Spoon for baby feeding
8 Best Baby Spoons for 2022
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
Read more about our vetting process.- Best all-silicone baby spoon: Monee Silicone Spoons
- Best eco-friendly baby spoon: Avanchy Stainless Steel Spoons
- Best baby spoon for self-feeding: NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils
- Best heat sensor baby spoon: Munchkin White Hot Safety Spoons
- Best baby spoon set: Munchkin Soft-Tip Infant Spoons (12-pack)
- Best budget-friendly baby spoon: The First Years Take & Toss Infant Spoons (16-pack)
- Best baby spoon for travel: OXO Tot On-the-Go Feeding Spoon
- Best baby spoon and fork set: Bumkins Silicone Chewtensils
In what can feel like the blink of an eye, your milk-loving newborn will be ready to eat solids — it’s a huge milestone and a particularly exciting one!
Watching your baby experience different tastes and textures is so much fun. You may choose to do most of the feeding yourself as you start out, offering purées in a spoon. Then, as your baby gets older, they’ll take feeding duties into their own hands and start scooping favorite foods into their mouth with a spoon.
With so many baby spoons on the market, though, the choices can be overwhelming. Here’s the lowdown on some of the most popular brands and types for different purposes and budgets.
When it comes to purées and solids, babies eat with their hands and utensils. Their hand-eye coordination may not be the best, so they’ll likely need your help at first.
As they get older and enter toddlerhood, learning to use spoons and other utensils is a developmental milestone. So, while you don’t necessarily have to use a spoon from day one (especially if you’re following baby-led weaning), it’s not a bad idea to add one to your bag of tricks.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), babies can start using spoons when they’re ready to eat solid foods.
Currently, the recommended age for starting solids is 6 months old. At this age, it’s appropriate to give babies food from a small spoonwith supervision.
You can also give your baby an easy-to-grasp spoon to practice with on their own or to chew for teething. Again, you’ll always want to be watching what your little one is up to when they’re eating or using tools like spoons.
The CDC mentions that older babies can start to use spoons independently once they reach 10 to 12 months old. Of course, every baby is unique, so definitely consult with your pediatrician to make sure these guidelines apply to your family.
The following baby spoons are rated highly for their quality, design, and functionality. Beyond that, we also heavily considered customer reviews from parents are caregivers to weigh out the good, bad, and ugly.
All spoons (and other baby products) sold in the United States must meet certain safety guidelines put forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
These include things like not containing lead, phthalates, or other potentially harmful materials. Likewise, they must undergo testing at CPSC labs before they can be sold and distributed.
Price guide
- $ = under $1 per spoon
- $$ = $1–$5 per spoon
- $$$ = over $5 per spoon
Best all-silicone baby spoon
Monee Silicone Baby Spoons
- Price: $$
- Material: silicone
Made entirely from platinum silicone that’s 100 percent BPA and phthalates free, these Monee baby spoons are soft on baby’s gums, making for a great starter spoon.
This spoon even doubles as a teether and has a textured nubby end to chew and gnaw as your little one’s teeth start breaking through. Its medium-long handle allows parents to feed their child or even works for baby-led weaning.
Some parents note that these spoons are very bendy and tend to allow babies to fling purées all over the place.
Others say the silicone stains over time, especially with orange purées.
Pros
- The spoons are made of phthalate- and BPA-free silicone.
- They can double as teethers.
- The spoons are soft, making them gentle.
Cons
- Silicone may stain over time, especially if your baby likes orange purees.
- The spoons are bendy, which may result in food all over the kitchen.
Shop now at Amazon
Best eco-friendly baby spoon
Avanchy Stainless Steel Baby Spoons
- Price: $$$
- Material: stainless steel and silicone
There isn’t any plastic in the construction of these spoons from Avanchy. Instead, they’re made from durable stainless steel and silicone. They have a short and wide handle that’s great for older babies and toddlers who are learning to self-feed.
Reviewers like the size of the spoons and that they’re deep and hold more food than others of similar size.
Pros
- Reviewers like the spoon’s size, as it holds more food than others.
- The handle is great for toddlers who are learning to feed themselves.
- These are plastic-free.
Cons
- These are pricier than most of the other spoons on our list.
