boys were much better with forks than with spoons, but I didn't try it until they were eating more solid foods

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  2. Hey, thanks for checking out my blog. I'm following you back.

    Have a great day!

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  3. So cute! I haven't really tried a cup with Mia, I should! She loves the spoon too. They are getting so big!

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  4. She is so cute! She is very proud - as she should be! :)

    Following you back! :)

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  5. My 21 month old uses a fork and spoon like a pro, and has for a long time. But the drinking out of a real cup thing has proved challenging. She normally ends up pouring the drink all over herself. Maybe a little gets in her mouth. Her preschool only allows real cups in the 2 year old room, where she will transition after her birthday in December. So now we have the pressure to get it done. I hate pressure!

    Cute pics! :)

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  6. Way to go Avery! And Liz, I'm loving that you're teaching her to drink from a shot-glass - that's my kind of parenting! ;) XO

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  7. Very adorable!! I am following you back! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!
    Alissia
    Tips 4 Green

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  8. What a cute baby! I am now following you back :)
    Hope to see you around at Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

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  9. Extremely cute photographs. Thank you for following Hollywood Glamorous I am stopping by to return the following favor.

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  10. How fun! I love when my little guy discovers new stuff...

    Thanks for stopping by my blog - and thanks for following. :)

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  11. Awww what a cutie! Thanks so much for stopping by... I am following back :)

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  12. Way to go, Avery! I'm so glad my spoon tips are helping you guys as well. I LOVE your measuring cup idea. Nate loves drinking out of my water glass, so I'm sure he would be thrilled to get his own glass. I'm totally using a shot glass :)

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  13. Thanks for stopping by my blog...I am following back!

    I love your blog...the shot glass, I mean measuring, cup story is a riot!!

    Karen @ http://barefootinportland.blogspot.com

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  14. She is absoutely adorable!
    Blessings,
    Jill

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  15. That is so cute. We didn't do very well with our first, but we did give him a little shot glass to learn to drink from. He still doesn't use a spoon well (okay so he probably uses it fine, but it is funny to watch him eat applesauce). Hopefully we'll do better with little brother.

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  16. I am following you back and you need to come back and enter the Baby Diner Giveaway I just posted. :) It will save you lots of work. Love the picture.

    http://maternitybellybuttonrings.blogspot.com/2010/10/baby-diner-giveaway-ends-on-113.html

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  17. She is SO cute! Thanks for the follow!

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  18. Oh she is so adorable. Congrats mom, you're doing a wonderful job! It's amazing when they can start feeding themselves--it gives you some extra time too. Every now and then, Lewie still likes when we baby him and feed him his food. This is definitely a fun stage.

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  19. Love this post!!!! I will be hanging around your blog alot! I can tell!!! i am your newest follower!! would Love to have you follow me back!!

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  20. Thanks!
    @Lori, we haven't tried a fork yet but that's up next. She's still just eating solids with her fingers.

    @ Elizabeth, I'm sure if I didn't help her a little with the cup she'd have water all over her too. I usually help her guide the water up to her mouth and then let her take over until she's ready to put it down and then I help again. Pressure does suck, especially when all children develop at different rates and you have NO control over it!

    @ Jenn, Karen, and Amber, glad you enjoyed the "shot glass," parenting at it's finest! : )

    @ Annette, there are still times that Avery wants to be fed too, so funny how they want to be so big and so little at the same time!

    @ Amy, I'm so glad we aren't the only ones to use a "shot glass"

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  21. Hi,

    Awww how cute. My 14 month old twins eat so differently. My girl takes little bites. My boy tries to put everything in his mouth at once. Both ways is so cute to watch.

    Thanks for coming by and following. Im following you back. Have a great weeked.

    http://pacifierspumpstheworld.com/

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