essential lists
The best buys for weaning and feeding your baby
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Once your baby gets to around six months old, it's time to start weaning them onto more solid food.
Weaning is an important step in your baby’s development, but nothing can prepare you for how messy it gets!
Whether you're going to be feeding your baby pureed foods or trying baby led weaning, you'll need to buy some new kit to get started.
Always buy products that can be easily washed by hand or in the dishwasher, or wiped clean, and make sure you’ve got the floor and any clothing covered as pureed food will get everywhere (your walls will NEVER be the same again).
But what are the products you need for weaning?
You'll need to buy a bowl, spoon, cup, bib as a bare minimum and eventually, as your child starts to eat regular meals – a highchair.
You might like to use your baby's rocker or bouncy chair for meals before they're big enough to sit properly in a highchair.
If you need to buy some weaning kit quickly, many brands do a complete weaning set so you can get all the basics you need in one hit.
Here are our favourite weaning buys, with everything from bibs to spoons and cups to bowls and items to keep your kitchen clean and splatter-free!
1. Waterproof Soft Silicone Bibs (two-pack)
* Made from super lightweight, soft and flexible silicone
* Waterproof and can be wipe cleaned in seconds
* Designed for babies six months old and above
This pack of two soft silicone bibs is great to use when you're weaning your baby. Each one is made from waterproof silicone which makes it easy to be wipe cleaned in just seconds. The clever, deep pouch will catch any potential spills and will keep baby (and the floor!) clean. It's a sturdy bib and has an easy to use adjustable neckline for greater comfort for little ones. A definite must-have product to keep your little one clean!
This pack of two bibs available from Amazon is a must-buy for the weaning stage.
2. Waterproof Floor Mat
* Effectively protects floor and carpet from spills
* Can be used both as a floor mat and tablecloth
* Its anti-grip design will keep a highchair more secure
This attractive and practical wipe clean mat protects carpet and other floor coverings from stains, spills and dribbles is a must-have for new mums. It can be used as a floor mat while feeding and also as a table cloth to avoid getting the table dirty. Accidents happen frequently when weaning, so be prepared and stress-free with this great multitasking buy!
3. Babycook Original
* Functions as a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster
* It will cook all sorts of foods in just 15 minutes, while still keeping their nutrients
* Comes with a measuring bowl, a cooking basket, a smoothie filter lid, a spatula and a recipe booklet
This clever 4-in-1 device will steam, blend, defrost and reheat allowing you to cater for your baby's changing tastes and provide delicious, healthy, homemade food. It can process all sorts of foods in just 15 minutes, while making sure that the nutrients, vitamins and flavour are preserved. A must-have all-in-one buy, ideal for modern, busy families.
4. Weaning Pots
* Includes BPA-free storage containers (3 x 120 ml, 3 x 180 ml, 6 x 250 ml) and three flexible spoons
* Screw-on lids to securely store and transport your toddler's meals
* Can be sterilised and are safe to use in the microwave, freezer and dishwasher
This colourful set of weaning pots can be used for storage, or feeding on the go. It includes 12 containers and three light, flexible spoons and is a practical buy that will cover a baby's weaning needs. The products are all safe to use in the dishwasher, freezer and also the microwave. How could we ask for more?
5. Baby Cup, £8.99 (four-pack)
* Great for transitioning from baby bottles and sippy cups to normal cups
* Can be used as weaning cups for toddler's food
* Recommended by dentists and orthodontists
If you want to skip using a sippy cup, these little beakers are a great way to transition from a bottle. Approved by dentist and orthodontists, using this cup will not only prevent from possible tooth decay (from sucking), but will also help with jaw development. Made from high-quality, durable material in a range of attractive colours.
6. Wipe Clean Oilcloth
* Material is 100% cotton coated with a layer of PVC
* Protects from food and drink spillage
* Easy and effortlessly wipe-clean
We know that the weaning process can get really messy so consider this simple, purse-friendly solution. This pretty and practical wipe-clean cloth protects your table from spills and sticky fingers. It will make the clean-up quick and easy, so ideal for busy parents!
7. Booster Seat
* Features an extra-safe three-point harness for baby's security
* Easy to clean-up as the tray is removable
* Portable and easy to transport as it has a travel-handle
This booster seat lets your little one join in at mealtimes as it's easily attachable to most chairs. With its removable padded seat insert, it's suitable for toddlers between six and 36 months old. The secure, three-point harness will keep them safe and comfortable at the same time. A must-buy, travel-friendly solution.