- Metal may be uncomfortable on sensitive or raw gums.
Shop now at Amazon
Best baby spoon for self-feeding
NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils
- Price: $$$
- Material: silicone
These spoons may look a little funky, but there’s a reason for their unique design. First off, the flat handle and head allow your baby to hold it any way they like without the need to balance or scoop. And the manufacturer claims that these are doctor recommended for baby-led weaning (ages 6 to 18 months).
They work with stage 1 and 2 purées and also with preloading of table food. And rest assured they’re made from silicone that is 100 percent free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates.
Reviewers like the one-piece, easy-to-clean construction of these spoons. They do say, though, that they’re smaller than most infant spoons and most babies prefer to use them as teethers or toys. And a couple people said the spoons fell apart with time, so they may not be the longest lasting for the price.
Pros
- The spoons are one piece for easy cleaning.
- The silicone is free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates.
- Your baby can hold these however they’d like.
Cons
- These are smaller than most infant spoons.
- Some babies prefer to use them as teethers, instead of spoons.
Shop now at Amazon
Best heat sensor baby spoon
Munchkin White Hot Safety Spoons
- Price: $$
- Material: polypropylene plastic
Munchkin’s heat-sensing spoons have been around for quite some time. They’re a popular choice among parents because the colorful tips turn white when food is at or above 110°F (43.
3°C).
The tapered heads of these brightly colored spoons are soft and made to fit into small mouths. Reviewers say these spoons are affordable and functional without frills, and like that they’re dishwasher safe (top rack).
A few people mention that the head of the spoon is quite shallow and doesn’t carry much food, which might be best suited for younger babies. Several say that the colorful tips stain and that the white hot feature tends to be quite sensitive (meaning foods that only seem warm to the touch may set it off).
Pros
- The spoons are heat sensing and change colors when food is at or above 110°F (43.3°C).
- The tapered heads are soft.
- They’re top-rack dishwasher safe, so cleaning is easy.
Cons
- Spoon head is shallow and doesn’t carry much food.
- They may be prone to staining over time.
Shop now at Amazon
Best baby spoon set
Munchkin Soft-Tip Infant Spoons (12-pack)
- Price: $
- Material: plastic
The thing is, you feed your baby a lot of meals.
This means you’re constantly using, washing, and — of course — losing spoons. This set of 12 baby spoons by Munchkin comes out to around $.66 per spoon. They’re colorful and made from BPA-free plastic with a rounded tip. Reviewers say the spoons are well made and a good value.
These spoons have rave reviews from parents, but a few warn that if your baby likes to bite down on them, they’ll probably not last that long. And a few people say that the rounded tip of the spoon doesn’t have a soft edge, so it may be uncomfortable against tender gums.
Pros
- The spoons are heat sensing and change colors when food is at or above 110°F (43.3°C).
- The tapered heads are soft.
- The spoons are budget-friendly, at less than $1 each.
Cons
- The spoons may not last that long if your baby likes to bite down on them.
- The rounded tip of the spoon doesn’t have a soft edge, which could make it uncomfortable on baby’s gums.
Shop now at Amazon
Best budget-friendly baby spoon
The First Years Take & Toss Infant Spoons (16-pack)
- Price: $
- Material: plastic
At around 18 cents a spoon, the Take & Toss spoons by First Years are by far the cheapest option out there.
They are made from BPA-free plastic and are durable enough to use time and time again, but inexpensive enough to make tossing OK if necessary.
Reviewers like these spoons for taking out to restaurants and say they have a smooth tip and handle that’s comfortable for both adults and babies.
These spoons are bare bones, so there’s no added functionality, like teething or folding or bending. Reviewers generally like these spoons, but several people mention the head is very small and doesn’t carry much food. Others share the spoons really aren’t easy for babies to use for self-feeding due to the long handle.
Pros
- The spoons have a smooth tip.
- They have a handle that’s comfortable for adults to use while feeding babies.
- The spoons are budget-friendly and come in large packs so you can dispose of them on the go, if necessary.
Cons
- The head is on the small side and doesn’t carry that much food.
- The longer handle could make these difficult for some babies to use for self-feeding.
