Feeding Favorites
As a feeding specialist and mom, I have used and trialed A LOT of products. I know it can be hard to pick things like spoons and cups. Know that there really isn’t a “wrong” choice for these items, but that some are easier to use and serve better purposes. So, let me break down all my favorites, when to use, and why I like them!
Num Num Spoons: These are fantastic first spoons! The short stick is the perfect length for self-feeding. The pack comes with a hollow spoon too that holds more puree or mashed solids. So, I recommend starting with the filled-in spoon so baby can self-feed little tastes of food, and then move to the hollowed one for bigger bites!
Munchkin Elephant: This spoon is great because it’s a teether and a spoon ALL IN ONE! So, use in play when baby is 4-6 months old, and then pop some puree on the spoon and use in the high chair.
Olababy Parent Training Spoons: Yes, it is more than ok to offer baby bites from a long-handle spoon! These are great because they are textured, light, and easy to scoop. If baby gets ahold of it, they won’t poke themselves with a hard end, too.
Olababy Spoons: I LOVE these spoons- they are my favorite for 6-12 months. They have a nice flexible bowl of the spoon that makes scooping easy when baby starts to try and scoop, and they are a great length for self-feeding a pre-loaded spoon.
Munchkin White Hot Spoons: These are great for parents offering bites of foods! They are flat, which is preferred so baby can close their lips on the spoon, and the tips change color if the food is too warm. Plus, they are a great price!
Nuby Dipeez: This two-sided spoon is GENIUS! There is no wrong end when both ends are a spoon! Love the lip block on these too, so baby can’t push it too far back. Each end is also a different type of spoon (flat with bumps, slight smooth bowl), so baby experiences two different types of spoons in one.
Upward Spoons: The perfect little spoon for scooping! I recommend introducing this spoon around 9 months (or earlier if you want!) and model how to scoop purees and mashed foods with it! After baby’s first birthday, scooping should start to be more independent.
Munchkin Silicone Scoops: These are another great choice for 9-12 months and older! Short and sweet handle and soft bowl for scooping.
Olababy Fork + Spoon: This set is great for a child approaching 12 months of age. Using a fork is not expected until spoon use becomes independent, and most start using a fork around 15 months. The harder silicone fork in this package is great since little ones won’t hurt their teeth biting down on it!
Munchkin Fork + Spoon: This stainless steel set is ideal for 18 months or older, as spoon and fork use become independent. These wash and wear well, as I have had for 2 years and use daily!
Lollaland Straw Cup: This cup is my favorite weighted straw because it does not have a valve. A valve is a piece of material in the straw itself that is a spill proof feature BUT it requires babies to suck extremely hard to get liquid out, since a lot of force is needed to get the valve open. This cup is not 100% spill proof when the top is down, but when the top is pulled over and the straw is pinched down instead, it is. The handles are also removable so it easily fits in the side pocket of a diaper bag for travel! This is one of my favorite cups for milk since it’s easiest to clean and there aren’t a lot of nooks and crannies.
Nuby Open Cup: The best $5 open cup! Start offering at 6 months and keep practicing little sips. TIP: Put puree in the open cup first so baby has a familiar taste AND the puree moves slowly for them to drink!
Olababy Cup: My all-time FAVORITE cup! I love that it’s made from silicone, has a straw stopper so baby can’t pull the straw out, has a weighted bottom so it’s harder to knock over, is a great size for little hands, and doubles as an open cup. My FAVORITE part is that it teaches straw drinking! Plug the hole in the lid with your finger and gently squeeze the cup so liquid goes up the straw and into baby’s mouth. They quickly learn that if they suck on the straw, liquid will come up and BAM, they just learned how to drink from a straw.
ezpz Open Cup: This is a perfect sized cup for teaching open cup drinking! Little hands can hold it and it has a nice weight to the bottom. My favorite trick to teach parents is to fill it to the brim with a familiar PUREE that they have eaten on a spoon, and bring it to baby’s lips so they immediately get a taste of what is inside! And you don’t have to tilt it too much to give them some. Over time you can add some water to it so it’s not so thick and you work towards drinking plain water, but that skill takes time and isn’t expected to be done independently until 18 months. So starting at 6 months gives baby plenty of time to practice!
Honey Bear Straw Cup: Squeeze the bear’s tummy and the liquid goes up! Another cup that teaches little’s how to drink, and it holds a decent amount of liquid!
Num Num Straw Cup: A great on-the-go option for littles learning how to drink! It has a short straw and no valve, so the flow of the water is not impacted. Handles help baby stabilize. It’s all around a great cup!
Tum Tum Straw Cup: This cup teaches littles to drink- plug the hole in the lid with your finger and squeeze a little! The liquid travels up the straw and they learn how to drink. Love the very skinny straw and handles, as they both make sips easier for baby. Pop the top off and it’s an open cup with handles!
