My just-turned-two year old son is driving me crazy with food. Not only is he insanely fussy (which is common, I know), but he absolutely refuses to hold the spoon himself.

He's ok with the few kinds of finger food he'll eat, but anything requiring spoon feeding we're still doing. Which drives me nuts. It doesn't help that he's got a cousin who has been feeding himself since he was 8 months old.

Anyone else have/ had this problem? He's at or ahead of all of his other developmental marks.

oh, and it's gotten a lot worse since his baby sister was born in December.

Have you tried a fork?
My DS started with forks because spoons were just a total non-event in this house. at least with a fork they can have fun stabbing at their food. Just make sure its a kiddie fork and you supervise though

The other possibility is that he doesnt want top use a spoon because he still wants to be the baby. Maybe he is just holding onto that with the spoon issues?
Im not sure how accurate that would be as I still only have one kiddo. But maybe you could encourage him to use a spoon by saying things about it being what "big boys" do. Just talk it up a lot.

I hope thats some help.

Wow!! so its not just me! I ended up in tears this morning because DD refused to feed herself her breakfast, it was a huge battle of wills and because she did the same thing last night with her dinner I felt bad that she might be hungry. She is fine with finger foods and most of the time with a fork, but the spoon just isnt working so well.
I know it could be because she knows the baby is coming, and I know it will probably get worse and I know I am majorly hormonal. Even sticker bribes aren't working!! she loves stickers!! she even tried to convince me to give her lollies if she ate a spoon lol. Gosh I hope this passes.
Sorry to hijack, I am just so relieved its not just me and my DD that are going through this

ill keep encouraging him to use a spoon and when he does make a huge deal about what a big boy he is.
in other ways I wouldnt bother my DS is extremely fussy and wont eat much so when he does eat meals that usually require a spoon and uses his fingers im just happy, who cares if they make a mess

One word - ICECREAM

its amazing how quickly they master the skills needed to get it in their mouths....

thats the ONLY thing that worked for us. Once they get there confidence they will eat anything with a spoon.

My DS went through the same thing only about a month ago. We still have our days! I sat him at his table or in his high chair (we tried a variety of places) and I put his dinner their with a fork and a spoon and if he didn't eat it he got nothing. He would happily open his mouth for me to spoon it in but wouldn't feed himself. It took 3 days of barely any food but it worked and now he'll eat. I think the best thing is to not make a fuss of it, allow them enough time to give it a go - after that just take it away and let them play or whatever, but don't give them any other snacks etc. They won't starve themselves belive me! I give mine a pentavite chewable bear vitamin every morning so I don't have to stress about him getting enough nutrition - so then I can be tought enough to play hard ball!

Good luck
Jen