Shop now at Amazon
Best baby spoon for travel
OXO Tot On-the-Go Feeding Spoon
- Price: $$
- Material: silicone, stainless steel, and plastic
Many spoons you’ll find come with travel cases, but the OXO Tot travel spoon is particularly compact and easy to toss into a diaper bag.
The tip is made from food-safe silicone and has a contoured handle that makes scooping and serving comfortable and easy at any angle. Reviewers like the narrow head of the spoon, especially for smaller infants.
A few parents say this spoon is a bit messier than others, noting that it is quite small, and that it’s better to use with thicker purées and not those that are stage 1 and stage 2.
Pros
- The spoon is made for travel and comes with a case.
- Its contoured handle makes scooping and serving easy.
- The narrow head is great for smaller infants.
Cons
- This spoon is quite small.
- It’s best with thick purées and not necessarily stage 1 and stage 2 foods.
Shop now at Amazon
Best baby spoon and fork set
Bumkins Silicone Chewtensils
- Price: $$$
- Material: silicone
This adorable and colorful silicone spoon and fork set is appropriate for use as soon as your baby starts eating solids.
The spoon has special sensory bumps on it to stimulate gums and both pieces are durable, one-piece construction, which makes for easy cleaning (they’re also top-rack dishwasher safe).
A few people say they’re fun to chew but that they’re a bit too chubby to use for actual eating. And one reviewer says the company gets an “A for effort” but that these utensils really aren’t useful for babies over 8 months old.
Pros
- The rounded handle could make these easier for babies to grasp.
- The spoon has sensory bumps to stimulate the gums.
- Cleaning is easy as these are top-rack dishwasher safe.
Cons
- The spoons aren’t great for babies over 8 months old.
- Some reviewers say these utensils are too chubby for some babies to eat off of.
Shop now at Amazon
| Product | Price | Material | Age range |
| Monee Silicone Spoons | $$ | silicone | 6 months and up |
| Avanchy Stainless Steel Spoons | $$$ | stainless steel (silicone handle) | older babies |
| NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils | $$$ | silicone | 6 months and up |
| Munchkin White Hot Safety Spoons | $$ | plastic | 3 months and up |
| Munchkin Soft-Tip Infant Spoons | $ | plastic | 3 months and up |
| The First Years Take & Toss Spoons | $ | plastic | not specified |
| OXO Tot On-the-Go Feeding Spoon | $$ | silicone, stainless steel, plastic | 6 months and up |
| Bumkins Silicone Chewtensils | $$$ | silicone | under 8 months |
You’ve probably seen a wide variety of baby utensils at your local big box store or online.
There are certainly a number of choices that have different shapes, materials, and purposes. Here’s what you might encounter:
- Long-handled baby spoons. These tend to be good for parents looking to feed babies. The handle length helps the food reach the baby without parents having to overextend their arms/wrists.
- Short-handled baby spoons. These are usually easy to hold and make a good choice for teaching babies how to use spoons independently.
- Travel spoons. These may fold or be small enough to easily stow in a carry case for on-the-go feeding sessions.
- Temperature-sensitive spoons. These change color as an added safety feature. They show parents when foods might be too hot to feed to babies.
- Organic or eco-friendly baby spoons. These are made from natural materials that are better for the planet and may be safer for your baby.
- Baby-led weaning spoons.
These help even the youngest babies get food to their mouths. Usually spoons in the category have a unique design. - Bendable or loadable baby spoons. Baby spoons that bend or allow you to load them with food may be worth trying if you have a picky eater or need some extra help with mealtime.
When choosing a baby spoon for your little one, you’ll want to consider the following:
- Material. Spoons come in materials ranging from plastic to silicone to metal and more. If your baby likes to bite everything while teething, you may want to choose a softer material. On the other hand, you may prefer an eco-friendly material or a traditional metal utensil experience.
- Construction. Some spoons are made from one material while others combine two or more materials, for example plastic and metal. Spoons that are all one piece may be easier to clean and less likely to break.
- Cost. You can get basic baby spoons very inexpensively.
Those that have special materials or added features may cost more. - Added features. Do you need a spoon to do double-duty? You can find spoons that work as teethers. Others, like folding spoons, are good for if you travel or are otherwise on the go.
At what age do babies start using spoons?
