18 to 36+ months

It's normal for toddlers to want help sometimes, especially when they're tired, unwell or just after some extra attention. A little help is fine, but try to keep them involved. You could load the spoon and let them bring it to their mouth, or guide their hand with yours. Praise their efforts, keep mealtimes relaxed, and let them lead as much as possible. Toddler-sized cutlery that's easy to grip and control can make feeding themselves feel achievable rather than frustrating.

It depends on the knife. The doddl knife is certified safe from 12+ months, but we typically recommend introducing the knife at around 2 years, to give them the best chance of success. The doddl knife works by downward pressure on food and has a clever safe blade design. 

Yes, it's very common. Between 18 months and 3 years, many toddlers go through a phase of being wary of new or even familiar foods. It's a natural stage of development and usually improves with time. Keep offering a variety of foods alongside ones they already like, with no pressure to eat them. Eating together also helps, because your toddler can see you enjoying the same meal. It can take many tries before a new food is accepted, so stay calm, praise them for trying, and let them decide how much to eat.

Toddlers need much smaller portions than many parents expect, and their appetite can change a lot from one day to the next, or even one meal to the next. It often helps to look at what they eat across a whole week rather than a single day. Aim for three small meals and two healthy snacks a day, served at regular times. Start with a small portion and offer more if they ask. Keep an eye on milk, too. Around 300–400ml a day (based on UK NHS guidence) is plenty for this age, and too much can fill your toddler up so they have less room for food. If your toddler has plenty of energy and is growing well, they're usually getting what they need. If you're worried about their weight or growth, speak to your health visitor or GP.