Dr. Brown’s Milestones Straw Cup: It’s the best bang for your buck cup for littles! It’s $6 and spill proof. It has a very small valve that doesn’t impact the flow rate, so baby is able to drink without biting or fixing their jaw in an atypical position.
Elk + Friends Stainless Straw Cups: This cup is great for toddlers who already drink from a straw very well! Perfect for milk or smoothies, the straw is a little bigger in diameter, so bigger sips come out. Also very easy to clean and plastic free!
ezpz Mini Mat: This suction mat sticks really well to most high chairs! It’s a great size and it divides food so baby can clearly see their choices. Plus, it’s great for toddlers, so you’ll get a lot of use out of it!
ezpz Mini Bowl: This suction bowl is kind of like a plate and a bowl at the same time. I love that the sides of the bowl are low, which helps baby with scooping and seeing their food. I’ve had mine for two years and it’s held up great!
Weesprout Divided Plates: These are great silicone divider plates for littles as they approach one year of age. They also come with lids, so great for traveling or packing for daycare!
Olababy Bowl: One of my favorite bowls! Suctions to the high chair and has a little lip on the side to help baby scoop and keep the food on the spoon! Also comes with a lid, making it a good travel option, too.
Munchkin Suction Bowls: These are great bang for your buck bowls! The suction is strong and they are durable, too.
Oxo Bibs: I love the strong Velcro on the neck of these! These bibs are my fave for on-the-go for two reasons. 1- the bibs roll up and button together to travel really well! And 2- the bucket of the bib is a little structured, so you can place bites in the bib and baby can pinch them and self-feed while out! So, it doubles as a plate!
Bumkins Smock Bib: My all-time favorite bib! You can throw in the washer (a little baking soda helps get the stains out!), and the wrists have elastic to help protect baby’s clothes from food. And it’s a great bang for your buck!
Baprons Bib: The cutest little bib! I love the high neck to protect the entire front of baby’s clothes and the prints are adorable! I love giving these as a gift and using when baby wears short sleeves, too!
Mushie Bib: This bib has a nice and structured bucket to catch bites of food (and then you can re-offer or baby can go digging in their bib for pieces!) and the prints are adorable!
Tripp Trapp High Chair: This is a great high chair option because of the design! The footrest comes up nice and high to meet baby’s feet when they start solids, and the pelvic piece is very supportive. It also transitions into a booster for the table, as the pelvic piece detaches and your toddler can sit right at the table. If you’re having trouble with suction mats sticking to the tray, Amazon makes a really affordable tray replacement so all your suction plates can stick to it!
Abiie High Chair: This high chair is similar in design to the Tripp Trapp, and the footrest also comes up high to meet baby’s foot! This chair can also go right up to the table, which makes it a great transition chair for into toddlerhood.
Lalo High Chair: The Lalo High Chair is my top pick! It has a support cushion, and there is an infant insert attachment to help babies starting solids feel extremely supported and helps them reach the footrest. The bucket of the high chair is larger so when the cushion and insert are removed, larger babies and toddlers fit comfortably, too. It also transitions to a booster that goes right on your dining room chair, and a play chair too, making the entire high chair last 5 years or longer! “EATPLAYSAY” saves 10%
Nuby Masher: This thing is great! And you can take it on the go. This tool quickly mashes down any food to make it safer to offer to baby. I like to mash down banana and add some peanut butter, or take a chili or mixed texture, add some water, and mash down so the texture is more cohesive. Take it with you to a restaurant so you can offer your food to your baby! And it’s very affordable at about $5-6.
Crinkle Cutter: It’s only $5 and has SO many uses. First, use it to slice soft solids that are slippery. It makes them wavy and gives baby a better grip on holding them. Cutting avocado, mango, peaches, banana, etc. is my fave! Then, when your little one becomes a toddler, this is a great and safe tool for them to help with food prep! They can cut up foods for dinner using this little tool- fun for them and helpful for you!
Oxo Grape Cutter: Pop a grape inside and push the button with your thumb and BAM, grapes are quartered for you! The simplest tool that makes your life so much easier.
Strawberry/Fruit Slicer: Slices berries and other fruits and veggies in seconds! It makes them a thin, chip like shape, which is great since harder berries can be a choking risk if offered in small chunks or round shapes (think blueberries).
Weesprout Divider Plates: These are great silicone divider plates for littles as they approach one year of age and beyond (and stop chucking their plates so much!). They also come with lids, so great for traveling or packing for daycare!
Weesprout Snack Containers: Love these silicone travel snack containers! Pop some melts or Puffs inside and let baby stick their hand in to pinch and grab. The top is spill proof, but flexible so littles can get their hands inside!
Lalo Booster: My favorite for at home, and it’s easy to take on the go too! My favorite part is the ease of cleaning! Not a lot of places that food can hide, and it’s extremely durable. “EATPLAYSAY” saves 10%
Elk + Friends Stainless Straw Cups: These cups are great for toddlers who have straw drinking down pat. The straw is a little wider so more liquid can come through. They are great for smoothies as well, and come with lids to seal them if you’d ever like to use them for storage!
