Beginner table manners- where to begin?

[plantnerd]

The boy is 12 months old and has been self feeding since he was about 7 months old.  His appetite is decreasing now that his growth is slowing down, so when he once shoveled the food in as fast as he could, he now wastes most of it.  His great joy is to throw his food on the floor and watch the dog scramble after it.  I feel like it's time to begin teaching some table manners (we eat with a fork, we do not throw food on the floor) but am not sure where to start.  So far I have just been putting bite size pieces of food on his high chair tray and letting him have at it.  I need advice on introducing a plate and fork, and teaching him that you don't have to eat it all, but you must leave it on your tray/plate.  I will be banning the dog from the kitchen as I think that will take some of the fun out of it.  I am open to him missing a couple of meals while he learns, he is still nursing and I really want to get my point across.  Where oh where did this wild man come from?!

[EzzysMom]

hmm well I don't think you can expect perfect table manners from a 1 year old, my 2.5 year old is still working on it. But what I think is most important is to model manners yourself by eating together. Only giving him a small amount of food at a time so he won't fling it all. Banning the dog sounds like a very good idea. And if he throws the food, the meal is over, no yelling no fuss, just 'oh I see you're not hungry'. We are often saying 'put the food on your plate or in your mouth'.

The fork lesson is probably a long ways away. My DD1 knows how, but isn't so interested since she mastered doing it.

[plantnerd]

Oh, no worries, I'm by no means expecting perfection.  I do want him to at least not throw food on the floor and know how to use a fork by age two.  He shows great interest in it, and will get the food in his mouth if I load the fork for him, which is great.  We eat meals as a family so that's there.  I just don't want to be starting with a set-in-his-ways two or three year old, I do feel that table manners are very important for family and social harmony.

[mamazee]

He's too young to expect much at all.  I would only give him a bite of food at a time so he doesn't have extra to throw on the floor, and I'd wait a few months before thinking about a fork.

[faithrainbow]

I have a home daycare, and I think you can certainly get started at 12 months!  I use spoons and bowls, which I think are easier than forks and plates.  Just give a little bit of food at a time.  When he's eaten what you've given him, teach him the baby sign for "more," and say "more, please," when you do it.  When you see him do it, say, "Oh!  You're saying, 'more, please!'  Sure!"  Connecting the pleases and thank yous with things now make them come out naturally when he starts to talk.

When kids drop food, I'll say, "That food's just for eating."  The second time, I'll say it and take the bowl away.  When they want it back, I'll say, "Are you ready to eat your food?"  And when they nod, I'll give it back.  If they drop food again, I'll calmly say, "It looks like you're all done," and the meal is over.  If they didn't get much food in, I'll have the next meal a bit earlier than I otherwise would have.