More Child Etiquette Training Utensils

On children learning table manners ~ “Every human being without exception must pass through this rite of passage, being forbidden the motherly breast or the bottle and taught to eat solid food. The child must learn for most of its mealtimes to give up sucking, the skill with which it was born. The area inside the cheeks of small children is well provided with taste buds, which adults' cheeks are not; babies taste not only with their tongues but with their cheeks. This is thought to be why they like packing their mouths with food. They must be made to take less at a time.” ~ Margaret Visser, in “The Rituals of Dinner”

A few more examples of
Child Etiquette Training Tools
from the 1800’s & 1900’s

Food pushers for baby were essential in a day when "cleaning the plate" was a rule observed by every child. These pieces were available in almost every popular flatware pattern.

The R. Blackington Company created these fun toddler spoons – “A barrier at one side of the bowl of baby training spoons supposedly frustrated the child who wanted to use his left hand at the table. The manufacturer offered a variety of appealing  animal barriers.” 

The “My Own Set” plate came with a toddler-sized, silver plated fork and spoon set. Some even came with a matching child-sized mug. They were available featuring art depicting boys, girls, and even animals, though most popular was this adorable girl with her teddy bear in a high chair, “learning to eat properly.” The plates were designed to remind the child where his or her fork or spoon should go— on the right or the left side. This is one of the rare plates that was available in Spanish.

These patent and description images, along with a previous Etiquipedia post on Child Etiquette Training Tools and other items, can be found at this link.

— Advertisements and text above from “American Silver Flatware 1837-1910,” by Noel Turner, 1972 and the “My Own Plate Set” is from the Etiquipedia private library and will be featured in an upcoming book by Site Editor, Maura J. Graber

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia