Ustensiles (or utensils) are small hand-held tools used to assist in food preparation and cooking. Common tasks include cutting, tearing, mixing, grinding, baking, and measuring. Different utensils are designed for different types of tasks. A cleaver is an example of a general-purpose kitchen utensil; while an apple corer or egg separator are more specialized.
When babies start to use utensils will be a bit different for each child, but many parents and websites believe that healthy, term infants typically master this skill by 14-24 months. While some kids take longer, this is generally just because they haven’t had a lot of opportunity to practice. Using utensils can give your baby more options during meals, fosters independence, and may make for less messy eating overall!
Plastic utensils are made from non-biodegradable materials and can contain harmful chemicals such as BPA. They also take hundreds of years to decompose and can pollute our waterways and soils. Switching to reusable wooden utensils can significantly reduce the amount of waste we generate. Additionally, many people feel more comfortable purchasing products that are environmentally conscious – 66% of global consumers said they would be willing to pay more for companies committed to positive environmental change in a recent survey by Nielson.