The CDC recommends breastfeeding or formula feeding for the first 6 months. Parents can start to introduce solid foods around 6 months old, though the CDC encourages you to continue breastfeeding or formula feeding even as solid foods are introduced.
Follow your pediatrician’s guidance when it comes to introducing solid foods, as there are certain signs your baby may not be ready.
This question also gets at when babies might start to hold and use spoons themselves. The answer isn’t the same for every baby, but according to the CDC, babies usually get better at using utensils, starting with a spoon, when they’re 10 to 12 months old. Their coordination is still developing, though, so it may be messy.
Are silicone spoons good for babies?
Food-grade silicone is softer than other spoon materials, like stainless steel. This may make it a more appealing option for babies with sensitive gums or those who are teething. Silicone also doesn’t feel as cool to the touch as stainless, which may be something babies prefer.
Choosing the right spoon for your baby isn’t an exact science. But having something that you enjoy using as you feed them (and they like eating off of) will make mealtime a breeze. Regardless of what spoon you choose, relish the fact that your kiddo’s growing and ready to try solids or maybe even attempt eating on their own.
8 Best Baby Spoons for 2022
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site.
To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
Read more about our vetting process.- Best all-silicone baby spoon: Monee Silicone Spoons
- Best eco-friendly baby spoon: Avanchy Stainless Steel Spoons
- Best baby spoon for self-feeding: NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils
- Best heat sensor baby spoon: Munchkin White Hot Safety Spoons
- Best baby spoon set: Munchkin Soft-Tip Infant Spoons (12-pack)
- Best budget-friendly baby spoon: The First Years Take & Toss Infant Spoons (16-pack)
- Best baby spoon for travel: OXO Tot On-the-Go Feeding Spoon
- Best baby spoon and fork set: Bumkins Silicone Chewtensils
In what can feel like the blink of an eye, your milk-loving newborn will be ready to eat solids — it’s a huge milestone and a particularly exciting one!
Watching your baby experience different tastes and textures is so much fun.
You may choose to do most of the feeding yourself as you start out, offering purées in a spoon. Then, as your baby gets older, they’ll take feeding duties into their own hands and start scooping favorite foods into their mouth with a spoon.
With so many baby spoons on the market, though, the choices can be overwhelming. Here’s the lowdown on some of the most popular brands and types for different purposes and budgets.
When it comes to purées and solids, babies eat with their hands and utensils. Their hand-eye coordination may not be the best, so they’ll likely need your help at first.
As they get older and enter toddlerhood, learning to use spoons and other utensils is a developmental milestone. So, while you don’t necessarily have to use a spoon from day one (especially if you’re following baby-led weaning), it’s not a bad idea to add one to your bag of tricks.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), babies can start using spoons when they’re ready to eat solid foods.
Currently, the recommended age for starting solids is 6 months old. At this age, it’s appropriate to give babies food from a small spoonwith supervision.
You can also give your baby an easy-to-grasp spoon to practice with on their own or to chew for teething. Again, you’ll always want to be watching what your little one is up to when they’re eating or using tools like spoons.
The CDC mentions that older babies can start to use spoons independently once they reach 10 to 12 months old. Of course, every baby is unique, so definitely consult with your pediatrician to make sure these guidelines apply to your family.
The following baby spoons are rated highly for their quality, design, and functionality. Beyond that, we also heavily considered customer reviews from parents are caregivers to weigh out the good, bad, and ugly.
All spoons (and other baby products) sold in the United States must meet certain safety guidelines put forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
These include things like not containing lead, phthalates, or other potentially harmful materials. Likewise, they must undergo testing at CPSC labs before they can be sold and distributed.
Price guide
- $ = under $1 per spoon
- $$ = $1–$5 per spoon
- $$$ = over $5 per spoon
Best all-silicone baby spoon
Monee Silicone Baby Spoons
- Price: $$
- Material: silicone
Made entirely from platinum silicone that’s 100 percent BPA and phthalates free, these Monee baby spoons are soft on baby’s gums, making for a great starter spoon.
This spoon even doubles as a teether and has a textured nubby end to chew and gnaw as your little one’s teeth start breaking through. Its medium-long handle allows parents to feed their child or even works for baby-led weaning.
Some parents note that these spoons are very bendy and tend to allow babies to fling purées all over the place.
