Designed for every child
Whatever the challenge
doddl’s mealtime tools are designed to support every child by making self-feeding attainable without age ranges or pressure.
Gripping is challenging
If your child struggles to hold cutlery in a standard way, the doddl grip design lets them use their whole hand — making self-feeding achievable without fine finger control.
Reduces frustration, builds confidence
When mealtimes become more attainable, the frustration starts to lift. Children who repeatedly struggle with standard cutlery often find doddl is the first cutlery that works — and that can change how they feel about eating.
No timelines. No targets. No pressure.
doddl works at whatever pace is right for your child. This is not about being ahead of a curve — it is about your child doing what is right for them, and feeling capable while they do it.
The SEN journey
Find the best product for your child
Stage 1
Every journey starts somewhere
You would love your child to start learning how to use cutlery. They might not be able to hold a spoon yet, and that’s completely fine. This is where we begin — together.
We would recommend starting here if all of these apply
- Your child has no experience of using cutlery
- Your child has limited hand-eye coordination
- Your child may need some support to sit at mealtimes
- Your child has involuntary movements
Stage 2
They’re gripping — and that’s huge
Your child is beginning to grip and guide. It might be inconsistent. It might take ten attempts to get a spoonful in. That’s not failure — that is exactly what progress looks like at this stage. Keep practising, and celebrate the small wins.
We would recommend doddl at this stage if these apply
- Your child can move food to their mouth
- Your child has some experience of handling cutlery
- Your child’s appetite is growing
- Your child is showing signs of wanting to self-feed
Stage 3
Trying new things
Your child is starting to get the hang of feeding themselves, and they want more independence. Your child might be ready for the next step — including their first safe knife.
They may be ready if
- They are showing an interest in chopping food
- They have a desire for independence
- You would like to get them more involved in the kitchen
What SEN parents say
4.8 / 5 · 14,004 verified reviews
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"I purchased this for my (nearly) three year old who has a number of developmental delays. He has always struggled with self feeding — he has had this set around a week and it's made such a difference. He is enjoying meal times again and managing for the most part independently — before this set he was avoiding mealtimes out of frustration. Thanks to doddl I get to have a happy little boy at my table again."
Emily HuntToddler Spoon & Fork Set
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"This cutlery has changed our daughter's life. She has special needs and would struggle with regular cutlery, often meal times ending in tears or us spoon feeding her. The first time using them, she ate her entire dinner by herself."
Samantha PikeToddler Spoon & Fork Set
Special needs
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"One of my girls has cerebral palsy & struggles to use her left hand as it is normally fisted shut but with the shape of the handles she has been able to attempt feeding herself which is fantastic."
AbigailToddler Spoon, Fork & Knife Set
Cerebral palsy
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"My daughter has Down syndrome so takes much longer to master new things, particularly coordination and self feeding. She was able to use the fork in this set by the end of her meal this evening. First time. Amazing."
Miss Katrin B CrossToddler Spoon & Fork Set
Down syndrome
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"My son has down syndrome so he has low muscle tone. I was so proud of him successfully getting food with these and feeding himself. It truly gives him more independence and more time for me to feed myself instead of trying to spoon feed him."
Acey S.Toddler Spoon & Fork Set
Down syndrome
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"I had bought the spoon and fork set for my grandson who has autism, he really coped so well with them I have since bought the knife and again it has proved to be such a help. Someone has really watched small children struggle with cutlery and given a lot of thought into helping little fingers master the art of using knife, fork and spoon."
Barbara H.Toddler Knife
Autism
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"I'm a paediatric occupational therapist — I work in child development and often recommend specialist cutlery for children. I bought these for my own toddlers and they got to grips with them very easily, they encourage an appropriate hand hold. I'll be recommending these to parents of the children I work with."
Cherry FitzsimmonsToddler Spoon & Fork Set
OT-recommended
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"My youngest has a disability and coordination is something we are keen to maintain focus on. I am immediately amazed at how quickly she got to grips with this set and I cannot recommend it highly enough."
Steve DToddler Spoon, Fork & Knife Set
Disability
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"I've been using these with my toddler for a couple of weeks, he's never really took to any cutlery set (suspected autism) and prefers to use his hands however he has really took to these. The size is great, especially for taking them out and about."
