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Expert Q&A:
When may I expect my 13-month-old to eat with a fork or spoon?

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Stephen Muething
Answered by Stephen Muething M.D.
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"I love being a pediatrician," says Stephen Muething, medical director of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Through my special role, I get to partner with families in the very important job of helping children develop and grow. My task is to help parents raise their children to be as healthy, happy, and successful as they can be." 

Dr. Muething received his B.S. degree from the University of Notre Dame and his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. After completing his pediatric residency and chief residency at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, he served as the lead physician of a five-pediatrician practice in Southeast Indiana for 13 years.

Dr. Muething is currently the associate director in the Division of General Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, leading a team that performs more than 60,000 primary care visits and cares for more than 3,500 inpatients annually. He is also the director of the Diagnostic Clinic for Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Since 2001, Dr. Muething has served as one of the key physicians in the Pursuing Perfection initiative at Cincinnati Children's, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in conjunction with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Dr. Muething is now a graduate of the Advanced Training Program in Healthcare Delivery Improvement at Intermountain Health Care in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dr. Muething has been a co-leader for the Acute Care Team at Cincinnati Children's, which has focused on designing an evidence-based, family-centered care system for children in the Cincinnati area. Results of the work have been presented at the annual meetings of the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI), the National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ), the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS).

As "Dr. Steve," Dr. Muething hosts two radio programs for families in the Cincinnati area and is the pediatric consultant for The Health Show, a nationally syndicated radio show. Other community activities include serving as moderator for the "Centering on Families: Tools for Practical Parenting" series at the Cincinnati Museum Center.

Family life is central for Dr. Muething and his wife, Meg, both of whom were raised in large families. They have four children—ranging from elementary school age to college graduate—and more than 40 nieces and nephews.
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Question


You and your daughter seem to be doing fine. I'm glad to hear you are letting her try things out even though it's probably a little messy.

Answer


You and your daughter seem to be doing fine. I'm glad to hear you are letting her try things out even though it's probably a little messy. Your daughter is exploring and learning every minute, including during meals. When she waves her plate around, or drops things on the floor or smashes food in her hand, it is all about learning.



Over time she will learn about mealtime, food texture, and taste, and eventually meals will become routine. As she develops and gains skills, she will get much better at doing things on her own. Each child is different, but you can generally expect that your daughter will figure out how to use a spoon and fork over the next year. Most children are 3 or 4 before they have the coordination to use a fork and spoon well without regularly making a mess.



At 13 months your daughter will do better using her hands. She'll need your help with a spoon and fork for a while. I would continue to let her hold her spoon and keep trying. At first, may toddlers hold a spoon with one hand and eat with the other. But remember, each meal is a chance to learn. With your patience and guidance she is learning all about her world, including mealtime.

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