Others say the silicone stains over time, especially with orange purées.
Pros
- The spoons are made of phthalate- and BPA-free silicone.
- They can double as teethers.
- The spoons are soft, making them gentle.
Cons
- Silicone may stain over time, especially if your baby likes orange purees.
- The spoons are bendy, which may result in food all over the kitchen.
Shop now at Amazon
Best eco-friendly baby spoon
Avanchy Stainless Steel Baby Spoons
- Price: $$$
- Material: stainless steel and silicone
There isn’t any plastic in the construction of these spoons from Avanchy. Instead, they’re made from durable stainless steel and silicone. They have a short and wide handle that’s great for older babies and toddlers who are learning to self-feed.
Reviewers like the size of the spoons and that they’re deep and hold more food than others of similar size.
Pros
- Reviewers like the spoon’s size, as it holds more food than others.
- The handle is great for toddlers who are learning to feed themselves.
- These are plastic-free.
Cons
- These are pricier than most of the other spoons on our list.
- Metal may be uncomfortable on sensitive or raw gums.
Shop now at Amazon
Best baby spoon for self-feeding
NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils
- Price: $$$
- Material: silicone
These spoons may look a little funky, but there’s a reason for their unique design. First off, the flat handle and head allow your baby to hold it any way they like without the need to balance or scoop. And the manufacturer claims that these are doctor recommended for baby-led weaning (ages 6 to 18 months).
They work with stage 1 and 2 purées and also with preloading of table food. And rest assured they’re made from silicone that is 100 percent free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates.
Reviewers like the one-piece, easy-to-clean construction of these spoons. They do say, though, that they’re smaller than most infant spoons and most babies prefer to use them as teethers or toys. And a couple people said the spoons fell apart with time, so they may not be the longest lasting for the price.
Pros
- The spoons are one piece for easy cleaning.
- The silicone is free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates.
- Your baby can hold these however they’d like.
Cons
- These are smaller than most infant spoons.
- Some babies prefer to use them as teethers, instead of spoons.
Shop now at Amazon
Best heat sensor baby spoon
Munchkin White Hot Safety Spoons
- Price: $$
- Material: polypropylene plastic
Munchkin’s heat-sensing spoons have been around for quite some time. They’re a popular choice among parents because the colorful tips turn white when food is at or above 110°F (43.
3°C).
The tapered heads of these brightly colored spoons are soft and made to fit into small mouths. Reviewers say these spoons are affordable and functional without frills, and like that they’re dishwasher safe (top rack).
A few people mention that the head of the spoon is quite shallow and doesn’t carry much food, which might be best suited for younger babies. Several say that the colorful tips stain and that the white hot feature tends to be quite sensitive (meaning foods that only seem warm to the touch may set it off).
Pros
- The spoons are heat sensing and change colors when food is at or above 110°F (43.3°C).
- The tapered heads are soft.
- They’re top-rack dishwasher safe, so cleaning is easy.
Cons
- Spoon head is shallow and doesn’t carry much food.
- They may be prone to staining over time.
Shop now at Amazon
Best baby spoon set
Munchkin Soft-Tip Infant Spoons (12-pack)
- Price: $
- Material: plastic
The thing is, you feed your baby a lot of meals.
This means you’re constantly using, washing, and — of course — losing spoons. This set of 12 baby spoons by Munchkin comes out to around $.66 per spoon. They’re colorful and made from BPA-free plastic with a rounded tip. Reviewers say the spoons are well made and a good value.
These spoons have rave reviews from parents, but a few warn that if your baby likes to bite down on them, they’ll probably not last that long. And a few people say that the rounded tip of the spoon doesn’t have a soft edge, so it may be uncomfortable against tender gums.
Pros
- The spoons are heat sensing and change colors when food is at or above 110°F (43.3°C).
- The tapered heads are soft.
- The spoons are budget-friendly, at less than $1 each.
Cons
- The spoons may not last that long if your baby likes to bite down on them.
- The rounded tip of the spoon doesn’t have a soft edge, which could make it uncomfortable on baby’s gums.
Shop now at Amazon
Best budget-friendly baby spoon
The First Years Take & Toss Infant Spoons (16-pack)
- Price: $
- Material: plastic
At around 18 cents a spoon, the Take & Toss spoons by First Years are by far the cheapest option out there.