Klean Kanteen Cup: I love this for toddlers 2 years and older! Twist the lid to have the silicone straw pop up, and then twist back to seal. Spill proof and skinny enough to fit in a carseat cup holder! Plus, it’s bigger than most other water bottles, so as your toddler’s water intake increases, you don’t have to switch to a different cup!
Munchkin Utensils: This stainless steel utensil set is perfect for little hands. They wash well, and are a great transition set when your little one is ready to move off of silicone utensils! I recommend using 18 months and older.
Upward Spoons: The perfect little spoon for scooping! I recommend introducing this spoon around 9 months (or earlier if you want!) and model how to scoop purees and mashed foods with it! After baby’s first birthday, scooping should start to be more independent.
Oxo Bibs: I love the strong Velcro on the neck of these! These bibs are my fave for on-the-go for two reasons. 1- the bibs roll up and button together to travel really well! And 2- the bucket of the bib is a little structured, so you can place bites in the bib and baby can pinch them and self-feed while out! So, it doubles as a plate!
Nuby Masher: This thing is great! And you can take it on the go. This tool quickly mashes down any food to make it safer to offer to baby. I like to mash down banana and add some peanut butter, or take a chili or mixed texture, add some water, and mash down so the texture is more cohesive. Take it with you to a restaurant so you can offer your food to your baby! And it’s very affordable at about $5-6.
Munchkin Utensils: This stainless steel utensil set is perfect for little hands. They wash well, and are a great transition set when your little one is ready to move off of silicone utensils! I recommend using 18 months and older. Pop in a reusable bag and bring out with you so your little one has familiar utensils.
Olababy Fork + Spoon: This set is great for a child approaching 12 months of age. Using a fork is not expected until spoon use becomes independent, and most start using a fork around 15 months. The harder silicone fork in this package is great since little ones won’t hurt their teeth biting down on it! Pack with you so your little one has familiar utensils when out!
Tommee Tippee Cups: These cups have a small valve and are very spill proof, but don’t restrict water flow- making them a great cup for baby and toddler on-the-go!
Olababy Bowl: One of my favorite bowls! Suctions to the high chair and has a little lip on the side to help baby scoop and keep the food on the spoon! Also comes with a lid, making it a good travel option, too.
Stasher Bag: I use this bag to stash all the dirty utensils at the end of a meal on-the-go! Just clean everything at home!
Klean Kanteen: I love this for toddlers 2 years and older! Twist the lid to have the silicone straw pop up, and then twist back to seal. Spill proof and skinny enough to fit in a carseat cup holder! Plus, it’s bigger than most other water bottles, so as your toddler’s water intake increases, you don’t have to switch to a different cup!
High Chair Cover: It’s a high chair cover (and shopping cart cover!) is a MUST HAVE for both restaurants and the grocery store! I love how it provides some cushion for smaller babies, and it has a drink older and teether holder! Just pop in the washer when you’re done and it’s good to go.
Lollaland Straw Cup: This cup is my favorite weighted straw because it does not have a valve. A valve is a piece of material in the straw itself that is a spill proof feature BUT it requires babies to suck extremely hard to get liquid out, since a lot of force is needed to get the valve open. This cup is not 100% spill proof when the top is down, but when the top is pulled over and the straw is pinched down instead, it is. The handles are also removable so it easily fits in the side pocket of a diaper bag for travel! This is one of my favorite cups for milk since it’s easiest to clean and there aren’t a lot of nooks and crannies.
Silicone Bento Box: Perfect for daycare or taking on-the-go, this silicone travel lunch box has divided compartments and a lid that locks into place well!
Thermos Funtainer: These are my favorite for toddlers on-the-go! These are easy for toddlers to open- push the button, drink, and close the lid. And they fit in most car seat cup holders.
Busy Baby Mat: This is a lifesaver! There is a larger version, but depending on how large your table is at a restaurant, it might be too big. So smaller can be safer! Suction it to the table, use the two inside sections as a place to put food, attach teethers or utensils to the strings and nothing will hit the floor. PRO TIP: If you’re having trouble getting the mat to stick on the table, put a few drops of water or coconut oil under them to help them stick.
Hiccapop: So you don’t have to lug your high chair to grandma’s house or on vacation, this travel high chair is a great option! It can secure to a dining chair like a booster or just be used on the floor. It has a wide seat, so it can grow with your baby into toddlerhood. TIP: Roll up some towels or blankets on either side of baby if they don’t seem so stable in this chair. Can help them sit up better!
Weesprout Divider Plates: These are great silicone divider plates for littles as they approach one year of age and beyond (and stop chucking their plates so much!). They also come with lids, so great for traveling or packing for daycare!
Hope you enjoyed all of my feeding favorites! Check out my Amazon Storefront for more lists like favorite toys by ages, ideas for holidays and birthdays, baby registry must-haves, and more!
