SO many spoons … so little time
If you guys have been following me on Instagram (@mommy.realist) for a while, then you saw my story review of spoons already. But, I figured I would make it easier to reference by making a quick blog post, too. I honestly never thought that I would be reviewing baby spoons. But here I am, and I hope it helps at least one mama! I just want to make a note that, with Anthony, we started purees at about 4 months old at the advice of our Pediatrician. We did about one meal a day until he was 6 months old; at this point, he started to hold himself up very well. It was at this time that I started baby-led weaning. So, when I speak about spoon numbers 3-6, I am no longer referencing using the spoons for purees.
Munchkin White Hot Safety Spoons (4 count) - We started out with these because we were using the BEABA Babycook to make Anthony’s purees. When they’re first prepared, they’re obviously very hot after being steamed, and they would be hot after we heated them back up later. So, I never felt very confident about what temperature was still too warm to feed him. Solution: these spoons turn white when the food is still too hot. It’s a great spoon for when you’re still solely spoon-feeding. It isn’t one that I would leave Anthony with to feed himself yet. He is still at the stage (at one year of age) where he sticks things far back into his mouth if given the opportunity. Not only are these spoons longer than the ones we use now, but the material is definitely harder than that of the rest of the spoons referenced on this post. I always fear that he will stick food or toys too far down his throat; these spoons are rather long and hard enough to where they can absolutely hurt themselves if not supervised.
OXO Tot Feeding Spoon Set with Soft Silicone (2 count) - We then moved to the OXO Tot because I liked how the end of the spoon is curved. It makes it easier to scoop food up and into the mouth. I think that, once he gets the concept of bringing the spoon to his mouth without dropping everything, he will use these again on his own. But for now, we have only used them when I solely spoon-fed.
Olababy 100% Silicone Soft-Tip Training Spoon (2 count) - At about 6 months of age, we started using this spoon. It was right around this time that Anthony started teething really badly. His teeth were breaking through his gums, and I noticed that all he wanted to do was chew on the spoon rather than eat what was on it. I actually brought this spoon with me when we traveled to Switzerland for 10 days, and it doubled as a teether for him on the plane and in the car. He really enjoyed this spoon at the time and still does now (at one year of age). He’s finally able to get this one to his mouth with at least SOME food on it.
EZPZ Tiny Spoon (2 count) - This is the most recent purchase, so we just started using it. Anthony has great hand coordination and is learning to feed himself on his own.
Grabease First Self Feed Baby Utensil (Fork and Spoon Set) - This has to be my favorite of all of the utensils we have tried. I feel the most confident about walking away for a second when he is holding one of these. The anti-choke design is a game changer. Babies go through a phase when they literally try to stick anything in their mouths, no matter how long or wide. This product doesn’t allow them to get it past a certain point. It has also been the easiest for Anthony to manipulate. It allows for him to get the most food to his mouth now that he is learning to feed himself. We can use the spoon for cut-up pasta, rice, and beans, and then use the fork for his steamed veggies. Perfect set for infants to really get the hang of self-feeding or if you prefer shopping on amazon here is the link: click here. (Also love their toothbrushes: click here).
Ali + Oli Baby Spoon & Fork (2 count) - I honestly bought these because I thought they were adorable. For Anthony’s current stage, it isn’t ideal, but I know in the future when he gets better at feeding himself, we will give these another shot. Right now, it’s still really hard for him to maneuver the spoon because of its length. By the time he gets the spoon to his mouth, the food has already fallen off of it. But the material is soft and he loves to chew on them when he is getting new teeth, so they double as a teether at the moment, too.
Again, I am not a spoon expert. This entire blog is just an opinion of how Anthony did with these products. We obviously didn’t try EVERY spoon on the market, but I made it a point to try a couple to see what was out there. I’m open to trying more of them, so if there’s a specific utensil that you’re looking to get but don’t want to make the purchase just yet, email me at Samantha@mommyrealist.com or DM me on Instagram (@mommy.realist). I’d be happy to give them a try.