They are made from BPA-free plastic and are durable enough to use time and time again, but inexpensive enough to make tossing OK if necessary.
Reviewers like these spoons for taking out to restaurants and say they have a smooth tip and handle that’s comfortable for both adults and babies.
These spoons are bare bones, so there’s no added functionality, like teething or folding or bending. Reviewers generally like these spoons, but several people mention the head is very small and doesn’t carry much food. Others share the spoons really aren’t easy for babies to use for self-feeding due to the long handle.
Pros
- The spoons have a smooth tip.
- They have a handle that’s comfortable for adults to use while feeding babies.
- The spoons are budget-friendly and come in large packs so you can dispose of them on the go, if necessary.
Cons
- The head is on the small side and doesn’t carry that much food.
- The longer handle could make these difficult for some babies to use for self-feeding.
Shop now at Amazon
Best baby spoon for travel
OXO Tot On-the-Go Feeding Spoon
- Price: $$
- Material: silicone, stainless steel, and plastic
Many spoons you’ll find come with travel cases, but the OXO Tot travel spoon is particularly compact and easy to toss into a diaper bag.
The tip is made from food-safe silicone and has a contoured handle that makes scooping and serving comfortable and easy at any angle. Reviewers like the narrow head of the spoon, especially for smaller infants.
A few parents say this spoon is a bit messier than others, noting that it is quite small, and that it’s better to use with thicker purées and not those that are stage 1 and stage 2.
Pros
- The spoon is made for travel and comes with a case.
- Its contoured handle makes scooping and serving easy.
- The narrow head is great for smaller infants.
Cons
- This spoon is quite small.
- It’s best with thick purées and not necessarily stage 1 and stage 2 foods.
Shop now at Amazon
Best baby spoon and fork set
Bumkins Silicone Chewtensils
- Price: $$$
- Material: silicone
This adorable and colorful silicone spoon and fork set is appropriate for use as soon as your baby starts eating solids.
The spoon has special sensory bumps on it to stimulate gums and both pieces are durable, one-piece construction, which makes for easy cleaning (they’re also top-rack dishwasher safe).
A few people say they’re fun to chew but that they’re a bit too chubby to use for actual eating. And one reviewer says the company gets an “A for effort” but that these utensils really aren’t useful for babies over 8 months old.
Pros
- The rounded handle could make these easier for babies to grasp.
- The spoon has sensory bumps to stimulate the gums.
- Cleaning is easy as these are top-rack dishwasher safe.
Cons
- The spoons aren’t great for babies over 8 months old.
- Some reviewers say these utensils are too chubby for some babies to eat off of.
Shop now at Amazon
| Product | Price | Material | Age range |
| Monee Silicone Spoons | $$ | silicone | 6 months and up |
| Avanchy Stainless Steel Spoons | $$$ | stainless steel (silicone handle) | older babies |
| NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils | $$$ | silicone | 6 months and up |
| Munchkin White Hot Safety Spoons | $$ | plastic | 3 months and up |
| Munchkin Soft-Tip Infant Spoons | $ | plastic | 3 months and up |
| The First Years Take & Toss Spoons | $ | plastic | not specified |
| OXO Tot On-the-Go Feeding Spoon | $$ | silicone, stainless steel, plastic | 6 months and up |
| Bumkins Silicone Chewtensils | $$$ | silicone | under 8 months |
You’ve probably seen a wide variety of baby utensils at your local big box store or online.
There are certainly a number of choices that have different shapes, materials, and purposes. Here’s what you might encounter:
- Long-handled baby spoons. These tend to be good for parents looking to feed babies. The handle length helps the food reach the baby without parents having to overextend their arms/wrists.
- Short-handled baby spoons. These are usually easy to hold and make a good choice for teaching babies how to use spoons independently.
- Travel spoons. These may fold or be small enough to easily stow in a carry case for on-the-go feeding sessions.
- Temperature-sensitive spoons. These change color as an added safety feature. They show parents when foods might be too hot to feed to babies.
- Organic or eco-friendly baby spoons. These are made from natural materials that are better for the planet and may be safer for your baby.