Jess MChildren's Spoon, Fork & Knife Set
Autism / ASD
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"Bought these for my son who has ASD and fine motor issues. They are very pricey but worth it as they are very good quality. My son uses the spoon and fork most of all but still struggles with the knife. Overall fantastic product."
Sarah EastToddler Spoon, Fork & Knife Set
ASD + fine motor
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"I bought these to help my autistic 5yr old. They have very sturdy handles and are great for improving his fine motor skills."
Kristy A.Toddler Spoon & Fork Set
Autism
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"My little boy has cerebral palsy and these are the best we have found for him to use independently. Also helps to improve motor skills further. We bought two sets so we could have one when we are out too."
Glee25Toddler Spoon & Fork Set
Cerebral palsy
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"The cutlery have massively helped our toddler improve feeding himself. As a prem baby he really struggles with coordination and control with longer handle utensils, the difference they have made is fantastic. A perfect fit for little hands."
Lorraine MaddenToddler Spoon, Fork & Knife Set
Prem baby
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"My 2 year old granddaughter struggles with fine motor skills and this doddl spoon and fork set has made feeding herself so easy. The shorter, stubby handles are easy to grip and use. Her confidence and accuracy in feeding herself have improved enormously!"
Fiona ClarkToddler Spoon & Fork Set
Fine motor
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"She was always eating with her hands and now she is using these utensils to eat and it's a big achievement with her sensory issues!"
Rosemary OlcottToddler Spoon & Fork Set
Sensory
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"The shape of the handles meant we didn't have to tackle teaching her how to HOLD cutlery as well as how to USE it. The way it is shaped means it just came naturally to her on how to hold it!"
Christopher RobsonToddler Spoon, Fork & Knife Set
Motor delay
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"I'm a pediatric occupational therapist and I highly recommend these utensils for toddlers and children with special needs. They promote independence with proper grasping patterns."
GracieToddler Spoon & Fork Set
OT-recommended
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"As a fellow Occupational Therapist and Mum; I love this cutlery set. I love the design that caters for an infant's developing fine motor skills and makes learning to self feed a more enjoyable experience. My son is now three years old and this continues to be his favourite cutlery set."
KorenToddler Spoon & Fork Set
OT & parent
Recommended by experts
doddl is not only trusted by parents — it is the cutlery OTs reach for first when working with SEN children. Designed with OT input, tested in clinical settings, recommended by NHS practitioners.
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The Baby & Child Nutritionist
Charlotte Stirling-Reed
I've been absolutely loving using the doddl cutlery set with my family. It's really helped my daughter to hone her skills around self-feeding with a spoon and fork.
Learn more about Charlotte's work here -
Paediatric Feeding & Swallowing Specialist
Stacey Zimmels
My son loved eating at the family table with his doddl cutlery — he was participating in our family mealtimes before he was walking!
Learn more about Stacey's work here -
Pediatric Feeding Therapist & Speech-Language Pathologist
Colleen Sarrazin M.S. CCC-SLP
As a pediatric feeding therapist, the doddl toddler spoon, fork and knife set is one I recommend for 12 months and up. The stainless steel fork prongs help little ones poke food successfully, the ergonomic handles encourage a proper grip, and the spoon's tapered bowl suits little mouths while holding purees and soups.
BabbleBites -
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Christine Pollack
The first cutlery set I've found with a knife safely designed to teach real knife skills.
Follow Christine on Instagram -
Occupational Therapist
Vanessa Eisch
He's been more successful with this spoon than any we've tried — it's staying in my OT toolkit.
Every child is different
We understand the challenges your child faces
doddl is used by families navigating a wide range of conditions. Each child is different. Every challenge is valid. Every step forward matters.
Dyspraxia / DCD
Children with dyspraxia often struggle with the fine coordination and grip needed for standard cutlery, making every mealtime a source of frustration. doddl’s grip design works with the motor pattern your child has, making it easier for them to succeed.
Down syndrome
Lower muscle tone can make gripping standard cutlery difficult and tiring. doddl’s wider, shorter handle is shaped for the grip pattern that comes naturally when muscle tone is lower.
Autism / ASD
Sensory sensitivities can make mealtimes overwhelming. doddl’s consistent shapes and tactile handle give children a familiar, predictable tool — removing one source of friction at the table.