Adult spoons are too large and hard for infants and toddlers. Because of their instinct to suck, infants first learn to eat from a utensil by closing their lips around the spoon. An adult spoon would be too large for a baby’s lips. What’s more, the metal is too hard for gums that are sensitive from erupting teeth.Adult spoons are too hard for toddlers, too. Toddlers have some teeth, but they are actively teething and may chew the spoon for relief. Metal toddler spoons do exist, but these should only be used once a toddler is proficient at self-feeding and has most baby teeth.