- Baby-led weaning spoons.
These help even the youngest babies get food to their mouths. Usually spoons in the category have a unique design. - Bendable or loadable baby spoons. Baby spoons that bend or allow you to load them with food may be worth trying if you have a picky eater or need some extra help with mealtime.
When choosing a baby spoon for your little one, you’ll want to consider the following:
- Material. Spoons come in materials ranging from plastic to silicone to metal and more. If your baby likes to bite everything while teething, you may want to choose a softer material. On the other hand, you may prefer an eco-friendly material or a traditional metal utensil experience.
- Construction. Some spoons are made from one material while others combine two or more materials, for example plastic and metal. Spoons that are all one piece may be easier to clean and less likely to break.
- Cost. You can get basic baby spoons very inexpensively.
Those that have special materials or added features may cost more. - Added features. Do you need a spoon to do double-duty? You can find spoons that work as teethers. Others, like folding spoons, are good for if you travel or are otherwise on the go.
At what age do babies start using spoons?
The CDC recommends breastfeeding or formula feeding for the first 6 months. Parents can start to introduce solid foods around 6 months old, though the CDC encourages you to continue breastfeeding or formula feeding even as solid foods are introduced.
Follow your pediatrician’s guidance when it comes to introducing solid foods, as there are certain signs your baby may not be ready.
This question also gets at when babies might start to hold and use spoons themselves. The answer isn’t the same for every baby, but according to the CDC, babies usually get better at using utensils, starting with a spoon, when they’re 10 to 12 months old. Their coordination is still developing, though, so it may be messy.
Are silicone spoons good for babies?
Food-grade silicone is softer than other spoon materials, like stainless steel. This may make it a more appealing option for babies with sensitive gums or those who are teething. Silicone also doesn’t feel as cool to the touch as stainless, which may be something babies prefer.
Choosing the right spoon for your baby isn’t an exact science. But having something that you enjoy using as you feed them (and they like eating off of) will make mealtime a breeze. Regardless of what spoon you choose, relish the fact that your kiddo’s growing and ready to try solids or maybe even attempt eating on their own.
How to spoon feed? - Encyclopedia Baby food
Levchuk Victoria © An article for those who supplement with a spoon or how to feed with a spoon. We will not discuss whether it is useful to supplement / spoon feed a child, about the benefits of independence, etc. Let's talk about the right and wrong way to spoon feed.
The wrong way is to raise your hand up when you take the spoon out of the child's mouth. This method cleans the spoon from food on the teeth, gums or upper lip.
Scraping is not a normal, natural way of feeding. This method of feeding prevents the lips from doing their job and shrinking around the spoon. In this case, the child's head leans back when he tries to lick the spoon and swallow food.
Most often we see well-intentioned parents putting a spoon in their child's mouth. The adult lifts the spoon and cleans the spoon most often on the baby's upper lip . This can be an effective way of getting food into the child's mouth, but the child does not practice using the muscles of the lips, cheeks, and jaw in a more controlled and mature manner. nine0005
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Have him see and smell the food before putting it in his mouth. Let your child touch the food with their fingers before putting it in their mouth.
He might want to dip his finger into the plate and lick it, okay. The first time feeding is necessary, the baby is exploring the world in this way.
2. Put the spoon on the tongue and hold it there until the child closes the lips.
3. Then take the spoon straight out of the mouth (not at an angle). The chin should remain straight and not rise up. The child must learn to eat food, and thoughtless swallowing does not teach anything. If the mother undertook to feed the child from a spoon, then we do it right.
4. Rejection . If he refuses, then offer the child several times, you can just get your lips dirty in food so that he licks them in order to feel the texture and taste of food on his lips in a playful way. Let's not rush.
Related articles:
- How to teach a child to chew?
- At what age does a child begin to eat independently?
Spoon-feeding and speech
What is spoon-feeding? Just opened, chewed, closed.
But it turns out that the sensory-motor system is involved in the process of spoon-feeding. Here are a few examples of the benefits of proper spoon feeding.
1. When the spoon is fed into the mouth in a forward/forward motion, the child must use the lip muscles to clear the spoon of food. These are the same muscles that are used to create the sounds "M", "P", "B". nine0005
2. The suggestion of a spoon straight will make it easier to round the lips. Rounding the lips helps to make the sounds "O", "U", "A".
