Baby-feeding gear 101
Babies seem to need lots of stuff. When it comes to introducing solid foods, thankfully, you don’t need much! The most important thing is a safe place for your baby to eat. Here’s a rundown of what to get—and what to avoid.
Bring your baby to (or close to) the table
A high chair will help acclimate your baby to mealtimes, especially if you place it closer to the table with the rest of the family. It doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy, but make sure that you’re comfortable taking the pieces apart to give it a good cleaning, because it will definitely need it. (You might also consider something that folds up and stores easily, or a chair that attaches to a table, like a hook-on chair).
Here are some broad things to look out for:
- Side support: You want to check for enough support on the sides so your baby feels secure and does not fall or sag sideways. “You want your baby to be in an upright sitting position, not at an angle or lying down,” Dr. Panchal says.
- A footrest: Little ones generally benefit from a place to rest their feet when eating. A footrest provides a stable base for babies to move their arms and chew1. In some chairs, kids sit up high and dangle their feet, which adds an extra challenge because it forces them to engage their core while eating. (If you are using a clip-on chair, perhaps you could slide a bench or stool underneath it to serve as a footrest.)
- Adjustability: Your little one’s knees should be at a 90-degree angle, ideally with a movable footrest or enough space to hack it. Adjustable height would be helpful for a high chair, too, if you need to feed your baby at the counter.
- Easy to clean: Early meals can get quite messy, so look for a chair that is easy to clean. You’ll want to avoid a chair with inaccessible nooks and crannies.
- Safety: Straps are a must, and the chair needs to be sturdy.
Utensils
We encourage infants to eat with their hands and get messy. These aren’t essential in the beginning, but when they are, here’s what to look for:
- Choose spoons that are a little grippy (perhaps coated with silicone) and are small enough to fit into tiny hands. You can even preload spoons with food to get your baby started with self-feeding.
- By 8 months, transition to spoons designed to grip food (though expect to still have a mess to clean up!).
Cups
Offer small amounts of water in a cup to help prevent constipation. Pediatricians recommend using open cups, with or without straws, to help children learn important motor skills. Lidded sippy cups serve as helpful (and less messy) transitional devices; removing the no-spill valve might help your baby learn the natural suck-swallow motion more effectively, Dr. Panchal says.
- Use a cup close to the size of a shot glass that your baby can easily grasp and control.
- To teach your child how to use a straw, consider trying a honey bear straw cup as an alternative to a more traditional pipette approach.
Bibs
If you are home, you can always put your baby in the eating seat with just a diaper on—ready to get messy and then hop in the bath. When clothes are a must, there are many bib options, including those made of silicone and cloth, as well as ones that double as shirts. It’s nice to have a variety of bibs on hand until you figure out which kinds work best for your child (and your laundry situation). Many can be washed right in the kitchen sink and then air-dried.
Bowls, plates, and placemats
Initially, these items aren’t needed, but if you want to have them, and want to avoid plastic, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using items made with food-grade silicone, glass, or stainless steel. Look for items that are easy to clean.
Consider a set you might be able to travel with easily too, if you need to feed your baby while you’re out and about. You might consider bowls that are like mats or that have a suction cup on the bottom to help keep them stationary, along with roll-up silicone place mats that double as finger-food plates.
If you are using plastic, look for ones labeled as BPA-free, and don’t put them in the dishwasher or microwave. Make sure that you check the recycling code on the bottom of the items to avoid codes 3 (phthalates), 6 (styrene) and 7 (bisphenols like BPA). Choose items made from plastics labeled as “bio-based” or “greenware” instead.
Ice cube trays with lids
If you are making your own baby food, these are lifesavers. You can fill the trays (look for silicone) with various purees, and the lid keeps them from getting freezer burn. Each cube is about the size of a tablespoon or so, and all you have to do is pop it out and defrost it when you’re ready to feed your baby. Having several of these in rotation is very helpful.
References
1 https://solidstarts.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-high-chairs-for-babies/
Additional resources
RELATED READING
When to introduce your baby to solids
Introducing your baby to solid foods can be exciting—and confusing. Our experts weigh in on when the time is right.
Introducing your baby to solids: 3 approaches
You might be curious about how to introduce your baby to solid foods. Here are a few ways.
How to reduce your baby’s exposure to heavy metals and nitrates
There’s no need to panic about heavy metals and nitrates in baby foods—but plenty to look out for.
Getting started with solids
Your baby has a world of flavors and textures to explore. We’re here to guide you through the introduction process.
Welcome to the baby food stage
Introducing your baby to solid foods means entering a world full of flavor and messiness. Here’s what you need to know.