So your tiny human has decided baby spoons are beneath them. They want the real ones. The ones you use. And when you hand them an adult fork they nearly take an eye out, or the food slides off before it gets anywhere near their mouth.
Welcome to the kids cutlery stage.
This is the bit nobody warns you about. Too big for starter spoons. Too small for grown up cutlery. And right in the middle of that "I do it MYSELF" phase where any help is a personal insult.Here's what we've learned (the hard way) about getting kids cutlery right.
When is your kid ready for proper cutlery?
There's no exact age. Most littles land somewhere between 12 months and 3 years. The signs to look for:
- They reach for your cutlery at every meal
- They get frustrated with smaller spoons
- They've nailed the pincer grip and want more control
- They're keen to feed themselves the whole way through (even if it ends in chaos)
If they are having a meltdown because they want the adult fork, that's your sign.
What to look for in kids cutlery
A lot of kids cutlery on the market is flimsy, too sharp, or just an adult fork shrunk down. None of that works for little hands and tiny mouths.
The good stuff has:
Chunky handles. Little hands need something to actually grip. Skinny handles slip out and end up under the high chair.
Safe, soft materials. Silicone cutlery is brilliant here because it's gentle on baby gums, won't scratch tiny mouths, and survives being launched across the kitchen.
Properly shaped heads. A spoon that's actually shaped like a spoon. A fork with prongs that pick up food without being scary sharp. A knife that can saw through a strawberry without slicing fingers.
Easy to clean. If it can't go in the dishwasher, it's not making your life easier. Hard pass.
Designs they actually like. Sounds silly, but a kid who loves their cutlery will use their cutlery. Pretty colours, fun shapes, a set that feels like theirs.
Why we made the Fancy 3 Piece Silicone Kids Cutlery Set
We kept seeing the same gap. Baby spoons were perfect for starting solids. Adult cutlery was a no go for a while yet. And the kids cutlery in between was either bendy plastic, sharp metal, or a sad mix of mismatched bits at the bottom of the drawer.
So we made the Fancy Kids Cutlery Set | 3 Piece Silicone Spoon, Fork & Knife.
Three pieces. A spoon, a fork and a knife. All in soft, 100% FDA approved silicone. BPA and PVC free. Chunky handles for small hands to grip. Heads shaped properly so food actually makes it to her mouth. Safe enough for tiny gums. Strong enough to handle a roast dinner. Pretty enough that your kid will actually want to use them.
It comes in our signature colours (Lilac, Blush, Lemon, Sage, Duck Egg) so you can match them to your Fancy plate or pick a set just because it makes you happy to look at.
Dishwasher safe, of course. Because we like to make your life easier, not harder.
A few mealtime tips while we're here
- Let them practise. Cutlery skills take time. Lots of it.
- Sticky foods like mashed potato and yoghurt are easier to scoop than peas. Start there.
- Don't expect a clean meal. That's not the goal. Independence is.
- Praise the effort, not the result. Even if more food ends up on the wall than in their mouth.
You've got this, Mama
Watching your kid use proper cutlery for the first time is one of those quiet little wins. It looks like nothing. It feels like everything. One more tiny step towards "I can do it myself".
Grab the Fancy Kids Cutlery Set | 3 Piece Silicone Spoon, Fork & Knife.. Free Aussie shipping on orders over $99.