3. Offering a spoon from the side or corner of the lips will make it easier to close the lips. Closing the lips helps to make the sounds "M", "P", "B".
4. Closing the lips is also important for controlling saliva and keeping food in the mouth while eating.
5. Over time, the spoon helps the child practice using the jaw muscles as they open and close their mouth to eat in a more controlled way.
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How can I help my child eat from a spoon?
Children should instinctively close their lips, but if they don't, there are a few things that can be done to help oral-motor skill:
until the lips close.
2. You can apply slight pressure on the tongue to close the lips.
3. For children with oral-motor problems, 9 can be selected0011 vibrating spoon , and also massage the gums before eating.
4. It may be necessary to stretch the lips beforehand to help close the lips.
Gymnastics to learn to close the mouth
There are many different lip stretching techniques that parents can try to spoon feed their baby:
- Gently pull out the upper lip with the pad of your finger. Repeat on the lower lip, gently stretching it up.
- Gently pinch the philtrum or philtrum (the skin between the nose and upper lip) and pull downwards.
Repeat the procedure on the skin just below the middle of the lower lip, gently stretching. - Connect index finger and thumb together. Place them directly under the nose and then point your fingers apart along the lip line. Repeat the same movement just under the lower lip.
- Stand behind the child and place the index finger over the upper lip , and the middle finger under the lower lip. Close your fingers like scissors to close your lips.
This exercise can be done before meals or during. Stretching the lips before eating may not be enough, so once the child loses closure, it can be repeated again.
Also, do not load the spoon with too much food. Small portions of food are the best for baby's first feeding experiences. Too much food is difficult to take from a spoon and chew.
Usually, when parents spoon-feed their baby incorrectly, it's either because they don't know the correct way or they are in a hurry. So now that you have read the article about the right and wrong way, then do not rush the baby during the meal.
Eating will take longer, but there will be less wasted food, less salivation, and much more benefit from oral motor skills allowing the lips to exercise.
Right and wrong ways of spoon feeding
Right and wrong ways of spoon feeding
Translator: Marina Lelyukhina
Editor: Marina Lelyukhina
Original: https://www.arktherapeutic.com/blog/the-right-and-wrong-way-to-spoon-feed/
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Did you know that spoon-feeding can be wrong? The wrong way is to raise your hand up as if you want to remove the spoon from the child's mouth.
Thus, before the food is in his mouth, the spoon will scratch his teeth, tongue and upper lip. nine0005
Scraping food off a spoon while eating is not correct. This method is especially unsuitable for children with a delay in oral-motor development. This makes it impossible for the lips to do their job of closing around the spoon. It also causes the baby to reach for the spoon, as can be seen in the picture above or below at the start of the video.
The correct way to spoon feed: place the spoon on the top of the tongue and hold until the baby closes its lips. Then take the spoon straight out of your mouth (don't hold it at an angle). The child should sit straight, not lift his head. As the girl's mother rightly noted in the video, thanks to this position she eats, not you feed her. On the last spoon in the video, you can see how her lips work.
Children should instinctively close their lips, but if they fail, there are several ways to help develop oral motor skills:
- Give it time - you can hold the spoon until the child closes their lips.
- You can also gently press the spoon on your tongue to stimulate your lips.
- For children with strong sensory protection in the mouth, a vibrating spoon can help wake up the mouth and reduce sensitivity. Tongue massage before meals (and throughout the day) can also help
- You can preliminarily stretch your lips slightly to help them grasp the spoon.
There are several techniques to stretch the lips:
- Gently pull the upper lip down with the tip of your finger (or your whole finger). Repeat the same on the lower lip - gently pull it up. The same can be done with the Y-Chew probe
- Gently grab a piece of skin between the nose and upper lip and pull it down. Repeat with the area of skin just under the lower lip - pull it up. nine0041
- Bring your thumb and forefinger together and place them between your nose and upper lip, spread your fingers, pressing them against your lip. Repeat with lower lip
- Stand behind the child and place the index finger on the upper lip and the thumb under the lower lip, close the fingers like scissors to help the child close the lips
Your therapist will help you learn how to put these techniques into practice.