8. Fill 'n' Squeeze Starter Pack
* Make your own homemade puree pouches
* The pack includes a pouch jug, a masher, a jug cap, a cleaning Brush and five re-usable pouches
* Perfect for storing the first weaning foods
* Reduces food mess and waste
Simply load the pouch filler jug with your prepared puree and fill four pouches in seconds with this easy-to-use one-stop pouch filling system. The pouch 'windows' show fill level so you don't have to worry about overfilling. You can also blend a meal straight in the jug using the masher. The pouches are freezable and microwavable as well! An all-in-one genius pack, perfect for early weaning!
If you’re doing baby led weaning – letting your baby feed themselves, rather than spoon-feeding – but are worried about choking, you can buy special mesh feeders that you put chunks of food inside so they can suck and chew on them without the risk of choking (although it’s very rare for babies to actually choke on food).
When you start introducing solids, you’ll need to get your baby used to drinking water from a cup, too.
Free-flowing sippy cups are easier for babies to drink from, but can also leak and spill.
Leak-proof, non-spill cups are better if you’re avoiding mess, but can be difficult for babies to master.
Some cups can be used with a bottle teat to make the transition easier.
Mess minimisation is another thing to think about when weaning your baby.
Bibs are essential: you can choose from fabric bibs, which are cheap and comfortable for your baby to wear but will need washing after every use, plastic pelican bibs with a crumb-catcher scoop, which are easy to wipe clean but can be a bit rigid and uncomfortable to wear, or coverall long-sleeved bibs that are great for protecting clothes but can swamp younger babies.
You may also want a plastic mess mat for the floor, and a wipe-clean mat for the table.
Want to know more about keeping weaning mess to a minimum? Read our guide here.
If you’re planning to cook your own baby food, you’ll need some way of storing it in the fridge or freezer.
There are lots of options here, from ice cube tray-style storage with lots of small compartments to stackable lidded pots.
They come in a variety of sizes, from small baby portions to larger toddler servings.
Silicone pots and trays are easier to get frozen food out of than plastic ones; it’s also best to buy storage that’s suitable for the microwave and dishwasher to save time.
While it’s easy enough to prepare baby food using your everyday kitchen equipment, you can buy all-in-one gadgets that perform a range of functions, including steaming, blending, defrosting and reheating food.
These don’t come cheap and can take up a lot of work surface space, but can help save time in the kitchen.
You can also buy a special device that lets you make your own baby food pouches, which are handy for going out and about.
How much does baby weaning equipment cost?
A lot of the basic kit you’ll need for weaning – plastic spoons, plates, bowls and bibs – can be picked up very cheaply from supermarkets, baby stores and even pound shops, although you can spend more on luxury brands and designs.
Items with added features such as suction on the bottom of cups or plates will be more expensive.
You’ll also need storage pots for refrigerating and freezing homemade food; again, these are readily available and most cost under £5 for a multi-pack.
If you want to invest in a gadget for making it easier to prepare, cook and blend baby food, these cost from around £20 for a simple blender, up to £100+ for a multi-function machine.
You can also buy a special device for making your own pouches of puree, which costs around £25.
Retailers such as Amazon and Boots have regular deals and offers on weaning products, so keep your eyes open for any bargains.
What should I buy for weaning?
China plates may look lovely, but they won’t withstand this stage of feeding, so you'll have to buy new ones – look for plastic or melamine.
Some plates and bowls have useful features like a non-slip base or suction cup so they’re harder to knock over, a handle to make them easy for you to hold, and sections to keep different foods separate.
Microwaveable and dishwasher-safe plates and bowls are easy to use and clean, and those that have lids are good for keeping food in the fridge and reheating food without splatters.
Cutlery should also be plastic.
If you’re going to be spoon-feeding your baby, long-handled spoons are good for getting to the bottom of jars.
If they're at the self-feeding stage, short and chunky handles are easier for them to manipulate.
Soft-tipped spoons are gentle on delicate gums; some also have a colour-change feature with tips that indicates if food is too hot.
A highchair is a must-buy for baby mealtimes, choose one without a tray so they can eat at the table with the rest of the family.
You be able to buy weaning sets consisting of a bowl, plate, spoon and sometimes a cup, too from nursery retailers such as Amazon or John Lewis. This can often work out cheaper than buying the items individually.
You'll love all the cute patterns and designs that these feeding sets come in!
If you are going to travel, there are lots of things to buy to help you wean on the go, from food flasks to lidded weaning bowls.
What foods should you avoid when weaning your baby?
It’s important to make sure that you prepare, cook and store baby food safely, whether it’s homemade or bought, to prevent tummy bugs.
There are also certain foods that aren’t safe for babies, including salt, honey and undercooked eggs.
Buying a good baby and toddler feeding book will introduce all the safety guidance you need to know, with lots of advice and also recipes to follow.
See our round-up of the best baby and toddler weaning and feeding books, here.
Read on:
• The best changing mats for babies
• How to buy the right travel cot for nights away
• How to choose the best travel system for you and your baby
